What role does Mr. Woodifield play in "The Fly"?

Mr. Woodifield appears in the first half of "The Fly," misdirecting the reader's attention, since he seems at first to be the protagonist. He gives the reader the opportunity to see the boss as he normally appears to others, a successful businessman, confident, jovial, and without introspection or self-pity. Woodifield is rather a pathetic figure, and the boss, who is in fact five years older than he is, sees him, as the reader does, as a broken-down old man with little in life to which he can look forward. His obvious emotion when the boss offers him some whisky, which he is not allowed to drink at home, clearly establishes the boss's position of superiority.

It is also Woodifield who brings up the subject of the deaths of both their sons, creating the transition to the second half of the story, in which the boss broods alone over the death of his son and distracts himself with the struggling fly. Woodifield seems to have come to terms with the death of his son and is able to mention it, then go on to trivial matters without apparent concern. This provides a stark contrast to the depth of the boss's feelings: though he does not weep, he is clearly still deep in grief over his son.

Who is Mr. Woodifield and who does he visit in "The Fly"?

In Katherine Mansfield's short story "The Fly," Mr. Woodifield is a former clerk who used to work in the City ("the City" refers to the financial district of London rather than to the entire city). He had to leave work after suffering a stroke and now stays at home with his wife and daughters. On Tuesdays, Mr. Woodifield returns to the City to visit his former workmates. These trips are the highlight of his week, though his wife and daughters imagine that he must be a nuisance to his old friends, who have work to do.

In the story, Mr. Woodifield is paying a visit to his old friend, identified only as "the boss," since he runs the firm. It is not clear whether he was Mr. Woodifield's boss, but the two now meet on approximately equal terms. Mr. Woodifield is the younger of the two, but he seems older, partly due to his vague, aimless demeanor. He is reluctant to leave the boss's office but does not seem to be causing any serious inconvenience, since the boss is proud of his office and likes to have it admired. He invites Woodifield to prolong his stay by offering him whisky, which he is not allowed to drink at home.