August+25+2009+In+Class+The+Fly+Discussion

1. Vocab -- Gambit
 * In Class 8/25/2009**
 * Please write the definition, then write a journal entry about //The Fly// using the word __gambit__ and one other vocab word.
 * Don't forget these are in the vocab part of the wiki.
 * Gambit**-def. a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage/ an action or set of actions, which you carry out in order to try to gain an advantage.

//The Fly// was very indeed interesting to read and it provided me with various interpretations. The "boss", without a name, seemed to represent someone that uses **gambits** and schemes to benefit himself in his own self interest. Boasting about his newly decorated office and his material possessions, he makes himself look strong and mighty. He offers whiskey to Mr. Woodifield even though he mentioned that he was forbid to drink at home due to his health problems in order to control the mood of the room. But the old photo of his dead son on his desk represented that he had a deep, secret pain inside him that he had kept to himself for a long time. He groaned "my son" and felt prepared to weep as he imagined his son lying down in the deep earth while the daughters looked down at him. The overall theme seemed to be the inevitability of death and boss's unwillingness to accept reality. His face changed when Mr. Woodifield mentioned that his son's grave was well in Europe. Boss seemed to be dumbstruck by a mysterious unpleasing feeling that rushed into him when the image of his son came into his mind. Just when he was feeling miserable and confused due to the uncovering of a long hid pain, he notices a fly trying to get out of his inkpot. I thought the fly was a **simulacrum** of mankind and boss's mentality. The fly that cleaned the ink of itself so well amazed the Boss, as if he wanted to be able to hide everything inside him as if nothing happened. "Now one could Imagine that the little front legs rubbed against each other lightly, joyfully. The horrible danger was over; it had escaped; it was ready for life again." represented the boss's desire to run away from his pain as well. As he killed the fly, I think his inner healing about his son's death in war started. He realized that death was inevitable and something that can't be controlled. In support, after the fly died, he realized that he forgot about why he felt so upset before. The fly seemed to have taken away his pain after all. His pain "flew" away. He seems to be the model of the parents that lost their children in war who live on trying to hide their pain and misery. The fly also seemed to represent mankind's weakness. How death or faith was superior over our power.