I remember holding back tears when reading Charlotte's Web to my children. I wanted them to recognize the sadness of Charlotte's death and the beauty of her gift to Wilbur without me leading them there. Plus mom shouldn't show up as a blubbering mess even if she feels like it.
I also appreciated Charlotte's stoicism. She clearly valued her life and her work but didn't make a fuss over it's end. It's good to be able to observe people (spiders!) dealing with tragedy and loss quietly.
So many wonderful children's books. I want to read them again just to myself.
Thanks so very much for this essay, Claire. I may need to re-read this much beloved book. My children, sadly, missed this one due to our mutual infatuation with all things Roald Dahl.
Really insightful post, Claire. It reminds me of an old saying: when Cicero spoke people applauded, but when Demosthenes spoke they rioted. There is power in words, but it's hard to harness. It's much easier to use them to make people angry enough to throw things... or even to get people to off themselves, as ancient Greek Archilochus did when he wrote a humiliating play about a former lover who spurned him (she called him a "bastard", which he probably was in every sense). But it's harder to use words to get people to see magic and wonder. Or to see the beauty and "terrific-ness" of the mundane things that surround us. It's like the world is full of magic and we don't realize it!
Thank you, Claire, for your beautiful post. On many levels the quoted words and commentary
reached me. Since 1979 when I started psych drugs under supervision, I have not experienced
the joy of concentration allowing me to read and remember literary classics. A Wellesley College
graduate in English, from a quite different career and circumstances, I am returning home, appreciative of your love of words and their meaning to our humanity. Wendy Woodfield
A lovely post, Claire - thank you! I’d forgotten how perfect (and perfectly mesmerising) Charlotte’s words were - SOME PIG, TERRIFIC, RADIANT, HUMBLE. She was indeed a powerful and poetic writer!
I remember holding back tears when reading Charlotte's Web to my children. I wanted them to recognize the sadness of Charlotte's death and the beauty of her gift to Wilbur without me leading them there. Plus mom shouldn't show up as a blubbering mess even if she feels like it.
I also appreciated Charlotte's stoicism. She clearly valued her life and her work but didn't make a fuss over it's end. It's good to be able to observe people (spiders!) dealing with tragedy and loss quietly.
So many wonderful children's books. I want to read them again just to myself.
Do it! I had a great time re-reading the novel to write this post!
Thanks so very much for this essay, Claire. I may need to re-read this much beloved book. My children, sadly, missed this one due to our mutual infatuation with all things Roald Dahl.
Well, the essay upcoming on Thursday is about Roald Dahl's short story Skin and its relation to the Picture of Dorian Gray! Stay tuned!
And if you do decide to reread Charlotte's Web, it will only take you an hour or two - it's short. But it is great.
Really insightful post, Claire. It reminds me of an old saying: when Cicero spoke people applauded, but when Demosthenes spoke they rioted. There is power in words, but it's hard to harness. It's much easier to use them to make people angry enough to throw things... or even to get people to off themselves, as ancient Greek Archilochus did when he wrote a humiliating play about a former lover who spurned him (she called him a "bastard", which he probably was in every sense). But it's harder to use words to get people to see magic and wonder. Or to see the beauty and "terrific-ness" of the mundane things that surround us. It's like the world is full of magic and we don't realize it!
Thank you, Claire, for your beautiful post. On many levels the quoted words and commentary
reached me. Since 1979 when I started psych drugs under supervision, I have not experienced
the joy of concentration allowing me to read and remember literary classics. A Wellesley College
graduate in English, from a quite different career and circumstances, I am returning home, appreciative of your love of words and their meaning to our humanity. Wendy Woodfield
What a lovely reflection, Wendy. Thank you.
A lovely post, Claire - thank you! I’d forgotten how perfect (and perfectly mesmerising) Charlotte’s words were - SOME PIG, TERRIFIC, RADIANT, HUMBLE. She was indeed a powerful and poetic writer!
Yes, she is a model in many things. Thanks, Tash!