In "The Fly," there is a question of what the fly actually represents. In my opinion, I believe it represents the son of the boss who was killed in the war. The boss drips ink on him, representing the hardships of the war. The fly cannot withstand the torture and eventually dies. All the while, the boss speaks encouraging words to the fly, as if these are the words he wishes he could have said to his son.
They way in which this story is told also provides the reader with a feeling of odd casualness when Woodifield tells the boss that his daughters saw the bosses son's grave the other day. He says that it's "Beautifully looked after" in a way that could be mirrored when describing a park or a nice landscape. This strange tone give the story a cold feel, as if death is no big deal.
The place in which this story takes place also adds to the sort of cold feeling that this piece portrays. An office is not usually a representation of a warm setting - this is where the boss is when he hears about his son's grave. It is also where he kills the fly and forgets about his son altogether. The setting here could represent the fact that the boss has moved on from his grief and now only invests his time and emotion in his job - a business that his son was supposed to take over.
I agree with the fact that the overall tone of this story was very cold and casual feeling. The way that Mr. Woodfield revealed to the Boss about his daughter's visit to the Boss' son's grave was disrespectful in its cavalier tone. There is obviously no clear and perfectly respectful way to announce one's visit to such a gravesite, but I do know that for a fact, that the way Mr. Woodfield described it was wrong. The loss of someone so dear and near to your heart, like that of a father losing his son, is so very heartbreaking. It’s sad how numb the Boss feels about the situation but I can understand why he would choose to protect his heart by forgetting the memory of his son. This is a wrong way to grieve but I feel that it is a very common way for people to move on.
ReplyDeleteAll of your thoughts are very interesting. If the fly represents the son, I would think that the boss would be more sympathetic towards the fly and not kill it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments on the tone of the story. It seems to be one of anguish and unjust reasoning for death.
As far as the setting, it may be important to note that the boss remodels his office. This is another sign that he has moved on from the initial grief of his son's death.