UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL PUNJAB

English

Submitted by: Aiman Zafar

Roll number: L1F19BSIR0095

Assignment no 1 ( to be submitted in the next class on monday, dated 10-04-2023)

Part 1:

Q:Write the summary of the story

The story revolves around two friends who lost their only sons in the First World War six years ago. One
is the stout boss and other is Mr. Woodifild, who is ill and is boxed up in his house after his retirement by
his wife and daughter but on Tuesday he was allowed to live his life fully and take a look of the city. So
he met the boss on one Tuesday and was sitting in his office admiring the beauty of his office. The boss
was feeling good and somehow proud on this admiration. As the men chat, woodifeild wants to tell
something to the boss that is related to their common grief. For keeping him away from the memories of
grief, boss offers him whiskey as a medicine that will do well to woodifeild. Somehow woodifeid tells
him about the visit of his girls to the graves of their sons and details about their graves. It agonized the
boss but he hides it from woodifeild. After woodifeild left, the boss locked himself in the office and was
preparing himself to weep on his son’s death but became disturbed as he was not feeling the same pain as
he felt before. The boss spent time recalling his plans about his son and saw photograph of his dead son
but can no longer shed tears. It was strange for him as he believed that nothing on earth can elevate his
pain, not even time. Soon he was distracted by a fly that fell in inkpot and was struggling to get out of it.
Using a pen, he rescued the fly and put it on a blotting paper. He observed as the fly was struggling to
clean itself and making it ready to fly again. But before it can do so, the boss dropped a drop of ink on it
to see how it will react. The boss was impressed by it and was continuously dropping in on it. Soon it died
after many attempts of torture. Boss disposed its corpse and then he ordered his assistant to get another
blotting paper. Then he tried to recall that what he was thinking before this activity and nervously mopped
his head as he was unable to recall that.

Part 2:

Q:What is the significance of fly in the fly?

The fly in "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield serves as a powerful symbol of the fragility of life and the
inevitability of death. The boss, who is grieving the loss of his son, becomes fixated on the fly and tries to
trap it in his inkpot, seeing it as a way to distract himself from his pain and regain some sense of control
over his environment.

The fly also serves as a metaphor for the boss's son, who has died and left him feeling powerless and
helpless. Both the fly and the boss's son are fragile, vulnerable beings, subject to the whims of fate and
the unpredictable nature of the natural world. The boss's attempts to control the fly can be seen as a way
to assert his power and control over something when he feels powerless in other areas of his life.

The fly's eventual death is a powerful moment in the story, representing the inevitability of death and the
transient nature of life. The boss's reaction to the fly's death is also significant, as it highlights the themes
of grief and redemption. The boss is forced to confront the reality of death and the fact that he cannot
control or manipulate the natural world to suit his own desires. This realization leads to a moment of
emotional vulnerability, as the boss becomes quiet and withdrawn, suggesting that he is beginning to
confront his grief and come to terms with his loss.

Overall, the fly serves as a potent symbol that ties together the story's larger themes of power, grief, and
redemption. It represents the fragile and fleeting nature of life, the powerlessness of human beings in the
face of death, and the potential for emotional growth and healing in the face of tragedy.

How does it relate to the story’s larger themes of Power, grief and redemption?

The fly in "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield serves as a powerful symbol of the story's larger themes of
power, grief, and redemption.

In terms of power dynamics, the boss's treatment of the fly can be seen as a way for him to exert his
power and control over something else when he feels powerless in other areas of his life. His obsessive
attempts to catch the fly in his inkpot reflect his desire to assert his dominance and control over his
environment, even in the face of his own feelings of grief and powerlessness.

Furthermore, the fly's death serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death,
highlighting the theme of grief that runs throughout the story. The boss is mourning the death of his son,
and the fly's death serves as a metaphor for his own experience of loss and the realization that life is
fleeting and impermanent.

However, the story also offers a glimmer of hope in the form of redemption. At the end of the story, the
boss reflects on his experience with the fly and seems to come to a realization about the need to accept the
unpredictability and impermanence of life. While he may not be able to control everything, he can still
find meaning and purpose in the face of loss and grief.

