KidLit Forum

An important theme in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is how appearances can be deceiving. Many characters in the story are not what they seem. For instance, Dahl chooses to make most of the good things in this piece small. People pity Charlie for his small size and malnourished frailty. Little do they know the goodness that he carries in his heart. Additionally, Wonka is also quite small, and the first description focuses partly on this. The Oompa Loompas are also a good thing in a small package. They are described as being the size of pygmies, yet they have the most important jobs in the factory, and they try to instill morals into the reader. Also, chocolate bars are small, yet carry enormous meaning, especially for children. They represent hope, as everyone wants theirs to have the Golden Ticket.