| When Opposites Work Together | | | | the story, Wilbur is sad and bored and asks |
| The concept of "Yin and Yang" originated in | | | | Templeton to talk to him and to play with him. |
| ancient China. The concept describes two main | | | | But the rat disappoints Wilbur because, unlike a |
| opposing but complementary forces or principles | | | | loving father, Templeton does not want to be |
| that are found in objects and processes in the | | | | with him and says "I never do those things if I |
| universe. Yin is the darker element, often related | | | | can avoid them" (29). Templeton's behavior can |
| to the feminine aspect, and the night. Yang, on | | | | be explained by one of Erickson's psychosocial |
| the other hand, is associated with the brighter | | | | stages of identity crisis; the trust versus mistrust |
| element the masculine aspect, and also with the | | | | stage. Based on this stage, Dr. Indick explained |
| day (Wikipedia). Psychologist William Indick argues | | | | that a dubious character (like Templeton) is |
| that in some stories, occasionally, "two characters | | | | reluctant to commit himself to a heroic cause, |
| are as different as day and night...yet [they] | | | | because he is unable to trust the good people |
| complement each other" (Indick, Psychology 117). | | | | who need his help (Indick, Psychology 80). In |
| In the story Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, | | | | order to resolve the mistrust conflict, the |
| Charlotte and Templeton complement each other | | | | character has to give a "leap of faith," which |
| and work together to save Wilbur's life. | | | | means that he has to let his guard down and give |
| Charlotte and Templeton differ from each other | | | | himself over to someone else. The leap of faith is |
| physically. Charlotte is a female spider or "yin," | | | | not a great transformation, is just a step where |
| while Templeton is a male rat or the "yang" | | | | the character moves to a more proactive state |
| counterpart. The spider describes herself as a | | | | to help someone (Indick, Psychology 81). |
| trapper, and she loves drinking the blood of the | | | | Charlotte and Templeton are as different as day |
| animals she traps (White 39). In addition, Wilbur | | | | and night. Charlotte is caring, loving, trustworthy, |
| thinks that his new friend -Charlotte- is "fierce, | | | | and loyal, while Templeton is the opposite because |
| brutal, scheming, and bloodthirsty" (41). In | | | | he is not trusted, he " has no morals, no |
| contrast, Templeton explains that he "prefers to | | | | conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no |
| spend his time eating [leftovers] gnawing, spying, | | | | decency, no milk of rodent kindness, no |
| and hiding...I am a glutton" (29). Charlotte believes | | | | compunctions, no higher feeling, no friendliness, no |
| that "a rat is a rat" (47). But these physical | | | | anything" (45-46). In addition, Templeton is selfish. |
| characteristics can not be completely related to | | | | Charlotte says to the oldest sheep that she is not |
| the characters' personalities. | | | | sure Templeton will be willing to help them |
| In the story, Charlotte is not only an ordinary | | | | because "he is always looking out for himself, |
| spider, but a mother figure to Wilbur. E.V. White | | | | never thinking of the other fellow" (89). |
| employs the "Archetype of a mother" as part of | | | | Therefore, Templeton is neither a parent or |
| Charlotte's personality. Dr. Indick explains that | | | | teacher figure nor a friend to Wilbur or anyone. |
| archetypes are shared associations and images, | | | | Even though Templeton is selfish and |
| ideas, or significant unconscious figures to which all | | | | untrustworthy, he takes his "leap of faith" when |
| people can relate (Indick, Psychology 113-114). | | | | he cooperates with Charlotte and the rest to |
| Charlotte is a caring and loving "mother" to Wilbur. | | | | save Wilbur. Charlotte needs some new words to |
| When Wilbur discovers that by the end of the | | | | write them in her web, so the old sheep orders |
| year he is going to be killed, he starts screaming | | | | Templeton to bring a clipping from a magazine |
| in desperation and asks for help. As a mother will | | | | (90-91). Charlotte can not do the errand herself, |
| do, Charlotte worries and promises Wilbur to | | | | because of her physical limitations. But Templeton |
| develop a plan to save him from the ax (51). | | | | is a rat; he has more physical possibilities to |