Overall, the fly serves as a potent symbol of the larger themes of power, grief, and redemption that run
throughout the story. By using the fly as a metaphor for the fragility of life, Mansfield highlights the
importance of coming to terms with the unpredictable nature of existence and finding a way to move
forward in the face of adversity

Q:How does the boss treatment of the fly reflects his own feelings of powerlessness and frustration?
In what ways does he try to exert control over his environment and his emotions?
In "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield, the boss's treatment of the fly can be seen as a reflection of his own
feelings of powerlessness and frustration in the face of grief and loss. He is deeply mourning the death of
his son and is struggling to confront his emotions. His attempts to control and manipulate the fly can be
seen as a way to assert his power and control over something when he feels powerless in other areas of
his life.

The boss is shown to be obsessive in his attempts to trap the fly in his inkpot, repeatedly shaking the pot
and trying to catch the fly in the ink. His preoccupation with the fly can be seen as a way to distract
himself from his grief and regain some sense of control over his surroundings. By focusing on the fly and
trying to control its movements, he is attempting to exert control over his own emotions and the chaotic
and unpredictable nature of life.

Additionally, the boss's rigid adherence to bureaucratic protocol can also be seen as a way to exert control
over his environment. He insists on keeping his office in perfect order and is insistent that his staff adhere
to strict rules and procedures. This can be seen as a way for him to maintain a sense of control and order
in his life, even when everything else feels chaotic and unpredictable

Q:What does the fly suggest about the nature of human existence? How does the story use
imaginary and symbolism to convey its ideas?

In "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield, the fly serves as a powerful symbol throughout the story. It
represents the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, as well as the chaos and unpredictability of
the natural world.

The fly's appearance in the story is significant, as it is repeatedly described as small and fragile, with
delicate wings that are easily damaged. These physical attributes represent the vulnerability of all living
things and the fleeting nature of human existence. The fly's buzzing and restless movements also
symbolize the chaotic and unpredictable nature of life, highlighting the contrast between the ordered,
bureaucratic world of the boss's office and the wildness of the natural world.

The use of imagery and symbolism in the story is essential to conveying its ideas. The fly, for example, is
used to represent vulnerability, fragility, and the cyclical nature of life and death. Its buzzing, restless
movements symbolize the chaos and unpredictability of existence. Additionally, the boss's attempt to trap
the fly in his inkpot represents his desire to control and contain the uncontrollable and unpredictable
nature of life.

The inkpot, too, serves as a symbol, representing the boss's attempts to bottle up his emotions and
suppress his grief. His obsessive focus on the fly and its movements serves as a metaphor for his inability
to move on from his son's death and to confront his emotions head-on.

The inkpot also represents the rigid, bureaucratic nature of the boss's workplace, where everything must
be organized, controlled, and contained. This is contrasted with the chaos and unpredictability of the
natural world, represented by the fly. By attempting to trap and control the fly, the boss is trying to assert
his dominance over the natural world and impose order on chaos.

Overall, the story uses imagery and symbolism to suggest that human existence is fragile and fleeting, and
that we must learn to confront the reality of death and loss. Through the symbolism of the fly and the
inkpot, the story conveys its central message about the importance of accepting the impermanence of life
and learning to move on from grief and loss.
Q:Justify the following themes from the help of story:

Grief and loss

Love

Power dynamics

Fragility of life

Redemption

Isolation

Courage

Survival

Guilt

Cycle of life and death

"The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield is a poignant short story that explores various themes, including:

Grief and loss: The theme of grief and loss is the most prominent in the story. The protagonist, known
only as "the boss," is still grieving the loss of his son who died in World War I. The appearance of the fly
in his office triggers a flood of memories of his son, leading him to confront his grief and accept his loss.

Love: Although the story is centered around the theme of grief, there are elements of love present in the
relationship between the protagonist and his assistant. The protagonist's memories of his son also
demonstrate the depth of his love for him.

Power dynamics: The protagonist holds a position of power as a wealthy businessman, while the fly
represents vulnerability and helplessness. The story explores the power dynamics between different social
classes and how it impacts individuals.

Fragility of life: The fly is a symbol of the fragility of life and the impermanence of existence. The
protagonist's realization of this leads him to confront his grief and accept his son's death.

Redemption: The story offers a message of redemption as the protagonist confronts his grief and
ultimately finds a way to move forward. The fly serves as a catalyst for this change.

