Introduction
Charlotte’s web is a book written by the author White E.B. and was initially printed in 1952. It is demonstrated by Garth Williams. This book begins when John Arable’s sow gives birth to several piglets. Mr. Arable finds out that one of them is a runt and makes a decision of killing it. The piglets name is Wilbur.
The book gives a story of a spider by the name Charlotte and her acquaintance with Wilbur, the piglet. The story rotates around Wilbur’s rescue from being killed for food by Charlotte and is regarded as the best of children’s writing. Charlotte’s web contains some fascinating characters playing different roles for different purposes.
This paper will focus on two characters in the story, that is, Wilbur and Charlotte A. Cavatica. It will determine their overall purpose in the story, their impact on the themes and any development that takes place in these two characters over the course of the narrative. Wilbur loves life though he at times feels abandoned and fearful. Charlotte A. Cavatica, on the other hand, initially appears blood thirsty due to her way of obtaining food.
Discussion
Development of Wilbur
Wilbur is the favorite piglet of Fern Arable, a young girl. He is to be killed by John, Fern’s father, on the morning after his birth. This is because Wilbur is a runt in John’s litter of eleven piglets. He is extremely small in size at the time of his birth. Fern persuades her father to permit her to take care of Wilbur for a period of six weeks.
Wilbur survives and grows into a mature pig. Fern is now obliged to take Wilbur to the Zuckerman’s homestead, where he is to be prepared for a feast. Seclusion looms around Wilbur’s life and Wilbur’s hope shrinks.
In the process of losing hope, Wilbur is noticed by a remarkably expressive spider, Charlotte A. Cavatica. Charlotte’s voice surfaces from the shadows asking Wilbur whether he wants a friend. The author of this novel refers this as a story of friendship and rescue in the farm. Wilbur accepts this friendship and becomes the best friend of Charlotte’s.
Wilbur’s character changes throughout the story. This is seen in the fact that he changes from a minute weak and helpless piglet that is reliant on the assistance and protection of others. He grows from this to a mature character capable of taking on the accountability to protect others. This is seen where he pays Charlotte back for her assistance by looking after her children.
Development of Charlotte A. Cavatica
Charlotte A. Cavatica is a spider. She inhabits the space immediately on top of Wilbur’s pen in the Zuckerman’s shed. She makes friends with Wilbur and chose’s to protect him from being killed for food. With assistance from the other animals in the shed, Charlotte assures the Zuckerman family that Wilbur is an exceptional animal.
He does this by describing Wilbur as some pig in her web and interpreting its meaning. It is, therefore, evident that Charlotte’s character does not change throughout the story. She is depicted as intelligent, resourceful and sympathetic from the beginning of the story to the end.
Wilbur’s purpose and his impact on the themes of the book
Wilbur is the main character in this book. It is his needs and wants that endow the story with a context. Without him, there would be no story. He portrays the theme of friendship by looking after Charlotte’s children after she passes. In this way, Wilbur portrays true friendship.
He plays the role of showing people that death is not the most terrible outcome in life compared to living without friends. Charlotte’s life is made rich she reaches out to help her friend Wilbur. This is seen when Wilbur eventually helps her children to grow under proper care. He, therefore, portrays concern and compassion as friendship qualities.
The story quotes that Wilbur never overlooked Charlotte. Chapter 3 of the book quotes that: “Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both” (White et al. 3).
Wilbur also portrays the theme of farm life. He is going to be killed simply because he is a rant. By using Wilbur, E.B.White shows that farm animals are brought up for food and other products. The fact that Wilbur goes for fairs also shows that many farmers keep animals and display them at county exhibitions. Wilbur and the other animals in the play are exemplified throughout the amusing, touching and appealing barnyard setting of the novel.
Wilbur contributes to the theme of the natural cycle of life and death. In this story, it is a customary practice to slay pigs for Christmas dinner. Wilbur is frightened about the end of the period. This is because he is aware that some time will come, where he will be finished up as dinner. He creates a plan with Charlotte to make sure that this will never occur. Through much of the story, Wilbur struggles with the menace of slaughter.
Charlotte’s purpose and her impact on the themes of the book
Charlotte’s key purpose in the story is to save and shield Wilbur from being slaughtered. He takes care of Wilbur throughout the story. Charlotte A. Cavatica plays a role in enhancing the theme of friendship in this novel. She works hard to rescue Wilbur’s life. She even procures new terms for her web to depict Wilbur.
For instance, when Wilbur is under risk of being butchered by the Zuckerman farmer, Charlotte composes messages applauding Wilbur. He pleads with Zuckerman to let Wilbur free. Charlotte quotes “We do not want Zuckerman to think Wilbur is crunchy. He might start thinking about bacon. No, we must advertise Wilbur’s noble qualities, not his tastiness” (White et al. 2).
At the beginning of the novel, Charlotte approaches Wilbur when he is disappointed. She, however, does not ask anything from Wilbur but merely helps him because he is her friend. In this case, Charlotte shows that she is a true friend of Wilbur. This proves that having a friend may make someone’s ordinary way of living special.
Friendship in this book is depicted as a matter of listening, acting in response, encouraging and offering assistance while staying true to one self. For instance, Charlotte did not stop feeding on flies though her friend Wilbur took it as disgusting. She explained to Wilbur that it was part of her nature and the nature of spiders in general.
Charlotte explains the importance of being Wilbur’s friend and quotes: “you have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you.
After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, and we die. A spider’s life can not help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that” (White et al. 5).
Charlotte develops the theme of loyalty in the novel. She struggles to save Wilbur from murder because she cares for him. Even when she is worn out and nearing the termination of her life, she is still contemplating on helping Wilbur.
Conclusion
The two characters focused in this paper include Wilbur and Charlotte A. Cavatica. Wilbur is the protagonist in this book. It is his needs and wants that endow the story with a context. Without him, there would be no story.
Charlotte’s key purpose in the story is to save and shield Wilbur from being slaughtered. He takes care of Wilbur throughout the story. Wilbur has an impact on themes such as friendship, farm life and natural cycle of life and death while Charlotte’s impact is seen in Friendship and Loyalty.
Charlotte’s character does not change throughout the story. She is depicted as intelligent, resourceful and sympathetic from the beginning of the story to the end. Wilbur’s character, however, changes throughout the story. He changes from a minute weak and helpless piglet that is reliant on the assistance and protection of others. He grows up to a character capable of taking on the accountability to protect others.
Works Cited
White, E. B., Williams, Garth., & Wells, Rosemary. Charlotte’s web. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 2001. Print