Explain/discuss in what ways Harold is a rounded character unlike his father in the "The Fly in the Ointment" by V.S. Pritchett.

In V.S. Pritchett's short story, "The Fly in the
Ointment," Harold is very much a round character, while his father is
not.

A round character is defined
as:

...one who
is capable of change and evolution throughout a
story.

Harold is a son who
has been treated badly (we can assume on a regular basis) by his father, with an example
noted in the following passage:

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"Come in, Professor," said the father. This was
an old family joke. He despised his son, who was, in fact, not a professor but a poorly
paid lecturer at a provincial
university.

Harold is
disliked by his father not because he is a bad person or because he
has been unkind to his parent, but because his job is a humble one and he does not make
a great deal of money. However, the older man's criticism of his son goes beyond his
career choice and lack of financial success. The father is—in a very non-parent-like
way—critical of his son's physical
appearance.

Do
you know, you're actually more bald at the back than I thought. There's a patch there as
big as my hand. I saw it just then. It gave me quite a shock. You really must do
something about it. How are your teeth? That may have something to do with it. Hasn't
Alice told you how bald you
are?

As the story progresses,
the reader discovers that despite his father's treatment of him,
Harold is overcome by a desire to ease his father's pain as the older man's life changes
dramatically. Harold's father's factory was successful for many years, and money means
everything to him. As his father's business now begins to disappear—the workers are gone
and the furniture sold—Harold's father seems lost. Harold, however, is willing to forget
the past and morally support his dad, showing that he is able to
change.

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Suddenly all the money quarrels of the family,
which nagged in the young man's mind, had been dissolved. His dread of being involved in
them vanished. He was overcome by the sadness of his father's situation...I must see
him. I must help him.

It
seems that Harold's father is also capable of change when he
announces:

readability="6">

I've done with money. Absolutely done and
finished with it. I never want to see another penny as long as I
live.

This
might be good news if it were true. Harold,
once again showing his ability to leave old pain and heartache delivered at his father's
hands, behind, says:

readability="14">

I'm not rich. None of us is...we can't do
anything. I wish I could, but I can't...But the idea of your being—you know, well short
of some immediate necessity, I mean—well, if it is ever a question of—well, to be
frank, cash, I'd raise it
somehow."

This is born of
Harold's wish to alleviate his father pain, much as a loving parent
would act with a child. However, we see that Harold's father has not changed
at all. As soon as Harold utters what is no more than a hope, his
father's old persona—self-centered and overbearing—returns in full force as he demands
details:

readability="6">

"Raise it?" said the old man sharply. "Why didn't
you tell me before you could raise money? How can you raise it? Where? By
when?"

Harold is able to grow
up in the story and forgive and forget his sire's "sins" of aggression towards him.
However, perhaps his father speaks as if he has changed because it may make him seem
less pathetic—something he cannot handle personally, though he is
quick to point out aspects of his son that old man sees as
pathetic.

Harold is a good son, despite his father's
behavior. His father really does not deserve his son's concern.