E.B. White's Charlotte's Web

E.B. White’s ‘Charlotte’s Web’ is a timeless children’s novel that tells the story of true friendship between a piglet and a spider. The story starts with Fern, a little girl who saves a runty piglet from being slaughtered by her father. She names him Wilbur and nurtures him to full health. Wilbur is later sold to Fern’s uncle and he lives a lonely life, being snubbed by other farm animals. A caring, sympathetic spider named Charlotte befriends him and constantly encourages him to be brave to face the odds in his life. She saves Wilbur many times from being slaughtered by weaving good adjectives about him on her web, making the piglet famous. She eventually dies for Wilbur, leaving behind hundreds of baby spiders, who accompany Wilbur for a short time. At the end of the novel, three little spiders remain on the farm with Wilbur, living happily ever after with him. 

The story clutches at my heartstrings with its evocative prose on friendship. Charlotte, the kind spider, goes out of her way to bring hope to the ever-whining Wilbur. She is like a fairy god mother to the piglet, who always reminds him that he is not alone. However, unlike normal fairy tales, Charlotte is vulnerable. Her tireless efforts in saving Wilbur take a toll on her health, resulting in her death. Her sacrifice calls to mind the selfless love of a true friend, or even a mother.

I have read the novel many times and it grows on me. The children’s novel not only appeals to my inner-child but also serves as my motivator. I prized the novel as a child but lost it in a fire. I ordered it from Kinokuniya, Kuala Lumpur only recently and holding it again in my hands feels like magic. I will recommend it to any one, young and old, for its undying themes of love and friendship.