‘THE SPIDER AND THE FLY’

Introduction

Allama Muhammad Iqbal, a respected philosopher, poet, and reformer of the Indian
subcontinent, also made significant contributions to children's literature. His poem “The Spider
and the Fly” is a well-known example of his moral and educational writing for young readers.
Adapted from Mary Howitt’s 1829 English poem of the same name, Iqbal retains the central
lesson of being mindful of flattery but reinterprets it through a South Asian and Islamic moral
framework to make the message more culturally and spiritually relevant for young Muslim
readers. By doing so, he encourages children to develop moral awareness, critical thinking, and
caution against deceitful flattery.

Thematic Interpretation

In the poem, a clever spider tries to trick a fly into visiting his home. At first, the fly refuses,
showing she is wise and experienced. She says she knows that anyone who enters the spider’s
home is never seen again. But the spider doesn’t stop. He changes his approach and begins to
praise the fly’s beauty, her soft wings, and polite manners. The fly, pleased by his flattery,
forgets her earlier warning and agrees to go with him. The fly, pleased by his flattery, forgets her
earlier warning and goes with him. She gets trapped in his web and meets a sad end. Apparently,
it is a simple dialogue between two insects but the poem carries deep lessons about human
behavior and society. It symbolically highlights how flattery can cloud one’s judgment and
weaken the ability to think critically. The fly’s downfall reflects how even wise individuals can
fall into danger when reason is overshadowed by praise and emotional influence. The spider
slowly changes his tricks to trap the fly. First, he tries to make her feel guilty by emotionally
blackmailing her, saying they belong to the same group of arthropods and she shouldn’t ignore
her near and dear ones. Then he offers her rest in his cozy home, thinking she might be tired.
When that doesn’t work, he recalls that people often fall for flattery. So, he starts praising her
beauty and manners. This finally fools the fly, showing how flattery can cloud judgment and lead
to danger. The poem shows how a deceiver gradually changes tactics to achieve his goal. When
direct persuasion failed, he turns to flattery, which ultimately overcomes reason and leads to
downfall. It expresses the power of flattery to cloud one’s senses and reason. At its heart, the
poem teaches several important moral lessons in a simple but powerful way. It warns us to be
careful of sweet talk and flattery, as not everyone who praises us is sincere. We should learn to
trust our inner voice and be aware that kind words can sometimes hide bad intentions. The poem
also reminds us that true strength is not just in seeing danger, but in staying ethically and
intellectually strong and not falling prey to even the strongest temptation and enticement. Iqbal
goes beyond just showing that evil exist in the internal and the external world, but he also helps
us understand how it works in unnoticed and attractive ways, using our own weaknesses to trick
us. Only those who remain ethically steadfast and keep their critical thinking active can guard
themselves against deception and strong lure of flattery.

