Interesting that I have two books on my self where the main character is a pig. Charlotte's Web and Animal Farm. They have very opposite ideas and purposes. Charlotte's Web has a very heartwarming and optimistic feel. There is friendship and descriptions about how beautiful life is. The farm is painted as an ideal place to learn and grow. In Animal Farm the setting is about human oppression and then animal oppression. The farm is a place for the fittest and smartest to rule the weaker.
I wonder what E.B. White wanted us to learn from this book?
I read from one posting how this story can be used to talk about the carbon footprint of raising a pig or that pigs should not die to satisfy a human's appetite. I guess when I visit my memories of this story and re-read the story, I don't see that message. I think I prefer to see the power of friendship and mentoring in this story. Charlotte mentors Wilbur. Charlotte offers to Wilbur friendship and through that friendship Wilbur grows and becomes a "better pig". By better I mean he begins to think and act differently. He then learns to be a friend and mentor to others (Charlotte's children). Its a small little farm utopia.
I wonder what E.B. White wanted us to learn from this book?
I read from one posting how this story can be used to talk about the carbon footprint of raising a pig or that pigs should not die to satisfy a human's appetite. I guess when I visit my memories of this story and re-read the story, I don't see that message. I think I prefer to see the power of friendship and mentoring in this story. Charlotte mentors Wilbur. Charlotte offers to Wilbur friendship and through that friendship Wilbur grows and becomes a "better pig". By better I mean he begins to think and act differently. He then learns to be a friend and mentor to others (Charlotte's children). Its a small little farm utopia.
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