My Reflections on Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting

1. Plot Analysis

Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting is one of my favorite fantasy novels because of its astonishing plot twists and climaxes. This book probes the meaning of immortality in a captivating way. When I started reading the first few chapters, I anticipated it as a really ordinary fiction book with the same old plots like other stories. But right after a few chapters, the pace of the story starts to pick up and more clues are given, stimulating my curiosity. As soon as the spring water appeared, the story started to become more mysterious and I became more eager to reveal the magic of the spring and the mystery of the Tuck family.

Throughout the novel, the author sets up a contrast between the restricted world of Winnie's fenced-in home and the freedom of the outside world. Brought up in a traditional and strict family, Winnie is limited to do many things. One day, feeling extremely vexed and bored, Winnie decides to run away from home and have some adventure into the woods nearby her home. There, she encounters Jesse Tuck, a handsome teenager-look boy but is actually biologically aged one hundred and four years old. Jesse attempts to stop Winnie from drinking the water in the spring because he knows the terrible consequences. Through Jesse, Winnie comes to get acquainted with the other Tucks and gets involved in their secret.

2. My Favorite Character

The character Winnie appeals to me a great deal. While reading the novel, I sometimes imagine myself becoming Winnie and having the adventure with the Tucks. Winnie is innocent but courageous, and is willing to help people out. In the beginning, I was baffled when the Tucks kidnapped Winnie and I thought they were antagonists of the story. But to my surprise, the Tucks are actually amiable and sincere to Winnie. They shared their unbelievable immortal secret with Winnie. In a sense, the Tucks are actually seeking to build a bond with Winnie since they have lived a very isolated life for many years. I really liked the life lessons Angus Tuck, the father, shared with Winnie. For instance, “Don’t fear death, Winnie. Fear the unlived life.”

3.Favorite Part

The climax of the story was my favorite part of the book it was really thrilling and intense. By accident, Mae Tuck kills the villain in the story, the man in the yellow suit, who threatens to reveal the spring secret and endeavors to make a fortune by selling the immortal spring water. As a result, Mae is put in prison since the Constable happens to witness the scene. However, with Winnie’s help, the Tucks rescue Mae out of prison and they bid farewell to Winnie. Jesse leaves Winnie a small bottle of spring water, inviting her to drink it while she turns seventeen and they can become a couple.

4.Conclusion

In the end, the Tucks came back to the town; the woods with the spring have been bulldozed and they found Winnie’s tomb up the hill. It’s obvious that Winnie chooses not to drink the water at the end. I believe Winnie has made the right decision by choosing not to drink the spring water. If she stays immortal, all her beloved family members will age and pass away in the end. If I were Winnie, I would feel desolated from life if all my family members were gone. I think people definitely have to consider the consequences before drinking the spring water because it will impact your whole life. After all, life includes birth, happiness, grief, frustration,struggles, and eventually death. Without death, life won’t be precious and the concept of time and age will be disrupted. To sum up, the story explores the concept of eternal life very deeply and why it doesn’t seem to be as desirable as we imagined it to be. I really enjoy reading the book and I will recommend my friends to read it to have a significant lesson on life.