Charlotte's Web Friendship

If there's one thing we know about Charlotte's Web it's this: Charlotte and Wilbur are good friends. Actually, it might be tough for you to find a better pair of chums out there. For Charlotte and Wilbur, friendship means being loyal to one another and sometimes even making sacrifices. But even Wilbur and Charlotte have their tiffs. Sometimes Charlotte isn't patient enough, and sometimes Wilbur can be a little self-involved. But in the end, these buddies watch out for each other when it really counts. They remind us that friendship is super duper important. In fact, it might even last after Charlotte is gone.

Questions About Friendship

1. How is Fern a good friend to Wilbur? And how is she a poor friend? What does this say about human-animal friendships?
2. Does Wilbur rely on his friends too much? Or does Charlotte rely on her friends too little? What does the book suggest is the right balance between dependence and independence?
3. Is Wilbur always a good friend? Are there ways in which he is not a good friend?

Chew on This

Friends are necessary for survival. Without friends, Wilbur would have been killed, so it's a good thing he's got some good buds in his corner.

Friends are nice, but Charlotte can also cut it on her own. Charlotte's Web argues that her independence is a good thing.