Wilber
Wilber is the protagonist of our story. Wilber is a spring pig who is born on the Arable Farm.
At the age of five weeks Wilber is sold to Mr. Zuckerman for $6.00. When Wilber arrives at the Zuckerman farm he is lonely and friendless. Fern would go to the barnyard to visit and spend time with him when she could.
Loneliness and despair overtake Wilber. The kindness of a friendly upbeat spider brings happiness back into Wilber’s life. Wilber is taught the meaning of friendship, devotion, true love, and kindness, by an intelligent articulate spider that devotes her life to saving Wilber from certain death.
Unfortunately, Wilber is born the runt of a large litter. He is facing certain death by ax when Fern Arable pleads for Wilber’s life and is allowed to bottle feed him until he is old enough to be sold. The bond between Fern and Wilber is very strong. Fern cares for Wilber like her baby as he is growing.
Garth Williams/HarperCollins