Children’s stories, like the quiet places of nature, often carry more than what first meets the eye. Beneath their simple narratives, they whisper truths that echo through the crags and valleys of adulthood. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is a story that moves with the rhythms of country life, and under its obvious themes of friendship and growing up, there is also an underscoring of the dignity of life.
Though Charlotte’s Web was first published in October 1952, more than 20 years before Roe v. Wade rattled America, somehow White sensed the need to advocate for the most vulnerable and to give the smallest a voice. He did so through a runt piglet, a clever spider, a corral of other memorable characters, and Fern.
“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
“Out to the hoghouse,” replied Mrs. Arable. “Some pigs were born last night.”
“I don’t see why he needs an ax,” continued Fern, who was only eight.
“Well,” said her mother, “one of the pigs is a runt. It’s very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it.”
“Do away with it?” shrieked Fern. “You mean kill it? Just because it’s smaller than the others?”
These are the stark, opening lines of Chapter One. Young Fern is fully awake: Life is sacred from conception to natural death. She’s not under the spell of endless slogans or susceptible to celebrity. As we know, words have power.
Our hero, Charlotte the Spider, sets about saving the life of a spring pig. Wilbur is confused about how a web of words could ever protect him, to which she answers, “Trust me, Wilbur. People are gullible. They’ll believe anything they see in print.”
In her web, she strings together convincing arguments for Wilbur’s life: “Some Pig,” “Terrific,” “Radiant,” and “Humble.” How do we describe those lives that are too frequently thrown away? A clump of cells, unplanned, a parasite, an expense. What if instead we were less gullible to what is printed on political advertisements and paid attention to what has been imprinted on every human soul? That every person is made in the image of God. That they have inherent value and worth. That they’re known. They’re loved.
Charlotte’s tireless devotion is reminiscent of those who work to promote the pro-life platform. There are the groups that advocate for ethical medical practice and for change through education—for when we know better, we do better. Agencies house mothers in need, provide necessities for babies, and feed and clothe children. Others silently lift prayers for the protection of families, for the strengthening of marriages, and that every life should be valued—no matter how weak or small.
Literary Devices for Love
When I first posed the idea to my children about the story having pro-life themes, my boys were curious. We’ve raised birds and sheep for meat. We’ve discussed how when they hunt for our family, they’re not bringing home Bambi or his dear mother (pun intended). How is this story different?
Allegories are literary devices in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent abstract ideas or moral qualities. Many are familiar with the Christian allegory, C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, where Aslan symbolizes Christ and themes of sacrifice and redemption abound. There’s also The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, a simple allegory about selflessness and the nature of giving. Roald Dahl uses Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to entertain and enthrall, but also to comment on moral behavior and the consequences of vice. The best stories offer layers of meaning.
Charlotte is one of those sacrificial, Christ-like figures. After her last act of selfless love, she announces she will die in a day or two. Wilbur is distraught. “Why did you do all this for me?’ he asked. ‘I don’t deserve it.” Wilbur is spared the slaughter and is pig-proof to the beauty of preserving life. As seasons change, the farm reflects the delicate balance of birth and death, love and loss, but through it all runs the gentle affirmation that life is for living.
October is Respect Life Month, and we’ll be celebrating by embracing all the goodness life has to offer with time together. Beyond the song of the crickets warning us that summer cannot last forever, I sense that little ones won’t stay little forever, either.
More Stories that Celebrate the Dignity of Life
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Reveals every life has value regardless of its perceived worth.
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Stresses redemption and sanctity of life even when it’s imperfect.
Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss. Advocates for protecting the vulnerable with a foundational pro-life argument: “A person’s a person, no matter how small!”
Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery. Reflects the value of life, planned or unplanned.
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. Echoes the need to care for the defenseless, even when family circumstances are not ideal.
Feature Photo by michael podger on Unsplash.
