Say No To Grandpa Joe: Ill-Mannered

Definition

ill-mannered¹ (noun): 1. Rude; uncouth.

Evidence

Quotes

...his bowl of soup went flying into the face of Grandma Josephine²
Grandpa Joe tries to push his way onto the Wonkatania first.
Mister Salt: “Ladies first and that means my Veruca.”
Grandpa Joe: “If she's a lady, I'm a vermicious knid”³
Grandpa Joe: “Charlie, burp burp!”
Charlie burps
Grandpa Joe: “Burp again!”
Charlie burps
Grandpa Joe: “That's wonderful Charlie!”⁴
Grandpa Joe: “Finest bath I've had in twenty years.”⁵

Observations

Left to his own devices, Grandpa Joe would have worn his hat throughout Wonka's home. Luckily the coat rack had better manners.⁶
As his daughter tries to explain why Willy Wonka said he would close the factory forever and then repopened it after only a few years Grandpa Joe interrupts to say “I've had nothing to eat but cabbage soup in forever.”⁷

Analysis

The evidence makes it clear that Grandpa Joe is ill-mannered. He does not treat others with respect, nor does he respect the normal manners one would expect of a guest in their home. Although his disrespect is more obvious with women, he is also rude towards men.

More difficult to present in specific examples is his lack of respect towards the others in the factory tour. He does not speak to anyone other than Wonka and Charlie during the tour. Likewise, he ignores Wonka's simple request that they not partake of fizzy lifting drinks. It seems clear that if Grandpa Joe were a guest in your home, he would happily drink your last beer.

Grandpa Joe's lack of hygiene must be difficult for those around him. When a fully-clothed bath lasting less than a minute rates as the finest you have had in years, it is clear that you are not a skilled bather.

Everyone eats only cabbage soup. Grandpa Joe interrupting his daughter is disresectful and rude. Throw in that he's basically complaining about the free room and board he's received for twenty years and it's clear he's an ingrate.

It is disappointing to see him teaching his uncouth ways to his young grandson. One can only hope that Wonka's influence will help once Charlie moves into the factory.

Footnotes and Sources

Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (New York: Puffin Books, 1998) p. 49
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971, Mel Stuart, US, 100 mins).
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971, Mel Stuart, US, 100 mins).
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971, Mel Stuart, US, 100 mins).
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971, Mel Stuart, US, 100 mins).
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005, Tim Burton, US, 115 mins).