Journal Entry #2

How did the Tucks treat Winnie?

In chapter 8 of the novel Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, the Tuck family confesses their immortality to 10-year-old Winnie Foster. Winnie is completely bewildered. However, the Tucks (Mae, Miles, and Jesse), make an excellent effort to make Winnie feel welcome, safe at their hands. Even though they had kidnapped her, they were trying their very best to keep Winnie’s wellbeing at heart, they were, to say the least, gentle. In page 44, the narrator displays this idea by stating: “But she felt there was nothing to be afraid of, not really. For they seemed gentle. Gentle and -in a strange way- childlike.” (Babbitt, 2007). After a while,

they even made her feel comfortable, able to let loose. With Jesse, she even cracked a laugh, she felt carefree in the Tuck’s company. The author, Natalie Babbitt, uses a beautiful metaphor to describe exactly how she felt in their company: “She discovered the wings she’d always wished she had” (Babbitt, 2007, p. 45).

I can definitely relate to how Winnie is feeling because at first, she was confused and terrified, which I would be if my kidnapers told me they were immortal. It is definitely an unusual situation that I would be very boggled at. I would also let loose after a while, just like Winnie, because I would tell that they really are nice people, and they don’t wish to harm me.