Power of the Pig

The oddest friendship I ever encountered between the pages of a book was that between a pig and a spider. You know the one I’m talking about. E.B. White’s childhood classic Charlotte’s Web should be required reading in all elementary schools. The bond that develops between Wilbur and Charlotte is a true example of friendship.

I believe that we can always find friendship between the pages of a book.

The one thing that can get us through any situation is a friend. Disney knew it. Rodgers and Hammerstein knew it. White knew it. We all want that one true connection that makes us feel like we belong, that we matter.

I will always be grateful for the role models I found between the pages of my favorite stories. The astonishing thing is that most of these relationships developed between unlikely pairings. As I look back on these characters I can see the type of friend I’d like to think I’ve become.

Friends stick by you no matter what. Sure, you may have a small disagreement or a large fight, but in the end, your pal is going to come through. Who better to set this example than Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger? Three misfits that come together for the greater good of Hogwart’s School and the magical/muggle world they live in. They survive seven books of mishaps and adventures because throughout what happens; all of Harry’s baggage, Ron’s jealousy, and Hermione’s insecurities, when the book closes, their friendship is stronger than when it started.

Friends love us despite our faults. They see our imperfections and help us to embrace that which makes us different. Meg Murray, from A Wrinkle in Time, is a character who needs lots of love and understanding. Her father is missing, her baby brother is being picked on, and a visitor has upset her mother. With the help of the mysterious Mrs. Who, Mrs. What, and Mrs. Which, Meg sees past those things that make her an outcast. She learns that love does indeed conquer all.

Friends are willing to sacrifice. This could be as simple as giving up personal time or as complex as risking their lives. Mr. Taumnus; a faun from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, risks his life to help Lucy find her brother Edmund. The Narnia books by C.S. Lewis are full of unlikely groups of friends who are willing to fight side by side against villains such as the White Witch. Aslan sacrifices his own life to save that of Edmund. In the end friendship conquers evil.

So, what does all this have to do with a pig and a spider? These components of friendship can all be found in this one unique pairing. Charlotte devotes herself to saving Wilbur’s life. She stands up for him even though he has selfish tendencies. Through the ordeal of spinning her webs and putting herself in danger, she never wavers. And in the end Charlotte leaves Wilbur a little better off than before. That’s what friendship is all about: helping each other learn and grow.

I believe in the power of a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte.