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Chapter 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Vice and Virtue
Parenting
Poverty and Wealth
Fun, Absurdity, and Wonder
Prejudice and Bigotry
Summary
Analysis
Grandpa Joe is thrilled and asks Mr. Bucket to read the article aloud. Mr. Bucket reads that today, Mr. Willy Wonka sent out a notice that says he’s decided to allow five children to visit his factory. He’ll give them a tour of the factory and even let them in on his secrets. At the end, all the children will receive a lifetime supply of Wonka candy. He’ll choose which children get to visit with five Golden Tickets that have been printed on golden paper and tucked into normal-looking candy bars. They could be anywhere in the world. In closing, Mr. Wonka wishes everyone luck finding the tickets.
It's unclear exactly why Mr. Wonka would stipulate that the five visitors must be children. This implies that he believes there’s some particular difference between children and adults—and whatever that difference is, children are preferable. Printing the tickets on golden paper highlights the fact that they represent wealth and power, as gold is very expensive and has long been a symbol of money and prestige.
Themes
Grandma Josephine grouses that Mr. Wonka is “dotty,” but Grandpa Joe insists that this is brilliant. Now, everyone will be looking for Golden Tickets—it’s a great marketing scheme. And, Grandpa Joe says, it would be so exciting to find one. Grandpa George says that it would be great to get enough candy to last a lifetime, but Grandma Josephine says it makes her sick to think about it.
Grandpa Joe and Grandpa George are far more excited about the Golden Tickets than their wives are. They seem to look at the world with a bit more wonder and excitement—something that differentiates them as being more childlike. These qualities are, perhaps, what Mr. Wonka values in children that most adults don’t have.
Themes
Grandpa Joe asks Charlie if he agrees that it would be amazing to find a Golden Ticket. Charlie sadly says that it would, but there’s no chance—he only gets one candy bar per year. Grandma Georgina reminds Charlie that his birthday is next week, so he has a chance like anyone else. Grandpa George, though, insists that Charlie has no chance. He can’t afford to buy candy every day, like some kids can.
Both Charlie and Grandpa George suggest that because the Bucket family is so poor, the idea that Charlie will come across a Golden Ticket is far-fetched. It’s much more likely that wealthier kids, who can regularly afford to buy luxuries like chocolate bars, will find the Golden Tickets.
Themes
