So for english i have to write a paper, Im not going to tell you what the over all theme is until the end..if you have a chance to read it, then read what the question and topic was and let me know if you think i accomplished that...if you dont read it in time im still up for opinions because i believe if i geta  bad grad i can re-write it..ok..here goes..

Without your past you can’t possibly have a future. This line comes to mind when researching the Object-Relations theory. The Object-Relation theory states that a person’s past relationships are directly connected to how they react in present relationships (Daniels). If a mother is very nurturing and very kind to their child according to Object-Relation theory, they will then be very nurturing and very kind in their future relationships. It’s proven the same for people who have been abused in the past, they often become abusive in their present and future relationships.  E.B. White’s Charlottes Web presents the Object-Relations theory clearly through each of the mothers in the story. All of the mother characters, be it Fern, Charlotte, the goose, or Wilbur; were influenced by their own mothers or rather mother figures.

Fern starts off this story diving right into a mothering role, when she finds out that her father is going to kill the runt. She protests and does everything she possibly can to save his life. She declares over and over that “it’s unfair” and an “injustice” (E.B. White, 1096). This protective quality that the reader sees is the very first sign in Charlotte’s Web that Fern has mothering qualities. Once she has saved the runt’s life she has the responsibility of taking care of him. Her mother prepares a bottle for the pig, and Fern is not to eat breakfast until her pig eats (1097). The reader begins to get a sense of the Object-Relation theory put to practice here, when it’s clear the mother takes care of her own children and puts them before her needs, just as she has Fern do with the runt. We get a very nurturing side to Fern’s mother early in the story as well, when Fern is headed off to school, she makes sure Fern gets a doughnut because she missed her own breakfast while feeding the runt. This is one of the signs that, Ferns nurturing qualities come from her mothers’. Fern listens to her mother and we get a sense that Fern knows now that Wilbur, the runt, has to be taken care of before her own needs and more specifically before her wants. Everyday before school she feeds him and everyday after school she makes sure he is allowed to be with her, making sure he is taken care of. Fern takes her role as his mother very seriously, even going so far as to take him for walks in her baby’s stroller (1099). She shows a very nurturing quality that many mothers have, including hers, which is exemplified again when Fern finds out that she has to sell Wilbur. Her father was very stern about him having to be sold, but her mother suggests that they sell him to her Uncle, this way Fern could still visit him and see that he is doing well(1100). Fern did in fact visit Wilbur, everyday. Even though it is clear she no longer is actually the one caring for him, feeding him, putting him to sleep or other physical things she was doing. She is there for him, as a comfort for Wilbur, she understands that he may still need her just as she knows that although she can do many things she still needs her own mother at times. Later in the story as she begins to visit him less and less it shows Fern letting go, and as every mother knows one day they will have to let their baby go and live their own life. This is one small example of the object-relation theory put to practice, but E.B. White doesn’t stop there.

When Wilbur is taken to Mr. Zuckerman’s farm, Wilbur is thrown into a situation he is unfamiliar with. However, because Fern always did what was best for Wilbur, he had no knowledge that others may not be there to only help. Also those others may not know the best things for him. When he arrived, about two months or so into it Wilbur says, “…I’m tired of living.” To which the goose tells him to go out of the gate,

“You don’t have to stay in that dirty-little dirty-little dirty little yard…One of those boards is loose. Push on it, push-push-push on it, and come out! …I suggest that you come on out. It’s wonderful out here” (1102).

Due to his past relationship with Fern he takes on a very “Do what you’re told” persona. His past relationship influenced and caused the reaction he gives to this new friendship. This is just a very small representation of the object-relation theory.