Isolation: The protagonist's grief has left him feeling isolated and alone. The story explores the impact of
isolation on individuals and the importance of human connection.

Courage: The protagonist's ability to confront his grief and move forward requires a great deal of courage.
The story demonstrates the bravery necessary to confront loss and find a way to move forward.

Survival: The fly represents survival, as it manages to escape the protagonist's grasp and fly away. The
protagonist's ability to confront his grief and move forward represents his own survival in the face of loss.

Guilt: The protagonist's guilt over his son's death is an important element of the story. His struggle to
confront this guilt is a central part of his journey towards acceptance.

Cycle of life and death: The story explores the cyclical nature of life and death, demonstrating the
inevitability of both. The appearance of the fly serves as a reminder of this cycle and the impermanence
of existence.

Overall, "The Fly" is a powerful and thought-provoking story that examines the human experience of
grief and loss, while also exploring themes of love, power dynamics, fragility of life, redemption,
isolation, courage, survival, guilt, and the cycle of life and death.

Q:How might the fly be interpreted differently by readers from different cultural, social and
historical backgrounds? What aspects of the story might resonate more strongly with some readers
than with others?

"Fly" by Katherine Mansfield is a short story that is open to interpretation and can be understood in
various ways depending on the reader's cultural, social, and historical background.

One way readers from different cultural backgrounds might interpret the fly is as a symbol of death. In
some cultures, a fly is often associated with death and decay, and its presence in the story may suggest
that death is approaching. Readers from cultures where death is viewed as a natural part of life may not
interpret the fly in this way. For example, in some African cultures, the fly is a symbol of resilience and
tenacity, and it represents the ability to persevere through hardship. In this context, the presence of the fly
might be seen as a positive sign rather than a negative one.

Additionally, readers from different historical backgrounds might interpret the story differently. The story
was written in the early 20th century, and readers from that time period might have a different
understanding of the story's themes and imagery than modern readers. For example, readers from the
early 20th century might view the fly as a symbol of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
They might also be more likely to interpret the story's themes of isolation and loneliness as a reflection of
the societal norms of the time period.

Furthermore, readers from different social backgrounds might resonate with different aspects of the story.
For example, readers who have experienced poverty or social exclusion might relate to the protagonist's
feelings of isolation and helplessness. On the other hand, readers who have not experienced these things
might be more drawn to the story's exploration of the human condition and the universal experiences of
grief and loss.

Additionally, different aspects of the story may resonate more strongly with some readers than with
others. For example, readers who have experienced loss or grief may identify strongly with the
protagonist's struggle to confront the death of his son, while readers who have not may not connect as
deeply with this aspect of the story. Similarly, readers who are familiar with the social and cultural norms
of the time period in which the story is set may have a different understanding of the characters' behavior
and motivations than readers who are less familiar with this context.

In conclusion, "Fly" by Katherine Mansfield is a complex story that can be interpreted in various ways
depending on the reader's cultural, social, and historical background. The fly can be seen as a symbol of
death or resilience, the themes of isolation and loneliness can be viewed as a reflection of societal norms
or universal experiences, and different readers may resonate with different aspects of the story.
Ultimately, the beauty of literature is that it allows us to see the world through different lenses and gain a
deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

PARAPHRASE:

Q:How might the fly be interpreted differently by readers from different cultural, social and
historical backgrounds? What aspects of the story might resonate more strongly with some readers
than with others?

The short story "Fly" by Katherine Mansfield is interpretive and can be read in a number of different
ways depending on the reader's cultural, social, and historical background.

Readers from various cultural backgrounds might consider the fly to be a death symbol, for example. A
fly is frequently associated with decay and death in some cultures, so its appearance in the narrative may
allude to the impending passing of the protagonist. It's possible that readers from societies where dying is
accepted as a normal part of life won't understand the fly in this way.

For instance, in some African cultures, the fly is a representation of tenacity and resilience that can endure
adversity. The presence of the fly could be interpreted in this situation as a sign of good things rather than
something bad.

Additionally, readers with various historical perspectives might view the narrative in various ways. Early
20th-century readers may have a different understanding of the story's themes and imagery than readers
today because the story was written in that era.