Even though Homer Zuckerman is a good guy, he's the shadow of Charlotte's web.
He is opposing the hero, because he wants to kill and eat Wilbur. When your little, this seems like the most horrible, cruel thing anyone can do, not realizing what your hot dog for lunch is. How ever, when you are older, you realize that this is perfectly normal for a farmer to kill his pig, and for multiple to eat it. Obviously, this is opposing Wilbur, because Wilbur doesn't want to die. Without Homer Zuckerman being this shadow, there would be no Charlotte's Web.
The shadow doesn't always have to be a "bad guy." I mean, I Templeton is much more cruel and angry than anyone in the story, but he's the shape-shifter. Mr. Zuckerman is sweet, and for the most part of the story, he want Wilbur to be comfortable and happy. Yet, he's also the part that Voldemort, Cruella de Vil, and the Wicked Witch play. Weird.
Homer Zuckerman creates tension in the story, although he doesn't realize it. He's very proud of his pig, after it's stated that it's "Some Pig." He has very often said it. But then, on page 126 Mr. Arable referred to when Mr. Zuckerman would be killing the pig, putting Wilbur in much strain. Mr. Zuckerman still had been planning on killing Wilbur at this point.
All in all, you can definitely consider Homer Zuckerman to be the shadow of Charlotte's Web, whether he be good or bad.
Anabel,
ReplyDeletei was thinking about your first paragraph and what kept popping into my mind throughout was the thing you said about the hot dog.
It kind of sets the theme of death in the book, like even in the first 3 or so pages they have BACON on the table, now don't get me wrong, i think its fine to eat bacon every now an then, but it raises the question why is fern fighting for this pigs life when later on in the book shes just gonna eat his brother? Does she realize that even if the pigs arent runts they will end up dying anyway? do you even think she cares?
i agree with sammi. just because Wilbur is the runt of the litter doesn't mean that he should get special treatment. i have to go though cuz shes telling us to log out!<3334
ReplyDelete---lena
haha i know!
ReplyDeleteI mean,i do eat meat and i enjoy it: I know that i shouldn't and i do care, but i do it.
What Fern doesn't realize is that that's totally normal, and he's not planning on killing Wilbur for fun! He's doing it to provide food for his family, including her. Which she is going along with by eating her bacon.
If i was Fern though, and i saved a baby pig and grew a bond with it though, i probably wouldn't be able to eat meat again.