History Literature / CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory

* {{Hypocrite}}: Willy Wonka himself. He considers chewing gum "really gross" and detestable, yet seemingly sees no wrong in making profit from selling it (note that in the book, he explicitly states his desire to get that flawed gum right so he can sell it). He also disdains fat children, yet sees no wrong in selling chocolate, and generally candy, even though sweets are number one cause for child obesity. He also denies that Oompa-Loompas' texts about the mishaps happeneing to children were prepared in advance, even though they clearly were.

* InexplicablyAwesome: Willy Wonka.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Willy Wonka.

* MadScientist: Willy Wonka.

* ReedRichardsIsUseless: Willy Wonka can make an entire meal come out of gum, an ice cream that stays cold and doesn't melt in the sun, build a chocolate palace without a metal framework, can teleport things into TV screens, and has anti-gravity technology - yet he only applies his know-how to candy.
** Lampshaded by Mike Teavee in the 2005 film. Then again, considering what happened to Mike, can anyone blame Wonka for having no desire to apply his teleporting technology to people?

* TricksterMentor: Willy Wonka.
* TheWonka: {{Trope Namer|s}}: a eccentric and successful business owner.

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Depending on the AlternativeCharacterInterpretation, Willy Wonka.

** "Veruca" is the scientific name for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_wart plantar warts.]] {Lampshade|Hanging}}d by Wonka.

** GoneHorriblyWrong: the "three course dinner" gum is either thiks or the former, depending on how much one trusts Willy Wonka.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: finding the Golden Ticket. Seemeingly everybody in the world wanted to find one, and some (like Veruca and Mike) even got one using underhanded methods (using laborers in her Father's factory and "hacking" the ticket distribution to fing the bar with it, respectively), and all five finders were considered "lucky winners". However, in reality 4 of those 5 kids were subject to a horrible IronicHell punishment, which was Wonka's plan all along.

*** In other words, they were [[UnfortunateImplications a primitive tribe living in fear and poverty until the great white industrialist appeared and spirited them away from their native lands to the paradise of working in his factory without wages or access to the outside world...]]

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: finding the Golden Ticket. Seemeing everybody in the world wanted to find oine, and some (like Veruca and Mike) even got one using underhanded methods (using laborers in her Father's factory and "hacking" the ticket distribution to fing the bar with it, respectively), and all five finder were considered "lucky winners". However, in reality 4 of those 5 kids were subject to a horrible IronicHell punishment, which was Wonka's plan all along.

* FelonyMisdemeanor: all the bratty kids actuually (yes, even Veruca) but ''especially'' Violet whose "crime" in the book consists solely of chewing gum.

Perhaps Creator/RoaldDahl's best known work, this book has twice [[TheFilmOfTheBook been filmed]]. (They're [[Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory here]].)

%% Examples from the films go at Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory

* Felony Misdemeanor: all the bratty kids actuually (yes, even Veruca) but ''especially'' Violet whose "crime" in the book consists solely of chewing gum.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Willy Wonka himself. He considers chewing gum "really gross" and detestable, yet seemingly sees no wrong in making profit from selling it (note that in the book, he explicitly states his desire to get that flawed gum right so he can sell it). He also disdains fat children, yet sees no wrong in selling chocolate, and generally candy, even though sweets are number one cause for child obesity. He also denies that Oompa-Loompas texts about the mishaps happeneing to children were prepared in advance, even though they clearly were.

** "Veruca" is the scientific name for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_wart plantar warts.]] {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by Wonka.

* IncrediblyLamePun: The Square Candies That Look Round; they're square, [[spoiler:but if you enter their room they'll look 'round to see who's there]]. The buildup to this joke takes up [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome several pages]].

* {{Hypocrite}}: Willy Wonka himself. He considers chewing gum "really gross" and detestable, yet seemingly sees no wrong in making profit from selling it (note that in the book, he explicitly states his desire to get that flawed gum right so he can sell it). He also disdains fat children, yet sees no wrong in selling chocolate, and general candy, even though sweets are number one cause for child obesity. He also denies that Oompa-Loompas texts about the mishaps happeneing to children were prepared in advance, even though they clearly were.

* DwindlingParty: the kids. In the end it is revealed that the "winner" is defined as whoatever child stays last.

Perhaps RoaldDahl's best known work, this book has twice [[TheFilmOfTheBook been filmed]]. (They're [[Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory here]].)

The five children tour [[AppliedPhlebotinum the factory]], a wonderland of bizarre and improbable inventions, but one by one the children suffer almost lethal karmic fates, each underscored by a moralising CrowdSong from Wonka's Oompa-Loompas. When only [[PinballProtagonist Charlie]] is left, Wonka reveals he was actually looking for an heir.

* AdvertisedExtra: Once Charlie arrives at [[AppliedPhlebotinum the factory]], he does ''nothing'' and, therefore, wins the factory. Granted, he spends the first third of the book starving to death while being a really good kid. By the time he gets to the factory, he's got nothing to prove to the readers.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Many would find the bit about Wonka closing down due to industrial espionage to be over the top. Many would also be surprised to learn [[CrapsaccharineWorld what a cutthroat industry candymaking]] [[RealityIsUnrealistic really is.]]

* HappilyMarried: Charlie's parents ([[DisappearedDad except for]] the 1971 film) and both sets of his grandparents. The fact that he has a loving family makes him contrast with the bratty, dysfunctional rich kids even more.

* TheWonka: {{Trope Namer|s}}: a eccentric and successful business owner.

In the book, Charlie is an angelic boy who lives with his parents and grandparents in a small hovel. When [[TheWonka Willy Wonka]], a reclusive businessman, announces a competition to allow five lucky children into his [[AppliedPhlebotinum chocolate factory]], Charlie wins one of the places [[MillionToOneChance against high odds]].

* TheWonka: {{Trope Namer|s}}.

* AdvertisedExtra: Once Charlie arrives at [[AppliedPhlebotinum the factory]], he does ''nothing'' and, therefore, wins the factory. Granted, he spends the first third of the book starving to death while being a really good kid. By the time he gets to the factory, he's got nothing to prove to the readers. He might be more accurately described as TheArtifact. Or, perhaps, TheIshmael. And a PinballProtagonist as well.
** Or more specifically, he's the only one that follows the rules.
*** Considering what happens to the others that's not necessarily a bad thing.

* CuteShotaroBoy: Charlie.

The other four children turn out to be deeply unpleasant: Augustus Gloop is a glutton, Veruca Salt is a SpoiledBrat, Mike Teavee is obsessed with TV and Violet Beauregarde is a rude, pushy compulsive gum-chewer. Willy Wonka himself proves to be an [[MadScientist eccentric inventor]], obsessed with confectionery.