“The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency, no milk of rodent kindness, no compunctions, no higher feeling, no friendliness, no anything” (pg.46). The character of Templeton the Rat in Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, serves as representation of the dark, evil, immoral side of human nature within the earnest, kind and friendly community of the barn in order to portray both sides of human nature. By including a character such as Templeton in this community, it illustrates the idea that everyone has the characteristics of Templeton and the other barn animals inside oneself, but what matter’s most is not whether or not you have them, but rather to what degree you act upon them. By having Templeton evolve as
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One who will only do things that will benefit him. He will eat Wilbur’s breakfast, and will not play with Wilbur, despite the fact that Wilbur was lonely and needed a friend. Templeton is described as a “crafty rat, and he had things pretty much his own way” (pg.30). His nature at the beginning of the novel is to act in his own self-interest, and the degree to which Templeton chooses to act on the dark side of his human nature overwhelms the light. Although throughout the novel, he progresses into a character that has more of a balance of both the moral and immoral sides of human nature. Templeton becomes a character who acts on both sides of his nature, to about the same degree. There are instances, such as the awards ceremony, in which he takes action to help the individuals in the community, without expecting anything in return. However, there are also instances when he still acts to some degree on the shady side of his nature, and acts for his own self-interest, such as when he makes a bargain with Wilbur that he will help bring Charlotte’s egg sac down if only Wilbur gives him something in return. And so Wilbur states that if Templeton will “get Charlotte’s egg sac… from now on I will let you eat first, when Lurvy slops me. I will let you have your choice of everything in the trough and I won’t touch a thing until you’re through”
One who will only do things that will benefit him. He will eat Wilbur’s breakfast, and will not play with Wilbur, despite the fact that Wilbur was lonely and needed a friend. Templeton is described as a “crafty rat, and he had things pretty much his own way” (pg.30). His nature at the beginning of the novel is to act in his own self-interest, and the degree to which Templeton chooses to act on the dark side of his human nature overwhelms the light. Although throughout the novel, he progresses into a character that has more of a balance of both the moral and immoral sides of human nature. Templeton becomes a character who acts on both sides of his nature, to about the same degree. There are instances, such as the awards ceremony, in which he takes action to help the individuals in the community, without expecting anything in return. However, there are also instances when he still acts to some degree on the shady side of his nature, and acts for his own self-interest, such as when he makes a bargain with Wilbur that he will help bring Charlotte’s egg sac down if only Wilbur gives him something in return. And so Wilbur states that if Templeton will “get Charlotte’s egg sac… from now on I will let you eat first, when Lurvy slops me. I will let you have your choice of everything in the trough and I won’t touch a thing until you’re through”