Additional Commentary
Over the years, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been criticized for being vulgar, sadistic, subversive, ageist, and racist. The most notable of these criticisms is the accusation of racism. This stems from the depiction of the Oompa-Loompas as black pygmies from Africa. Dahl has stated that he did not originally perceive his portrayal of the Oompa-Loompas as racist. However, after critics pointed out that all of the factory workers were black, he revised the book. Dahl prefers readers to select the revised edition, which is the only version currently available in print. Nonetheless, many copies of the original version are still in circulation.
Overview
The primary controversy surrounding Charlie and the Chocolate Factory centers on how the Oompa-Loompas are portrayed. They are depicted as a cheerful tribe from a vaguely defined area known as Loompaland. In Loompaland, they reside in tree houses, hiding from creatures like hornswogglers, snozzwangers, and whangdoodles. Willy Wonka discovers them in a state of malnutrition and brings them to work at his chocolate factory. Although the Oompa-Loompas seem happy with their chocolate diet, some critics find their treatment problematic. For instance, one scene shows Oompa-Loompas rowing a boat on a chocolate river, evoking images of galley slaves. In another scene, Wonka talks about experimenting on them, even turning some into giant berries. While their cute and childlike appearance may attract young readers, the way they are treated, especially as test subjects, can appear harsh or insensitive.
Critics have also claimed that Dahl's portrayal of poverty in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is unrealistic, although this criticism appears less warranted. The novel reads like an extended fairy tale, mixing symbolism and whimsy to deliver its message. Charlie Bucket's family is quite unusual, with four grandparents sharing a single bed for twenty years, and his father's job screwing caps onto toothpaste tubes is odd. However, these elements are typical of fairy tales, rather than real life.
The focus isn't on Charlie's father's strange job, but on the fact that it is a low-paying, menial one. When he loses this job, the family is on the verge of starvation, and their sparse meals resemble those in other fairy tales, like "Beauty and the Beast," where a wealthy man loses everything and struggles to support twelve children. The Buckets' cabbage-and-potato meals might seem absurd to well-fed critics, yet many impoverished people in reality have survived on even less.
When Charlie wins a tour of Wonka's chocolate factory, his poverty sharply contrasts with the wealth of the other contest winners, who have televisions, toys, and ample food. These children are excessively spoiled, unaware of how their selfish actions impact themselves and others. Charlie, who has almost nothing, treasures every moment of the factory tour, while the other children are too focused on their desires to appreciate anything. Charlie's appreciation for Wonka earns him a well-deserved reward, while each self-centered child receives their "just desserts."
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.