"The Fly"

 "The Fly"

 By: Katherine Mansfield

 Art found here: http://insert---here.blogspot.ca/

"The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield has many key features incorporated into it, along with a lot of literary terms. Mansfield used a lot of imagery in this piece, for example it is used when the boss is describing things in the office/room: "...the photograph over the table of a grave-looking boy in uniform standing in one of those spectral photographers' parks with photographers' storm-clouds behind him." (Mansfield, The Fly.) This is very descriptive and allows the reader to imagine what the photograph looks like. Mansfield also used similes in this piece of writing, it can be shown when it says: "...piped old Mr. Woodifield, and he peered out of the great, green leather armchair by his friend the boss's desk as a baby peers out of its pram" (Mansfield, The Fly.) The last literary term that I am going to talk about is the diction. Mansfield uses a very formal writing style, she uses a wide variety of words which adds to the sense of imagery. This piece of writing is aimed towards older audiences as they can comprehend the meaning better than those who are younger. 

I think Mansfield over all idea to share with her readers is that everyone goes through struggles rather it be self-inflicted or out of your control, I can really see this when Mr. Woodifield helped and the ultimately killed the fly. The fly was the symbol for the loss of his son, and may be, just maybe, killing the fly resulted in closure.

I had to read this short story more than once because the first time I read it I was lost. I did not understand the point to it. The second time I read it though, I began to understand it. Although it took me a while to understand, I appreciate Manfields creative approach to the everyday struggles of life.