Theme of disappointment in The Fly In The Ointment
Theme of DISAPPOINTMENT
In Pritchett's short story, the father shows his disappointment in a stoic fashion. His business is going under and his son comes to offer his moral support.
'We've cleared everything up. They got most of the machines out today. I'm just locking up and handing over. Locking up is quite a business...Worrying? You keep on using that word. I'm not worrying. Things are fine,' said the old man, smiling aggressively. 'I feel they're fine. I know they're fine!'
The father does his best to show a nonchalance he does not feel about the business. However, he also never indicates that he feels responsible for his company's failure.
However, the man's biggest disappointment is in his son.
‘Come in, Professor,’ said the father. This was an old family joke. He despised his son, who was, in fact, not a professor but a poorly paid lecturer at a provincial university.
In light of how the father feels, it is puzzling that the old man is so cordial to his son—who is disappointed that he cannot do more.
I'm not rich. None of us is...we can't do anything...well, if it is ever a question of—well, to be frank, cash, I'd raise it somehow.
How unfortunate for the son to remind his father of the reason for his disappointment...except the word "cash" changes everything for the father:
'Raise it?' said the old man sharply. 'Why didn't you tell me before you could raise money? How can you raise it? Where? By when?'
Obviously, the father can get over his "disappointment" if his son has money—for money matters more than anything to this father.
In Pritchett's short story, the father shows his disappointment in a stoic fashion. His business is going under and his son comes to offer his moral support.
'We've cleared everything up. They got most of the machines out today. I'm just locking up and handing over. Locking up is quite a business...Worrying? You keep on using that word. I'm not worrying. Things are fine,' said the old man, smiling aggressively. 'I feel they're fine. I know they're fine!'
The father does his best to show a nonchalance he does not feel about the business. However, he also never indicates that he feels responsible for his company's failure.
However, the man's biggest disappointment is in his son.
‘Come in, Professor,’ said the father. This was an old family joke. He despised his son, who was, in fact, not a professor but a poorly paid lecturer at a provincial university.
In light of how the father feels, it is puzzling that the old man is so cordial to his son—who is disappointed that he cannot do more.
I'm not rich. None of us is...we can't do anything...well, if it is ever a question of—well, to be frank, cash, I'd raise it somehow.
How unfortunate for the son to remind his father of the reason for his disappointment...except the word "cash" changes everything for the father:
'Raise it?' said the old man sharply. 'Why didn't you tell me before you could raise money? How can you raise it? Where? By when?'
Obviously, the father can get over his "disappointment" if his son has money—for money matters more than anything to this father.