The Spider and the Fly

Notes on The Spider and the Fly

The Cunning Spider: A spider lured a fly, that

had happened to come up to his web, to come into his drawing room. In order to tempt the fly, it praised the room highly, saying that it was the prettiest room she had ever seen. He told her to come through the winding stair to his room. The room, he added cleverly, had many rare things for her to see.

The little fly who seemed to know the cunningness of the spider lost no time in declining the invitation. She said that she would not get tempted as she knew that whoever went there never came back again.

Unyielding Spider: The spider did not give up.

He said that the fly must be tired for she had flown very high. He asked her to come to his room and rest on his little, comfortable bed. He said that there were beautiful curtains round the room. The bedsheets on the bed are quite fine and delicate. He added that if she wanted to rest in his room, he would himself put her down on the bed comfortably.

The fly again declined the spider's offer, saying that she knew that those who ever slept there never got up again.

Words of Affection: The clever spider, then,

called the fly his dear friend and asked her what he could do to prove his sincere love for her. He said that The little fly respectfully turned down the invitation, saying that she knew very well what was in his store and she had no desire to have a look at the things in it.

Flattering Words: The spider called the fly a sweet

creature who was both witty and wise. He exclaimed that her wings were silky and her eyes were shining. He said that he had a small mirror on the shelf of his room. If the fly came into the room, she could herself see her own image.

The fly thanked him for what he said, and said that she would come some other day.

Spider's Confidence: The spider turned round

and came to his dirty cell. He knew well that the foolish fly would soon return. So he wove a web quickly and secretly in one corner of his cell. He got his table ready to dine upon the fly. Then he came out of his cell and began to sing happily. The song was addressed to the fly to come to him. He praised her by saying that she had pearl and silver wing, her robes were green and purple, and a crest was on her head. Her eyes were as bright as diamonds while his own were as dull as lead.

The Fatal Return of the Fly: The little foolish

fly heard his clever, flattering words and soon flew back. With her fluttering wings she hung herself at the upward web. She went closer and closer, thinking of her brilliant eyes, green and purple colour and the crest on her head. Finally, the cunning spider jumped at her and held her firmly. Then he dragged her up to his winding stairs and then to his dark cell, from where she never came out again.

Moral: The little children, who may read this story, should pay no heed to useless, foolish, flattering hould not be 'The Spider and the Fly' brings home the idea that we need to be wary of flattering words. The cunning and evil-minded persons resort to flattery to have their way. They use sweet words to lure the innocent and gullible people, knowing fully well that they will succeed in their aims.

In the tragic tale, the fly knows it well that it is dangerous to enter the spider's home (web). She spurns the spider's invitation and tempting offers at first. She is only taken in by his flattering remarks about her wings and eyes and she returns to have a glance at her beauty in the so-called mirror in the spider's web. The spider's words are too enticing for her to ignore:

"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing:

Your robes are green and purple; there's a crest upon your head; Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead."

It is interesting to note that the spider is cocksure of the effect of his words. He is not worried when the fly goes away. He knows that the little fly is silly enough to take his words seriously and is sure to return to confirm what he has said in her praise. The narrator calls him 'wily' and the fly 'silly'. Thus, she makes her message clear to the readers.

The last stanza of the poem points to the dangers of flattering words. The narrator, after telling the story, addresses the readers (children) to be wary of those who use pleasing words to get something they desire:

And now, dear little children, who may this story read,

To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed; Unto an evil counsellor close heart, and ear, and eye,

And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the

Fly.

The tale makes us conscious that the wicked