Symbolic Interpretation

The symbolic interpretation of the poem is both profound and multi-dimensional. The spider
represents cunning, deceitful, and the manipulative forces in society. It symbolises individuals or
systems that lure and entice others with sweet words and promises for their selfish gains. These
traps can be of different forms including wealth, fame, influence, emotional manipulation and
flattery. The spider does not rely on force; rather, he exercises psychological control, carefully
weaving a net of words to ensnare his victim. On the other hand, the fly stands for innocence,
simplicity, and emotional vulnerability. She is not unintelligent; in fact, her initial rejection of
the spider shows she possesses awareness. However, it is her vanity and desire for self-praise
that ultimately blind her judgment. The poem shows how negative forces use different ways to
lure others. Iqbal symbolically warns that such forces keep trying until they find a weak spot, and
once trust is broken, the result can be harmful. Iqbal’s broader message often goes beyond
individual moral lessons and reflects deeper socio-political concerns. While “The Spider and the
Fly” does not explicitly mention Hindus or the British, its theme of deceit and flattery can be
seen as a symbolic warning to the Muslim community. Iqbal frequently warned Muslims against
external influences including political, cultural, or ideological. In many of his writings and
speeches, he warned against the deceptive tactics of colonial powers and also expressed concern
about Hindu-majority dominance under the Congress. Thus, this poem can be seen as a subtle
moral allegory that urges Muslims to stay mentally alert and think critically to guard themselves
against misleading and deceitful forces. The choice of using a spider and a fly as characters is not
arbitrary. Both insects are naturally associated with the dynamics of predator and prey, making
the allegory immediately intuitive. The spider is known for its intricate web and patience. It is a
natural metaphor for entrapment. It spins beautiful, symmetrical webs not for art but for the sole
purpose of catching and killing its prey. Thus, it symbolises deceptive charm used by
manipulative and deceitful individuals in real life. The fly, small and fast-moving, is often seen
as carefree and vulnerable. It rarely pauses to see danger buzzing from place to place. Its
lightness and movement shows the human tendency to be distracted, to overlook threats.
Moreover, these two insects are universally recognizable, making the poem accessible to readers
of all backgrounds and ages. The predator-prey relationship between them intensifies the moral
tension and allows the reader to draw immediate parallels with real-life situations. What deepens
the symbolic layer further is the fly’s internal transformation. Initially cautious, she doubts the
spider’s intentions. But her desire to be admired leads to her downfall. This shift in her attitude
reflects a larger truth: that evil often does not need to overpower us by force; it only needs to
manipulate our desires and weaknesses. Iqbal, through this, critiques not only the deceivers in
society but also highlights the inner flaws and weaknesses such as pride, emotionalism, and a
hunger for self-praise that make people susceptible to deception. Iqbal directs Muslims to reflect
on their own inner flaws and weaknesses. He urges them to awaken their self-awareness and
recognise their true potential, warning that real danger often comes from within. One must
strengthen oneself by developing critical reasoning, so that internal weaknesses do not lead to
one’s downfall. Beyond symbolism, Iqbal’s adaptation also reflects his educational vision. He
believed that young readers must not only be taught academic knowledge but also trained in
moral awareness and spiritual strength. In his view, the greatest defense against the world’s
deceptions is not just intelligence but character. Hence, even though the poem is directed at
children, it carries wisdom relevant to adults and applicable across social, political, and personal
contexts.

Stylistic Analysis

In stylistic terms, the poem uses personification by giving human speech and emotions to insects,
making the conversation feel real and engaging. Iqbal uses vivid imagery and a conversational
tone to draw the reader into the drama. The suspense builds gradually, as the spider’s
manipulation becomes more polished and the fly’s resistance wears down. Irony plays a
powerful role. The fly begins as a cautious figure but ironically becomes a victim due to the
internal traits such as overconfidence and a need for self-praise. The rhythmic structure of the
poem and simple language also help embed its message firmly in the minds of young readers. It
has a dramatic impact through its dialogue form, which encourages the reader to think deeply
about the message and reflect on the consequences of deception and blind trust. It uses vivid
imagery to make the scenes more engaging and realistic, helping readers visualize and feel the
scenes and events, enhancing the moral impact of the poem.

Conclusion

In short, ‘The Spider and the Fly’ is apparently a simple poem, but it combines clear storytelling, strong
moral lessons, and deep meaning. By turning a Western fable into a story with Islamic cultural and moral
value, Iqbal teaches children important lessons and also reminds adults that not everything that looks good is
truly good, and not all kind words are sincere. One must guard oneself against the internal and external
negative forces through critical insight.

Questions

1. What moral lessons does the poem aim to teach, especially to young readers?
2. How does the poem highlight the dangers of blindly trusting sweet words or flattery?
3. In what ways does the poem reflect Iqbal’s broader message about self-awareness and
inner strength?
4. What do the spider and the fly symbolise in the context of human behavior and society?
5. How can the spider’s changing tactics represent different forms of temptation or
deception in real life?
6. Could the fly’s downfall be seen as a metaphor for the consequences of ignoring one’s
inner voice?
7. How does the use of dialogue contribute to the dramatic and moral impact of the poem?
8. What role does vivid imagery play in making the poem engaging and memorable?
9. How does Iqbal’s adaptation add cultural and moral depth to the original English version
by Mary Howitt?