Themes and message

The main themes of the short story “The Fly” by Katherine Mansfield are death, reluctance to accept the truth and time as a healer. The author’s message is a critical one, indicating the cruelty and absurdity of World War I which has taken the lives of so many young people and has left parents inconsolable.

Death

The short story explores unexpected and unnatural death caused by World War I. In the story, both male characters, Mr Woodifield and the boss, have lost their sons in the war and are still trying to cope with this idea.

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Reluctance to accept the truth

Having a hard time to accept painful truths and realities is something common in most people. As human beings, we are wired to struggle for our survival and reject all that seems to threaten this survival; and, sometimes, the truth may appear as a threat to our very being, to what represents us.

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Time as a healer

The idea that time mends all wounds, or that time heals everything, is deeply rooted in popular cultures all around the world. This is perhaps because the capacity of our memory is limited and the brain tends to discard painful memories as time passes. Although we might remember people and events, we cannot relive emotions and feelings with the same intensity.

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