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"The Fly in the Ointment" is a 1978 short story by V.S. Pritchett.
Harold, a professor of low standing, visits his father, who has recently become bankrupt. Although his father is contemptuous of Harold's low pay and status, he attempts to remain happy in his son's eyes; he does not want to seem a failure, but instead to be content with whatever he has accomplished. Although he has lost his business, he can now live a quiet, simple life, without the "curse" of earning more and more money hanging over his head. When a fly enters the room, the father focuses his concealed anger on it, and stands on the table to kill it, but cannot reach the ceiling. He abruptly becomes tired and allows Harold to help him down, and confesses that he has wasted his life chasing money. Harold, feeling shame and sympathy for catching his father in this moment of weakness, offers to lend him money to help him restart his business. His father, after making sure the offer is real, begins to adopt the businessman's personality again, and berates Harold for not offering the money sooner.
Pritchett draws on his own life for this tale, and weaves matters of parental approval, lust for money, dueling personalities, and parent/child respect into the story.
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What are the release dates for A Fly in the Ointment - 1920?
A Fly in the Ointment - 1920 was released on: USA: 18 April 1920
Dingbat Vase Fly Line?
fly in the ointment
What actors and actresses appeared in A Fly in the Ointment - 1920?
The cast of A Fly in the Ointment - 1920 includes: Neal Burns Lucille Rubey
What does the idiom 'a fly in the ointment' mean in a sentence?
Nothing spoils your food or medicine quite like the presence of a fly. A "fly in the ointment" is some pest or nuisance that has spoiled your otherwise-nice idea or effort. For example, it sounds nice at first to own a pet, but there's a "fly in the ointment": the upkeep costs.
What does the idiom 'fly in the ointment' mean?
Fly in the ointment: a small annoyance that spoils an otherwise pleasant experienceSomeone or something that spoils a situation which could have been successful or pleasantIt originates from the Bible and is found in Ecclesiastes 10:1 which explains it very well:"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour."It means something that spoils or ruins what is meant to be a special eventA fly in the ointment is something that spoils or ruins what is meant to be a special event.
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