Charlotte's Web Themes

Charlotte's Web Themes

Friendship and Loyalty

The first example of friendship that White provides in Charlotte's Web is that of Wilbur and Fern. Though this is actually more of a mother-child relationship, Fern still shows a great deal of loyalty to Wilbur through most of the book. This relationship parallels that of Wilbur and Charlotte, in some ways, mainly in the fact that Charlotte is quite motherly towards Wilbur at times.

Where Charlotte and Wilbur's friendship surpasses that of the one between Fern and Wilbur is in its staying power. Fern, by the end of the book, has seemingly lost interest in Wilbur, choosing to focus her attentions on a boy. Charlotte, on the other hand, is loyal to the end, even working to save Wilbur's life to the detriment of her own. She is also always there to give Wilbur a boost when he feels down about himself, and they seem to fulfill needs for...
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