Did the flattery of the spider work?
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The poet. Mary Howitt has explained the theme of the poem in the last stanza after she has finished narrating the story of the spider and the fly. The fable of the spider and the fly is a lesson for the readers in building a strong character. The fly is a metaphor for a strong knowledgeable person who is well aware of the harm that certain attractions can cause. They fly very well understands that the claims of the spider are false, and even though the spider may possess some of what he declares, his intentions surely were not good. Or the other hand, though the spider is not as sophisticated as the fly, he knows her weaknesses for sure. When he fails in enticing the fly to his lair with the claims of good food in his pantry and comfort in his parlour, he employs the technique of flattery. He begins to praise the fly, talking highly of her colour wings and physical appearance. The fly listens to all these praises and gets seduced by the words. This time when the spider invites her to his parlour, sc that she herself may see her beauty in his mirror, she moves closer to his wet and as she approaches close, the spider pounces on her and she is killed.
Through this narrative, the poet wishes to warn her readers not to fall prey to fake praise and idle flattering words.