The Fly in the Ointment

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1) What is the mood and tone created in this story? Answer this question in a 150 word paragraph. Quote from the story to explain them. The tone of “The fly in the Ointment” can be angry and kind of serious. Harold doesn´t like his father to be a man with “two faces”. One like a soft The tone of "The Fly in the Ointment" can be defined as serious and angry. This is transmitted by the son when he realized the father is a man with "two faces": There was the outer face like innocent man and the inside face was a much smaller one, selfish, scared and hard. The anger that is expressed in their relationship is shown in the way that they speak to each other, barely concealed grudges and annoyances. The mood, however, is sadness, as the reader is left with an impression of a son who is desperately trying to reach out to his father and to show his love, but he is rejected at every turn. When he show the money he had to his father, this turned him angrier because the father said, why he didn´t tell him before, finishing the relationship. 2) How does Pritchett make us feel sympathy for the old man? (same way of answering) For the most part, the old man isn’t likeable. He’s portrayed as a grasping businessman who looks down on his son for choosing to work as a low-paid university lecturer. Still, there are several moments when we feel sorry for the old man as we’re told that he opens the door for his son “shyly” and that he lowers his eyes with “modesty.” “It’s Harold, father,” the young man said. The door was opened. “Hullo, old chap. This is very nice of you, Harold,” said the old man shyly, stepping back from the door to let his son in, and lowering his pleased, blue eyes for a second’s modesty. The father is also described as having two faces: an aggressive business face and one that is softer (an old man’s face). There are many quotes that describe these. The
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