Important Lesson Taught in Charlottes Web.
White's, Charlottes Web, children are given the opportunity to learn about several life lessons. The book teaches a moral lesson, teaches of an animal's habits, and allows young readers to identify with humanized animals, all of which have deeper meanings. Children get to learn all of this while looking into the world of Wilbur and his barnyard buddies. Charlotte's Web is full of little life lessons. However, they are never just stated, rather hidden within other things; readers must look past the animals' actions to see a deeper meaning and moral.
One of the lessons that is taught revolves around Templeton, the rat. Throughout the book he is a greedy self-seeker who does not help anyone, unless there is something in it for him. The rest of the barnyard animals work together as a family, a community, but Templeton does not belong. "The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency, no milk of rodent kindness, no compunctions, no higher feeling, no friendliness, no anything" (White 46). A child reading the story could identify with the animals and their feelings and actions and see that Templeton is not a good citizen. IN order for one to be part of a family or community everyone must work together and help out others when needed. Although it is not laid out for the child, the message is clear; being selfish is a bad thing. .
Another significant lesson that this book teaches is that friendship is one of most important aspects in life. The friendship that is illustrated between Wilbur and Charlotte is shown as being exceptionally strong and meant tremendous amount to the little pig. White portrays the beginning of the friendship to be filled with some doubt on Wilbur's part, because of Charlotte's "bloodthirsty" ways. However, White explains shortly after that "Wilbur was merely suffering the doubts and fears that often go with finding a new friend.
