Charlotte's Web

If I have a child, this is one of the movies I will watch with him – over and over again. This beautiful movie is the third produced, based on E. B. White’s award-winning children novel of the same title, first published in 1952. This gifted author also gives us cutie little mousie “Stuart Little”. Here’s the plot summary to this movie, featuring Julia Roberts as Charlotte and Dakota Fanning as Fern, that made me cried from the start till the end.

This is a classic tale of loyalty, friendship and dealing with realities of life. While my sis in law asked me how would I explain to a small kid about watching a movie with a pig (Wilbur) in it, I am saddened that we fail to see the trees in the forest. We fail to see the message yet we focus on the indifference and taboo we have.

Here are some memorable quotes that make my day last weekend that ring the bells in both personal and political fronts: -

Being articulate and speaking your mind
Wilbur: Isn't it great, that I articulate? Isn't it grand? That you can understand. I don't snort, I don't eep, I don't even squeak or squawk. When I wanna say something, I open up and talk, I can talk, I can talk, talk, talk, I can...
Ram: Why don't you keep it down?
Wilbur: I can talk!

The early bird gets the worms
Avery Arable: Can I have a pig too, Pop?
Arable: I only distribute pigs to early risers, and Fern was up at daylight trying to rid the world of injustice.

Everyone’s important
Ram: Sheep do not play with pigs.

Wilbur: Why not?

Ram: Oh, it's a matter of status. Sheep, for instance, are highly regarded by Zuckerman, because we furnish him with good quality wool. With pigs, on the other hand, it's just a matter of time. Wilbur: Time to what?

Ram: Till you're fat enough to kill.

Wilbur: What did you say?

Ram: Oh, everybody knows it. In the fall, you'll be turned into smoked bacon and ham. Just as soon as cold weather sets in, they'll kill you.

Lucky = good management + hard work
Wilbur: Congratulations! How many are there (the eggs)?

Goose: There are seven.

Charlotte: Seven is a lucky number.

Goose: Luck has nothing to do with it! It was good management and hard work.

Of being humble
Charlotte: Humble. Humble has two meanings. It means "not proud" and "close to the ground." That's Wilbur all over.

The might of written words and of being perseverance
Wilbur: Are you writers?
Charlotte's daughters: No, but we will be when we grow up.
Wilbur: Then write this in your webs, when you learn: This hallowed doorway was once the home of Charlotte. She was brilliant, beautiful, and loyal to the end. Her memory will be treasured forever. Charlotte's daughters: Ooh, that would take us a lifetime.
Wilbur: A lifetime. That's what we have.

Of being both a good friend and writer
Narrator: Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.

The importance of credible writing
Charlotte: Trust me, Wilbur. People are very gullible. They'll believe anything they see in print.

Of being happy and sharing it
Charlotte: Chin up, chin up. Everybody loves a happy face. Wear it, share it. It'll brighten up the darkest place. Twinkle, sparkle. Let a little sunshine in. You'll be on the right side, looking at the bright side. Up with your chinny-chin-chin.

Everything has it purpose
[a fly lands in Charlotte's web] Charlotte: Just a minute, Wilbur. [she climbs up and wraps the fly]

Charlotte: He'll make a perfect breakfast for me.

Wilbur: [shuddering] Ooooh. You mean you eat flies?

Charlotte: Why, certainly. I eat anything that gets caught in my web. I have to live, don't I? Wilbur: [nervously] Why, yes, of course. Do they taste good?

Charlotte: Delicious.

Wilbur: LECCH!

Charlotte: Course, I don't really eat them, I drink their blood. I love blood.

Wilbur: [gasps] Oh, please don't say things like that.

Charlotte: Why not? It's true.

Wilbur: But it's cruel.

Charlotte: Well, you can't talk. You have your meals brought to you in a pail. Nobody feeds me. I live by my wits.

Wilbur: It just seems an odd sort of diet.

Charlotte: Do you realize that if I didn't eat them, bugs would get so numerous, they'd destroy the Earth? Spiders are really very useful creatures.

A true friend makes you feel alive!
Charlotte: Do you want a friend? Wilbur: Yes! But I want to live, too...