What is the theme of "The Spider and The Fly" by Mary Howitt?

The main theme of Mary Howitt's poem "The Spider and the Fly" is vanity and folly. More specifically, it is the way in which vanity can make one more foolish than one would otherwise be.

At the beginning of the poem, it is quite clear that the fly knows exactly what the spider intends to do with any fly unwise enough to accept its invitation. The first three stanzas follow a clear pattern, in which the spider issues an invitation, which the fly rejects. Each time, the fly makes it clear that she is refusing because of a well-founded belief that the spider will kill her. However, she later forgets this caution when she is entranced by the spider's flattery.

In the last four lines of the poem, the poet makes her message explicit by addressing the readers, presumed to be children, directly to warn them against vanity. The stress she has previously laid on the cunning and violence of the spider and the folly of the fly have already made it clear what perspective she will take here.

Nonetheless, one might argue that another theme of the poem, seen from the spider's point of view, is the value of persistence. The spider is repeatedly rebuffed in his efforts to entice the fly into his parlor, but he keeps trying. In the end, his tenacity and patience are rewarded.

What is the theme of "The Spider and The Fly" by Mary Howitt?

I think that Howitt herself details the theme at the end of her poem.  Once she has finished telling the narrative of the spider and the fly, she breaks from the poetic storytelling and offers up a type of warning as a moral or theme to conclude the poem:

And now dear little children, who may this story read,       To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:  Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,      And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

It is here where the theme becomes strongest displayed.  The weakness to succumb to flattery and false praise could be one's undoing.  If we consider how such words play on our ego, causing us to embrace what could be disastrous, the theme of limiting individual pride becomes the driving theme of the poem.  The spider is able to "weave a web" to ensnare the fly because of the superficial praise heaped on it.  When the fly gives in to this praise, believing it as truth, the fly is destroyed.  In this, there is the theme of not giving in to tempting words of praise and adulation, no matter how seductive they may be.

What is the summary of "The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt?

Mary Howitt's poem is all about temptation as the spider attempts to draw the fly into mortal danger through a series of appeals to the fly's desires.

In the first stanza, the spider tells the fly all about his pretty little parlor and its curiosities. If the fly will just walk in, she would be delighted. But the fly resists; she does not want to see that parlor.

In the second stanza, the spider offers a comfortable bed with fine curtains and sheets. The fly must be tried, the spider suggests, after flying around so much; she should rest. Again, the fly resists; she will not rest in the spider's bed.

In the third stanza, the spider describes his pantry and all its good store of nice things, all the while assuring the fly of his "warm affection" for her. The fly is perfectly welcome to try a slice of something delicious. The fly declines; she does not want to even see what is in the spider's pantry.

In the fourth stanza, the spider turns to flattery, telling the fly how wise and witty she is and how beautiful her wings and eyes are. He invites the fly to step inside and look in the mirror. The fly thanks the spider for his compliments, wishes him a good morning, and leaves.

In the fifth stanza, the spider goes into his den, knowing the fly would be back. He makes his preparations, spinning a web and setting the table. Then he calls the fly again, turning up the flattery to its highest degree and waxing poetic about the fly's beauty.

In the sixth stanza, the fly, finally unable to resist this last temptation, comes too close, and the spider jumps upon her and drags her into his parlor. She will never see daylight again.

In the poem's final stanza, the speaker directly addresses the audience with a moral lesson and words of warning. Do not fall for "idle, silly flattering words," for those who speak such have evil motives.

What societal trends are reflected in "The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt?

I think that the poem stresses the idea that can be seen in social trends today.  Namely, that if individuals succumb to superficiality, bad things are not far behind.  The fly is ensnared because of the superficial praisings of the spider.  I cannot help thinking of internet predators that use similar ensarements to lure young children into challenging and dangerous situations.  No matter how many warnings are given to children, so many are victim to internet predators.  These individuals are able to gain a foothold and an entry point through similar words of flattery and superficial indulgence.  Few, if any, are able to successfully prey on children by stating, "I am a dangerous internet predator."  Rather, they use soothing words of encouragement to unsuspecting children, words that the children hang on with a sense of flattery and self worth being validated.  In the same way, the fly becomes victim to the spider because of the words of superficial praise, words that Howitt, herself, speaks to in the poem:

To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed: Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye.

I feel that this is a point where there is a relevant social trend in the poem, specifically in light of internet predatory habits and child engagement using social networking.