This is going out on a limb, however, I say that death is the shapeshifter. Wilbur and charlotte have very different views on death. When they first met, wilbur was disgusted at even at the death of a fly, while charlotte said that things have to at some point or another, but also I feel that part of what she felt is what you can do with life that matters.
Death definetly has a presence in this book, it lays it's hand down in forboding, not when wilbur is to be killed by mr. Arable, but at the end of the chapter when wilbur meets Charlotte, and E.B. White describes her as "...a loyal friend, until the very end." and she would be, death then suggests wilbur to be killed in the wintertime.
But the reason I believe death to be the shapeshifter is because I believe he inhabits almost every single animal in this book. Now I know that's a bit oughtright and blunt, however I have much reason to believe this. The old sheep tells wilbur that he will be killed, and although this could be said by anyone, he tells wilbur theirs no use he has to die. templeton clearly states, " what if I don't want to do this anymore" he was the holder of the life of 514 spiders in his hands, and constantly helps charlotte save wilbur. Wilbur has strong views against death itself, and in a way is I feel the nagging voice in the back of death's mind (figurativly) saying, is what i'm doing right? and Charlotte of course, she states that death is necessary for life. Even the crickets song sparrows and flowers, have some death in their hearts being. The flowers shrivel up and die because of death, joining wilbur as the feeling that what death's doing is wrong. the sparrow sings "sweet, sweet, sweet, interlude." the interlude being death. the crickets warn summer (life) won't last forever.
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