Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas
explored in a literary work.
Good Things Come in Small Packages
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is
a novel in which things are either good or bad, and one way Dahl
attributes goodness to something is to make it small. Charlie, for
one, is small and undernourished. When he stands outside the factory,
the crowd pities Charlie for his small size and frailty. Mr. Wonka
is also small: the initial description of Mr. Wonka focuses on his
small stature. Finally, chocolate bars are small. Small things can
easily be underestimated by those who do not take the time to notice
them. Charlie, Mr. Wonka, and chocolate bars all have the potential
to carry much more weight than one might assume. Charlie’s pitiful
appearance belies his inner strength and ability to outlast the
other children and eventually take control of the entire chocolate
factory. Mr. Wonka’s small size disguises his intense energy and
amazing power. He has the power to determine children’s fates and
grant wishes. A single chocolate bar contains all of Charlie’s hopes
and dreams. When Charlie opens it and finds the golden ticket, he
realizes just how powerful something small—like he himself—can be.
Poverty vs. Wealth
The classic distinction between those who have money and
those who do not pervades Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Furthermore, it helps form the background for the morality of the
story. Money is dangerous, especially when it is used unscrupulously. Veruca’s
father embodies all the negative aspects of wealth when he uses
his financial resources to secure Veruca a golden ticket. Even Charlie,
who almost never speaks ill of anyone, says he disagrees with Mr.
Salt’s method. In contrast, poverty can often lead to good things.
Charlie is extremely poor; he rarely has enough to eat, and he sleeps
on the floor with his parents. But the dignity with which Charlie
handles his poverty makes him a beloved character. He does not yearn
for extraordinary wealth—he only wants enough to get by. Yet he
is eventually rewarded with riches beyond his wildest dreams. Veruca
is punished for her wealth, which accompanied by her parents’ ineptitude,
causes her to be such a brat.
What Goes Around Comes Around
After it has been established which characters are good
and which are bad, each of the characters is punished or rewarded
in accordance with his personality. The bad children—Veruca, Violet,
Mike, and Augustus—receive punishments. Augustus, who overeats as
a hobby, gets himself stuck in a chocolate pump that eventually
flattens him out. Veruca, for her bratty behavior, is denied the
squirrel that she desires. Furthermore, the other squirrels deem
her a “bad nut” and send her down the garbage chute. Violet, unable
to resist gum, chews herself into a giant blueberry. Mike, who is
obsessed with television, is permanently altered by it. In all of
these cases, the children undergo painful punishments that ultimately
make them better people. As the good child, Charlie receives only
rewards.
