Summary
“The Fly” is a short modernist story that focuses on an unnamed character called the Boss, a wealthy and self-assured businessman. Six years have passed since his only son was killed in the First World War. The Boss appears to have recovered on the outside, and he likes to believe that he is emotionally strong and “over” the tragedy.
As the story opens, Mr. Woodifield, an old and frail friend, visits the Boss. The Boss feels superior to him, partly because he’s younger and healthier. During the conversation, Woodifield casually mentions that his daughters recently visited the cemetery in Belgium where soldiers—including the Boss’s son—are buried. Although Woodifield means no harm, this accidentally reopens the Boss’s deep but repressed grief.
After Woodifield leaves, the Boss tries to cry for his son, wanting to show himself that he still feels love and sorrow. But he discovers he cannot cry anymore—his emotions are blocked.
Then the key scene occurs: the Boss notices a fly struggling in the inkpot on his desk. He rescues it, but then, out of curiosity or cruelty, he repeatedly drops more ink onto the fly to see how long it can survive. Each time the fly bravely cleans itself and tries to live. Eventually, exhausted, the fly dies.
The Boss then feels disturbed but cannot remember what he was thinking about earlier. His moment of grief for his son has disappeared.
Analysis
1. Themes
a. The Devastation of War
Although never shown directly, World War I deeply shapes the characters. The Boss’s son was supposed to take over the business—his death represents an entire generation lost. The story reflects how families, society, and identities were shattered.
b. Power, Control, and Cruelty
The Boss exercises complete control over the fly. This disturbing moment symbolizes:
- the cruel power many people exercise when they feel powerless inside,
- the way life can seem meaningless,
- the randomness with which fate “drops ink” on individuals.
The Boss’s actions reveal a darker side of his personality—an unconscious desire to dominate something weaker because he cannot dominate his own grief.
c. Emotional Repression
The Boss wants to feel sorrow but cannot. Mansfield portrays a society—especially post-war men—who suppress emotions to appear strong. His inability to cry shows psychological numbness.
d. The Meaninglessness of Life
The fly’s struggle becomes symbolic:
- Life is a repeated fight against suffering.
- The fly represents the son, soldiers, and humanity as a whole.
- Death comes suddenly and without explanation.
2. Symbolism
The Fly
The fly is the central symbol of the story. It represents:
- the common man who struggles against adversity,
- soldiers fighting in the war,
- resilience—and its limits.
Its death mirrors the endless suffering of war.
The Boss
He symbolizes:
- authority and control,
- society’s desire to appear strong despite internal weakness,
- those who manipulate and hurt others while hiding their own pain.
Ink and the Inkpot
The falling drops of ink = the unpredictable disasters of life (war, illness, loss).
The Office
A space of order and control. Inside it, the Boss avoids chaos and emotions—but the fly’s presence disrupts that illusion.
3. Character Analysis
The Boss
- Successful businessman
- Grieves for his son but suppresses emotions
- Treats the fly with a disturbing mixture of care and cruelty
- Represents men shattered by war but afraid to show vulnerability
He is both pitiable and morally troubling.
Mr. Woodifield
- Old, weak, dependent on his daughters
- Innocently mentions the cemetery, triggering the Boss’s buried grief
- Represents aging, fragility, and memory
4. Narrative Style and Techniques
a. Modernist elements
- Psychological depth rather than plot
- Focus on emotions, memory, and internal conflict
- No clear moral
- Symbolic storytelling
b. Limited third-person perspective
We see the world mostly from the Boss’s mind, emphasizing his psychological repression.
c. Irony
The Boss believes he is strong. But the moment with the fly exposes his weakness and cruelty.
5. Interpretation
“The Fly” can be read as:
A critique of war
Soldiers (like the fly) suffer and die while powerful men (like the Boss) control their fate.
A portrait of grief
Grief doesn’t go away—it gets buried. The Boss wants to feel, but he is emotionally numb.
A commentary on human cruelty
Even ordinary people are capable of shocking cruelty when they feel powerless.
6. Conclusion
“The Fly” is a powerful, symbolic modernist story that explores grief, power, war, and emotional repression. Through the small scene of a fly’s struggle, Mansfield reveals profound truths about human suffering and the hidden cruelty inside ordinary people.
