theme of the poem the spider and the fly
The Spider and the Fly is a poem by Mary Howitt (1799 -- 1888), published in 1828. The first line of the poem is "' Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly." The story tells of a cunning Spider who ensnares a naïve Fly through the use of seduction and flattery. The poem is a cautionary tale against those who use flattery and charm to disguise their true evil intentions.