As Boys To Wanton Flies Flashcards
Summary of As Boys to Wanton Flies
As Boys to Wanton Flies (underlined) is a short story written by Michael Wilding in 1971 which showcases Lionel’s immense phobia of bugs and critters, which act as a facade for his inner most fear of growing up and losing his innocence. The story goes on to use ….. to illustrate …..
How does Lionel Describe his life?
‘Lionel’s world was a narrow honey smeared jar into which insects were lured and from which they could not escape.’
Metaphor: he is sheltered, encaged, how small his world is, he is trapped
The honey symbolises the happy/ sweet things in his life ( mum/maid) which bring in the flies (his fears)
Foreshadowing - Erica’s body was a ‘sweet orange brown’ - she is the one entrapping him into social construct of a man, exposing and luring the flies which represent the expectations of him.
Onomatopoeia
‘But buzzed and drilled around him…’
Sharp, deafening sounds, sensory overload, heightened senses
Provides sensory imagery; immerses into the situation - his phobia
Militaristic imagery
‘… lines of cockroaches would file across the cooling pavement..’
Militaristic imagery; Ordered and deliberate direct attack
How feared the bugs are, how powerful they are to him
Repetition and syntax
‘…would wake up screaming that they had tripped across the floor..one after another …and wake up screaming …’
Syntax- of long lines signify he is ovwehnlemd, his mental condition
Militaristic imagery
Repetition - of waking up screaming signifies that it’s a never ending nightmare and issue for him, continuously affecting him and scaring him
How is Erica characterised
‘…Erica, whose honey blonde hair shone, whose body glowed a rich, sweet orange brown.’
Erica has a name - connotes that she is powerful
Sensual and sweet imagery of the look and appearance of Erica; the traditional sexual look of a female, the desired look men enjoy
‘Oh you silly boy’
- connotes to how innocent Lionel is
- connotes how young Lionel is
- connotes to Lionel’s innocence - young = pure
‘She was a monster to him’ and ‘He feared her touch’
Structural archetype; Temptress
- on the outside she was society desires women to be
- but to Lionel she is a parasite, she is powerful through her sexuality
- she is infecting his purity through her with her presence and sexual actions.
How is Erica masculine
‘Erica picked it up at that, forced open it’s mouth and removed the soggy cicada, drenched in saliva.’
- masculine words connotes that she is ‘male -like’ , has the power as a man
- she is not afraid of being sexual so she has power
- physical power
How is Erica representing the society?
“You must grow up she said, …I shall have to cure you’
Lionel does not fit the mould which society deems men to be like. If he does not he is considered different, ‘malfunction’ or ‘diseased’ in society. Society will ensure they conform and ‘fit the mould’.
