Definition
- pervert1 (noun)
- 1. someone who is morally or sexually perverted.
Evidence
Quotes
Mrs. Teavee2: “Somebody is touching me!”3- Grandpa Joe: “It looks more like a turkish bath to me.”4
- Grandpa Joe: “Charlie, we're really high now...”5
- Grandpa Joe: “What rules?! We didn't see any rules.”6
- Charlie: “Don't make it gross!”7
Observations
Four people, two couples, share a bed. While this appears in both the book and the original movie, only the movie makes it clear that both headboards resemble a rather popular (and some would say overly sexualized) element of female anatomy.8
As they enter the factory, they pass through a room with "lickable wallpaper". Wonka invites them all to try it. Grandpa Joe licks the wallpaper in a very unusual way.9
Analysis
In observing the movie, it is clear that Mrs. Teevee believes she is being touched in an inappropriate manner. Immediately following her comment, the look on Grandpa Joe's face lets us know exactly who was touching her. At no time does Grandpa Joe deny having touched Mrs. Teavee.
Throughout the early stages of the book and movies we are presented with the image of Grandpa Joe and Charlie's other grandparents, clad only in bedclothes and spending all their time together, four in a bed. This can hardly be a proper example for young Charlie or any other impressionable viewers. Watching the movie makes it clear that Grandpa Joe is the ringleader of this group: George and Georgina don't speak at all and Grandma Josephine is allowed only to announce that she made the tassles for Charlie's scarf.
Charlie's only outburst in the movie is to tell Grandpa not to elaborate anymore on a story where he mentions kissing Grandma. In another scene, he tastes the wallpaper in front of the children in a very suggestive manner. Based on the speed and sincerity with which Charlie speaks, it seems clear that Grandpa Joe has made it gross a time or two. One hesitates to think what sordid stories Mr. Four-in-a-bed might be telling his grandchild.
It seems clear from the examples above that Grandpa Joe is a pervert in both senses of the word. His morals are not those of a normal person, worse, he seeks to impose his values on others and has some degree of success. Sadly, Wonka is also morally perverted; one can only hope that Charlie's mother will be able to save him.
Footnotes and Sources
- Arbor Media, Inc., AllWords.Com.
Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 AllSites.com, Inc. - Although the movie spells it Teevee, we have elected to use the original spelling Teavee
- 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).
- Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (New York: Puffin Books, 1998) p. 4-5
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971, Mel Stuart, US, 100 mins).
