Charlotte’s Web: Thoughts

Charlotte’s Web: Thoughts

Have you read Charlotte’s Web? Sure, you likely have heard about it, especially if you have kids, but have you actually read it? After all, it was first published in 1952. That means that the library’s copy was probably old when you got to it. And who wants to read about a spider and a pig anyway?

My journey to readings, E.B. White, classic tale of a runt pig began haphazardly. You see, too many books are getting ‘banned’ lately. Personally, I could make a strong case for banning the Bible, but that will have to wait for another day. Add the book banning to a couple of rambunctious granddaughters that are getting more interested in chapter books – and here I am.

Three reasons to ban this book:

1. They mention nipples. Well, sort of, “(Mrs. Arable) poured warm milk into the bottle, fitted the nipple over the top, and handed it to Fern.” Yes, it sounds silly, but so do some of the reasons we’ve read for book banning.
2. Guns are prevalent. This may upset some city slickers, but they need to understand that guns were viewed as tools in rural settings. Mind you, these are not modified semi-automatic assault weapons, but don’t get me started on that.
3. Anti-vegans might want to ban it, as this book seems a manifesto for Veganism. But is it really? It shows the reality of breeding animals for their utility. Spiders do it, rats do it, geese do it, and yes, humans do it too. Eat meat that is. But perhaps there are some lessons from how the spider does it more humanely.

Nipple would get complaints from the right; handy guns would get complaints from the left? Who knew it was so controversial. A ‘propaganda’ piece for vegans?  

Another key message from the story is the importance of listening. Maybe animals do speak, but we just don’t listen. Maybe they use things other than words to speak. Maybe we need to feel them, rather than hear them. Maybe.

There is no doubt that the author does a fine job of using anthropomorphism in her story. This is the attribution of human characteristics and behavior to the animals. And how did a spider learn to spell? Very attentively, it would seem. As Mrs. Arable said: “Still, I don’t understand how words got into the web. I don’t understand it, and I don’t like what I can’t understand.

Are we seeing a lack of understanding driving political thought now? Perhaps but that too is a topic for another day.

In the end, this is a charming tale about friendship, kindness, and love. It is a story of friendship won and life lost. “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.”

It is a story of love, and that is a wonderful Sunday Thought.

Lino Matteo ©™

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