Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) is a children's book by British author Roald Dahl. This story of the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric candymaker Willy Wonka is often considered one of the most beloved children's stories of the 20th century. It has been made into a movie not once but twice.
Plot
Only five children were to win a golden ticket and to be allowed inside the Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Those who won the lottery would get a magical tour and see all the mysterious machinery in the factory where the world's most wonderful sweets are made. The lucky five were the greedy Augustus Gloop, the spoiled Veruca Salt, the gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde, the smart-alecky Mike Teavee and the poor Charlie Bucket. One by one, the children break Wonka's rules by acting on a vice they possess, with Charlie ending up a hero of the story. The movie teaches about sins and virtues.
Characters
The main characters
Willy Wonka: Wonka is the owner of the chocolate factory
Charlie Bucket: Charlie is the main character in the story. He enters a competition run by Wonka.
Grandpa Joe: Charlie's grandfather
The other children
Augustus Glop: Glop is a greedy boy, who is the first child to be sent away. He was not careful when he was drinking the Chocolate River. He fell into the in it as was sent to be made into strawberry-coated fudge.
Veruca Salt: Salt is a girl who likes to get everything that she wants. She goes to the nut room and is found to be a "bad nut". She is sent to the furnace.
Violet Beauregarde: Beauregarde is a girl who is always chewing gum. She tries Wonka's everlasting gum. She grows bigger and bigger and ends up becoming a giant blueberry.
Mike Teavee: Teavee is a boy who is likes to always watch television. He is shrunk by the Television Chocolate.
Other characters
Oompa-Loompas: Midgets who work in the Factory. They are about high and they have strange hair cuts. They are paid in cacao beans. They come from Loompaland, which is a region of Loompa. Loompa is a small island in the Pacific Ocean. When the book was written, it said that they came from "the very deepest and darkest part of the African jungle where no white man had been before", but this was changed (see Problems section). They are the only people that Wonka trusts to work in the factory. When any of the children are taken away, the Oompa-Loompas sing a song about them.
Mr. Slugworth: In the book, Slugworth is a chololate maker who is one of Wonka's rivals. In the 1971 movie, Slug worth is finally shown to be one of Wonka's workers who has been testing the children's loyalty.
Prince Pondicherry: Wonka made a chocolate palace for the Prince. It melted in the sun.
Problems
In early editions of the book, the Oompa-Loompas are described as African pygmies. This caused controversy and criticism. In later editions of the book, they have white skin and golden hair. (In the 1971 movie, they have orange skin).
References
Other websites and links
Official Roald Dahl Website
The Willy Wonka Candy Company
1964 books
English-language novels
Children's books
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (franchise)