Tuck Everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt
Welcome
Living Forever
Mae
Tuck
Jesse
Miles
The Man in
the Yellow Suit
Winnie
Conclusion
Living Forever
Welcome
Living Forever
 Mae
 Tuck
 Jesse
 Miles
 The Man in
the Yellow Suit
 Winnie
Conclusion
In the book Tuck Everlasting, 11-year-old Winnie
meets the four members of the Tuck family. She
learns that after drinking from a magic spring
decades before, they became immortal. Jesse, who
loves the never-ending adventure that is his life,
wants nothing more than for Winnie to drink the
magic water when she turns 17, and become his
partner in eternity. The rest of the family has very
different views from Jesse. Explore each
character’s perspective to help you draw your own
conclusion.
Mae
Welcome
Living Forever
 Mae
 Tuck
 Jesse
 Miles
 The Man in
the Yellow Suit
 Winnie
Conclusion
Well, there’s no use complaining about
something you can’t change. I don’t
know if I would have drunk the water if
I knew what it did, but there’s nothing I
can do about it now. Just have to make
the best out of what life gives you and
find things that make you happy.
Tuck
Welcome
Living Forever
 Mae
 Tuck
 Jesse
 Miles
 The Man in
the Yellow Suit
 Winnie
Conclusion
Immortality is unnatural. You can’t have
living without dying. We Tucks only get
to do the living. We don’t get to grow
and change – we’re just stuck. That ain’t
no way to live.
Jesse
Welcome
Living Forever
 Mae
 Tuck
 Jesse
 Miles
 The Man in
the Yellow Suit
 Winnie
Conclusion
Immortality is an adventure. I get to
travel the world, meeting interesting
people and experiencing all life has to
offer. I can take risks without a care in
the world. So I don’t have a wife – big
deal! If Winnie decides to drink the
water, she’ll be my partner forever.
Just imagine the possibilities!
Miles
Welcome
Living Forever
 Mae
 Tuck
 Jesse
 Miles
 The Man in
the Yellow Suit
 Winnie
Conclusion
Immortality is a curse. I lost the woman
I love and my darling children before I
even knew what had happened. Now I’m
destined to live my life alone, forever.
Any person who would consider drinking
that water, knowing its secret, would have
to be mad.
The Man in the Yellow Suit
Welcome
Living Forever
 Mae
 Tuck
 Jesse
 Miles
 The Man in
the Yellow Suit
 Winnie
Conclusion
What an amazing business
opportunity! Think of the
money I could make by offering
the water to the right people.
Now that I have the rights to
the wood where the spring is,
all I have to do is show my
customers the benefits of
immortality. I just have to
convince the Tucks to be my
“advertisement”. If they refuse
to help me, I still have the
child. Once she drinks the
water, she’ll be the perfect
specimen!
Winnie
Welcome
Living Forever
 Mae
 Tuck
 Jesse
 Miles
 The Man in
the Yellow Suit
 Winnie
Conclusion
I’m just so confused. I don’t know who
to believe. The Tucks are my friends and
I love them, but their story is so strange.
The things Tuck and Miles say scare me.
But Jesse makes everything sound so
exciting. We could see and do so many
things – we could make a difference. But
what if I had to see my parents and
grandmother and everyone else I know
die? I don’t know if it’s worth it…
Conclusion
Welcome
Living Forever
 Mae
 Tuck
 Jesse
 Miles
 The Man in
the Yellow Suit
 Winnie
Conclusion
How do you feel about the idea of living
forever? What advice would you give
Winnie? Should she drink the water
when she turns 17 so that she can live
with Jesse forever, or should she remain
part of the “wheel of life”? Write a
friendly letter to Winnie persuading her
to make the choice you think is right.