Mary Ainsworth's Theory Of Attachment

According to Mary Ainsworth's’ theory of attachment, I believe that as Wilbur’s primary caregiver, Fern is the mother Wilbur never had that he has developed a secure attachment with. “Every morning after breakfast, Wilbur walked out to the road with Fern and waited with her till the bus came. She would wave good-bye to him, and he would stand and watch the bus until it vanished around a turn. While Fern was in school, Wilbur was shut up inside his yard. But as soon as she got home in the afternoon, she would take him out and he would follow her around the place” (White, Chapter 1, Page 10). This passage from the book gives readers an insight into what kind of bond Wilbur has with Fern. When Fern goes to school, Wilbur is content knowing that

Fern is first shown in the fourth stage, Industry (competence) vs. Inferiority. In this stage, her parents encourage her and reinforce Fern’s initiative. This is shown through a conversation Fern has with her father, in which Fern Says: "But it's unfair," cried Fern. "The pig couldn't help being born small,could it? If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me? ... "You go back to the house and I will bring the runt when I come in. I'll let you start it on a bottle, like a baby. Then you'll see what trouble a pig can be” (White, Chapter 1, Page 5). Fern develops over the course of the book, until she is in the fifth stage, Identity vs. Role Confusion. “Up the road at the Arables' house, Fern lugged a pail of hot water to her room and took a sponge bath. Then she put on her prettiest dress because she knew she would see boys at the Fair” (White, Chapter 16, Page 101). This clearly shows how Fern is changing from a little girl, to a young woman, knowing how to act and why she does what she does. Her need to impress boys likely comes from the idea that girls grow up into woman, who marry, then have children and a house of their