The dependent pig

by Rupa Patel

"Save me, somebody! Save me! May I get a drink of milk? Where were you?" Such comments and questions are typical of E. B. White's character, Wilbur, who is avoiding having to rely on himself. Some of us are dependent on drugs, others are dependent on alcohol, while on the small Zuckerman farm of E. B. White's children's book, Charlotte's Web, the runt pig, Wilbur, shows definite signs of the dependent personality disorder. The dependent personality is seen in individuals who passively allow other people to assume responsibility for their lives. They subordinate their own needs to those on whom they depend. One who has a dependent personality tends to form a dependency upon an individual of a strong caretaker type. The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the Mental Disorders, written by the American Psychiatric Association, requires five criteria to be meet for diagnosis.

The first of the five essential criteria is that the individual needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his life. In Charlotte's Web, upon being relocated to the farm, Wilbur becomes bored. The goose tells him about a loose board in his pen. He proceeds to free himself from the pen and asks, "Where do you think I'd better go?" (pg. 17). With his complete freedom within reach, Wilbur doesn't take control of his life. All the barn animals shout instructions at him and Wilbur attempts to follow the instructions. However, his endeavor [attempt] to follow the instructions inevitably forces him to break down and cry. He wishes for the young girl who initially saved his life, Fern, to come "there to take him in her arms and comfort him," (pg. 22).

Striving to comply with the animals' orders, Wilbur displays the next committing requirement of one going to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant. Wilbur tries to run both uphill and downhill, while trying to turn, twist, jump and dance, all because of the instructes to do so. Wilbur does not know what to do or which way to run. Utterly unable to take control of his life, Wilbur seemingly forgets his close encounter with freedom when he cries to Charlotte, later in the book, "I have to hang around here whether I want to or not," (pg. 61). Every person is in control of his or her own life. Dependency forms when one does not display control over one's life.

Although Wilbur is a pig, he meets the third criterion of feeling uncomfortable or helpless when alone. Lacking aptitude regarding entertaining himself, Wilbur sinks into a level of self-pity mixed with depression. When he feels that there is nothing to do, he remarks, "I'm tired of living," (pg. 16). Unimaginative and unwilling to be creative and rely on himself, Wilbur becomes tired of life by himself. Wilbur doesn't want food; he wants love, a friend who will play with him. He does not want to be alone and all of his short life he has had someone to depend on, such as Fern, and the Zuckermans. As he realizes that Fern can't always be there, Wilbur falls into a depression, feeling completely alone.

The next criterion that is necessary is the concept of one being preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of oneself. With this fear comes the need for Charlotte. Wilbur immediately becomes dependent on Charlotte to tell him when to sleep, how to act and finally to pacify his irrational fear of being alone. She sings him a song telling him to not be afraid or lonely. He lacks confidence and when obligated to go to the Fair, Wilbur tells Charlotte that he can't stand going to the Fair without her. She accommodates his dependency by agreeing even though she must begin to make an egg sac and fill it with eggs. Charlotte dismisses his fears of being inadequate. Wilbur does not do anything for himself, as seen by Mr. Zuckerman continuing to cater to Wilbur's every need.

Last, the final criterion that Wilbur meets is that he urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when the relationship with Charlotte ends due to her death. Charlotte's passing forces Wilbur to latch onto taking care of the egg sac which, for Wilbur, holds future friends. Once the spiders are born and as they begin to leave, Wilbur says, "You can't all go. I would be left alone, with no friends," (pg. 180). Dependent on the need to avoid loneliness, Wilbur compares the spiders' departure to the end of the world. Wilbur's feelings of being deserted are calmed by three baby spiders that ease Wilbur's dependency by staying with him at the farm.

E. B. White's character of Wilbur is depicting the dependent personality disorder. When Wilbur looks for the mysterious voice belonging to Charlotte, who wanted to be his friend, the barn animals complain, basically stating that he is making too much noise. He responds meekly, "I beg everyone's pardon, I didn't mean to be objectionable." That phrase is important because it depicts his fear of losing support or approval. He feels unable to function within the farm without a friend, such as Fern or Charlotte. Wilbur never mourns the death of Charlotte; instead he focuses his attention on her unborn children. His idea to bring the egg sac to the farm is based on the notion that the children would not leave him. Instead of accomplishing anything on his own, he relies on others to guide, teach and save his life; being a truly dependent pig.