After a time at the farm we are introduced to Charlotte, who proves to be yet another mother figure for Wilbur. However Charlotte’s mothering style differs a bit from Fern; Fern was a very physically nurturing mother for Wilbur. Charlotte being a spider can’t be there physically for Wilbur but she is there for him emotionally and proves to be just as protective as Fern has been in saving his life. Charlotte was a very blunt mother, stating herself after being told by Wilbur not to say something that was disturbing to him, “Why not? It’s true, and I have to say what is true” (1111). Charlotte was going to tell you what the truth is, regardless of the reaction and her reasoning seems to be that if you’re naïve you’re in more danger than if you know about it. After this line has been said by Charlotte, the reader gets a brief family history of Charlotte. It gives us a small insight as to why she is the way she is. She explains, “My mother was a trapper before me. Her mother was a trapper before her. All our Family have been trappers” (1113). This gives us a very physical sense of the Object-Relation theory. Although this isn’t about the characteristics of Charlotte’s character, it does explain that she learned to live from the way her mother lived, who learned from her mother; thus emphasizing that our past drives our future. Later in the text Charlotte becomes some what of a “ring leader” so to speak for the odd group of animals at Mr. Zuckerman’s. The first time we see her take charge is early when she announces the birth of the goslings (1114). The next time we get a sense that Charlotte is a very strong character, is when she tells Wilbur she is going to protect him, he will not die, despite what he is told by the old sheep. The reader begins to see Wilbur looking to Charlotte as a sort of mother to him. Later in the story, there’s a conversation about the biology and lives of a spider and a pig. When Wilbur boasts, “I could spin a web if I tried” (1118) this is one clear sign that Wilbur wants to be like Charlotte he looks up to her and wants to be just like her. This gives us a true example of a mother-child relationship, because in most cases a child will want to grow up to be just like their mom, or dad for that matter. A bit further into the story, we get, “The Miracle.” This is when Charlotte actually spins “Some Pig” into her web in an attempt to save his life. This brings attention to Wilbur and makes him feel a little better, and realizes that she may really be able to save him. She begins to work all night to make something in her web to save him, she does everything in her power to help him, much like Fern did in the beginning of the book. Charlotte goes even further in her mothering role, when it comes time for the fair; all along she tells Wilbur that she will not be able to go (1143-1144), as she does, she sees that this upsets Wilbur. This is another great example that we see Charlotte acting as a mother to Wilbur, because she decides to tell Wilbur, “I’ll go to the fair if I possibly can.”(1144). This is putting her own health and own life at risk to help Wilbur and keep him safe, bringing us back to the fact that the child must come first. At the fair, Charlotte continues to take care of Wilbur, even by just being there. Wilbur needed her for comfort, “he never felt lonely when she was near.”(1154) Charlotte does a swell job convincing Wilbur he will not be killed when cold weather hits, even though she is barely strong enough to do anything now,

“You are a famous pig and you are a good pig. Tomorrow you will probably win a prize. The whole world will hear about you. Zuckerman will be proud and happy to own such a pig. You have nothing to fear, Wilbur—nothing to worry about. Maybe you’ll live forever—who knows?...”(1154)

After a few more moments Charlotte found that Wilbur was in a deep sleep and he was happy. We then get a glimpse of Fern’s mother tucking her into bed, doing the same thing that Charlotte just did with Wilbur practically. This provides even more proof that Charlotte truly took on a mothering role to Wilbur. Now even after laying her eggs and getting weaker, she doesn’t want Wilbur to worry about her, she is still putting him first, letting him know it is his big day and he shall not be worried with her troubles (1156). Wilbur up to this point has had a very nurturing life and very protective, which leads us to his new role.

 The strongest representation of the object-relation theory in this story is expressed in Wilbur. Through his experience with Fern, and Charlotte he becomes a not-so-typical mother to Charlotte’s kids. The first sign of Wilbur’s new role is when he is talking to Charlotte, she explains she will not be returning to the farm with them, she is destined to die. Wilbur then decides that “If Charlotte herself was unable to go home to the barn, at least he must take her children along” (1164). He begins to bring out that protective and nurturing side that both Fern and Charlotte had with him. Soon enough we see Wilbur putting Charlotte’s eggs’ needs before his own, he makes a deal with Templeton the rat, to let him have first pickings of his own food in order to get Templeton to help save her children (1164). He realized his needs must come second because these eggs were more important, much like Fern did, with her breakfast and her time, and much like Charlotte did even with her own life. When winter came he would keep them warm, and “guarded it as it were his own children” (1167). He made sure their basic needs were being met before they were even born. He tended to them just as the goose tended to her eggs and kept them warm awaiting their arrival. This serves as a small example of the Object-Relation theory put to practice again in this story. “Is there anything I can get you? Is there anything you need?”(1168) right away Wilbur takes to a mothering role, a nurturing role, caring about “his” babies needs.

Although Wilbur’s “mothering” role comes along at the end of the story and is not gone into too much detail, from the small examples we are given we have come full circle in the Object-Relations theory. If Fern had not been the mother to Wilbur that she was, then there are certain qualities and mothering styles that he would not have exhibited with Charlotte’s kids. There very same must be said about Charlotte to Wilbur, because she played a major role in Wilbur’s new life, and without the relationship which he formed with Charlotte, and then there would be no “need” or the desire to care for her children. Even the small roles of the goose played a roll in the way Wilbur handled his mothering role. Without all of these aspects Wilbur may have never survived, and grown to be the spectacular pig that he indeed was.

ok if you made it through the whole thing i applaud..you and next...heres what the topic was..

1.  How does E.B. White's _Charlotte's Web_ present object-relations

views of mothering in any or all of the "mothers" in the story (Fern,

Charlotte, and Wilbur)?  What are their mothering styles and what

characterizes the relationship between mother and child in each?  

Where does each mother learn her role and duties as mother?

Sooooo....opinions did i accomplish that?..