Summary of "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield

Old Woodifield's Visit

Old Mr. Woodifield, recently retired and limited in his activities due to a stroke, regularly visits the boss's office on Tuesdays. During a visit, Woodifield admires the boss's comfortable office and mentions a recent visit by his daughters to Belgium.

News from Belgium

Woodifield informs the boss that his daughters visited the grave of the boss's son, Reggie, and found it near their son's grave and well-maintained. The boss, however, remains unresponsive to the news, displaying only a slight quiver.

The Boss's Reaction

After Woodifield departs, the boss intends to weep. He reflects on his son's death six years prior and how it shattered his life's meaning. He recalls the boy's promising start in the office and the immense grief he felt after receiving the telegram about his death.

The Fly

The boss notices a fly struggling in his inkpot. He rescues it, but proceeds to drop ink on it repeatedly, observing its struggle to clean itself each time. He then kills the fly with a final drop of ink and disposes of its corpse. After killing the fly, the boss is overcome with wretchedness and cannot remember what he was thinking about before.