| Also, Wilbur acts like a child and from time to time | | | | perform the job because he comes and goes as |
| asks Charlotte to tell him a story. So the spider | | | | he pleases, unlike the rest of the animals. Although |
| tells Wilbur the story of her beautiful cousin, who | | | | Templeton refuses to do the job in the first |
| managed to spin a web across a small stream. At | | | | place, after a short explanation from the old |
| the end of Charlotte's story Wilbur asks her to | | | | sheep, he agrees to help and says, "I'm making a |
| sing him a song, and she sings a song like a loving | | | | trip to the dump tomorrow afternoon. I'll bring |
| mother to her dearest son (101-104). | | | | back a magazine clipping if I can find one." Later, |
| Despite Charlotte's physical appearance, she is | | | | Templeton finds an advertisement with the words |
| also a teacher mentor to Wilbur. Dr. Indick argues | | | | 'With New Radiant Action' and together, as Yin |
| that the mentor archetype is a very common | | | | and Yang, (Templeton and Charlotte) study the |
| figure in stories, myths and movies. Also, a | | | | soap ad (97). Even though Templeton does not |
| teacher mentor will be a wise and inspirational | | | | like to be treated as a "messenger boy," he looks |
| figure who has taught and guided students. | | | | around in the fair and brings Charlotte the last |
| Moreover, "the teacher sees his students as | | | | word she writes in her web: "Humble" (139-140). |
| emerging heroes, overcoming their own | | | | At the end of the story, without being asked, |
| weaknesses under his tutelage...and the victories | | | | Templeton also bits Wilbur's tail when he faints in |
| of his students become victories of his own" | | | | front of all the people, and he is also easily |
| (Indick, Movies 53-54). Charlotte fulfils the teacher | | | | persuaded to bring Wilbur Charlotte's egg sac |
| mentor archetype because she teacher her | | | | (168-169). So Templeton moves to a more active |
| student a variety of subjects for example, "One | | | | state, and helps Wilbur. |
| afternoon, Wilbur says to Charlotte that she has | | | | Regardless of the characters' differences, they |
| awfully hairy legs. The Charlotte goes on | | | | unite their abilities and capacities to work together |
| explaining him that her legs are hairy for a good | | | | and at the end, Wilbur is safe. Jane Garry and |
| reason, [spins webs] and that her legs are divided | | | | Hasan El-Shamy explain that: |
| in seven sections -the coax, the trochanter, the | | | | A critical facet of the concept of opposites is the |
| femur, the patella, the tibia, the metatarsus and | | | | perceived inherent union between opposites |
| the tarsus" (55). The teacher also helps her | | | | constitutes a new affective entity that is greater |
| student develop his vocabulary, Wilbur is always | | | | than mere elaboration of either component... In |
| asking for the meaning of a word like "What does | | | | most general terms, the union refers to the idea |
| salutations mean? What does sedentary mean? | | | | that opposites attract and combine to make up a |
| Or what does gullible mean? (35,61,67). On the | | | | whole greater than the sum of the opposing |
| other hand, towards the end of the story, Wilbur | | | | parts...(Garry and El-Shamy 482) |
| wins a prize on the fair and asks Charlotte why | | | | Charlotte and Templeton are like day and night. |
| she is so quiet. Charlotte responds that she is a | | | | Their personalities differ substantially. The spider is |
| little tired, but she feels peaceful, because Wilbur's | | | | a mother, a teacher, and a friend to Wilbur. On |
| success in the ring, to a small degree, was her | | | | the other hand, the rat is a selfish, inconsiderate |
| success (163). Therefore, after all her hard work | | | | and insensitive character. However, these two |
| and after Wilbur overcomes his weaknesses, the | | | | personalities complement each other, they wok |
| teacher feels the student's success as her won | | | | together to save Wilbur form death. Charlotte |
| success. | | | | develops a plan and Templeton helps her and |
| Like Yin and Yang, Templeton's personality is the | | | | brings the words she needs. They unite their |
| exact opposite of Charlotte's personality. | | | | talents, and like Yin and Yang form one strong |
| To begin with, he does behave like an | | | | whole, which effectively accomplish an unselfish |
| uninterested parent to a child. At the beginning of | | | | task: to save Wilbur's life. |