There are two reasons I chose to read this book. For one thing, my friend gave high praise of it. For another thing, I like fairy tales very much. They have rich imagination, lovely animals having personification, and lively language. Moreover, fairy tales wrap up reality with children's simplicity. They change lessons into interesting stories so that children can understand more easily.
What part did I enjoy?
My favorite part is Chapter Eight “Last Day”, where Charlotte and Wilbur are parted by death. Although it’s very sentimental, it becomes the first in my heart because it is a climax of emotions.
Firstly, this chapter directly exhibits the spirit of the story-“true friendship”. Charlotte says goodbye to Wilbur solemnly and explains the reason why she has done so many things for Wilbur-“You have been my friend”, “because I liked you”. Until then, it is the first time that the writer points out the main idea directly. As mentioned earlier, the article implicitly expresses the subject through many things Charlotte has done to save Wilbur. But in this chapter, I saw the innocence and selflessness of friendship straightforwardly! Moreover, Charlotte allows Wilbur to bring her eggs home, which has a profound meaning. In Chinese traditional culture, if you ask a person to foster your child, he must be the one whom you trust most and you can rely on most. By the same token, I think Charlotte’s agreement represents the depth of their trust and friendship.
Secondly, Templeton’s hidden feelings break out. Once he gave me an image that he was selfish and cattish. But in the part, he complains that he never received any thanks although he has done so many things for others. He cares about it very much. He feels hurt and angry! In my opinion, it’s a representation that Templeton is eager for others’ love and care. In addition, on page 168, the article says Templeton bites Wilbur’s tail and gets him back on his feet after Wilbur has fainted in front of the crowd. It’s the first time that Templeton helps Wilbur on his own initiative, from which I could see kindness in Templeton’s heart. From the two aspects I mentioned above, I found that in the latter part, the writer enriches Templeton’s image by showing his virtue and true emotions. I regarded it as a good point which could be taught to children: Everyone has goodness and evil. No one is perfect. Bad people may do something good for others, for society. So we should give chances to those who made mistakes, who took the wrong turn. Also, we should care about them and help them give up evil and return to good.
Thirdly, this part describes Charlotte’s death and creates a sense of sadness in all readers’ heart. “Charlotte died. The infield was littered with bottles and trash. No one was with her when she died.” She dies alone in an abandoned fair. When she is dying, nobody keeps her company. Wilbur and her children are far from her. There is a concrete description of environment where the only thing left is dreariness. This dreary description was fitting for the emotions I felt because of Charlotte's death.\" How miserable it is!
In conclusion, there are many contradictions resulting from the outburst of characters’ emotions. With their personality conflicting, the whole story gets its climax. In addition, this part enriches the three main characters’ roles and enables them to have more humanity, which is the key to affect readers.
What did the story make me think about?
After reading the article, I thought about “changes”!
Firstly, I found progressive changes from Wilbur’s attitude towards Charlotte. At first, he just wants a friend to rid his loneliness. And after his first communication with Charlotte, he thinks Charlotte is fierce, brutal, scheming and bloodthirsty. Charlotte definitely doesn’t make a good impression on him. Then Charlotte promises that she will never let Wilbur die. Although their relationship has developed, from my point of view, Wilbur only regards Charlotte as a “tool” to escape from death. In other words, their friendship isn’t deep. As time goes by, Charlotte weaves nets for Wilbur over and over again regardless of her own health, which makes their friendship deeper and deeper. Finally, when it is time to say goodbye, Wilbur wants to bring Charlotte’s eggs home and trades his food with Templeton which is something he values highly. I think, at the moment, they have a friendship overcoming life and death.
Secondly, the story shows Fern’s growth as a side story. In the most parts, Fern loves animals very much and spends lots of her spare time “sitting on a milk stool in a corner of the barn cellar, just sits and listens”. But she is growing up. In the final part of the story, she is careful to avoid childish things, “l(fā)ike sitting on a milk stool near a pigpen” when she is older. A child is growing up quickly and changes a lot with the increasing of age.
It was really an interesting and meaningful experience for me to read “Charlotte’s Web”. Not only does it have fun world view that animals can speak language fluently and have a bad ending differing it from many normal fairy tales which are happy-ending, but also it gives me some sensations, some thoughts and some introspections.