1. “Many times a day, he would see
other children taking creamy candy bars out of their pockets and
munching them greedily; and that, of course, was
pure torture.”
This quotation comes from the first
chapter of the story. It captures Charlie’s overwhelming desire
for chocolate, and it also helps to frame Charlie’s character. Immediately
before this, the reader has learned that Charlie is poor, cold,
and hungry. It would be reasonable to expect Charlie to be dissatisfied
with his life. However, the opposite is true. Charlie remains optimistic
in the face of all his trials and tribulations. He never complains
and is a consummate good kid. Charlie continues to earn the reader’s
sympathy by bearing the difficulties of his life with dignity.
