In this blog post, we explore how Charlie in 「Charlie and the Chocolate Factory」 ultimately becomes the victor through his unassuming demeanor, examining the meaning behind this quiet strength.
The story of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is simple. It tells the story of Charlie, a poor boy who captures the heart of chocolate genius Willy Wonka and becomes the heir to his chocolate factory. Adapted from Roald Dahl’s original novel of the same name, the 2005 film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka remains powerfully memorable to this day. Like many fairy tale protagonists, Charlie is exceptionally kind. While he does speak his mind to Willy Wonka, Charlie’s overall character leans toward an almost unconditional goodness that seems hard for a child his age to possess. Perhaps because of this, Charlie’s presence in the film feels rather minimal. What remains more vividly in the audience’s memory are Willy Wonka, with his peculiar hairstyle and masterful sarcasm; the Oompa-Loompas, the treasure-like beings he leads; and the four children warped by their parents’ flawed upbringing. The film features songs that describe these characters. Yet the title character, Charlie, is not given a song. Does this mean Charlie is merely a protagonist lacking presence?
The core of fantasy filmmaking lies in creating spaces distinct from reality. Fantasy must deal with the unreal. The Chocolate Factory is an industrial space plausible in reality, yet simultaneously a virtual realm satisfying the audience’s imagination. In stark contrast to Charlie’s crumbling home, the chocolate factory is magnificent. Its scale is overwhelming, and Charlie’s beloved chocolate overflows everywhere. It’s also filled with bizarre and wondrous contraptions. This space fulfills Charlie’s fantasy while also satisfying the audience’s expectations of fantasy’s form. Yet the chocolate factory isn’t merely set up as a place that provides fantasy. As the five children and their guardians enter the factory, a song praising Willy Wonka resounds. Then, suddenly, a doll bursts into flames, and an eerie image unfolds of melting eyeballs. This moment vividly showcases the distinctive style and visual language characteristic of Tim Burton’s direction. Simultaneously, this space adheres to the genre convention where adversaries meet their downfall. Of course, it’s not an extreme ending where the children die. However, the four children use their parents to fulfill their own desires and ultimately pay the price. The Oompa-Loompas deliver a sharp rebuke to the broken children and their parents. Standing in stark contrast to them is Charlie. Charlie always puts his family first. He is a child who is more mature than the adults.
While seemingly adhering to genre conventions, this film carries a subtle strangeness. It employs a paradoxical strategy: by not placing the protagonist, Charlie, front and center, it paradoxically makes him stand out more. The story’s ending is already predetermined. As always, the protagonist triumphs. Charlie outshines his competitors and becomes the heir to the chocolate factory. This is implicitly foreshadowed from the very start of the film. Charlie buys chocolate with money he finds by chance and discovers the golden ticket inside. Even after Charlie enters the factory, the film emphasizes the flaws of the four misguided children rather than heroically spotlighting him. Intermittently, significant flashbacks to Willy Wonka’s past are inserted. The four children repeatedly break the rules and find themselves in crisis. In contrast, Charlie remains an obedient child who never does what he’s told not to do. He doesn’t take proactive actions that put others in danger. He simply watches. That’s all. Even within a conventional structure, how should we interpret this setup where the victorious protagonist appears like a bystander? Personally, I believe it contains a fantasy message that an ordinary person can triumph. By making Charlie unremarkable, it paradoxically makes him stand out. The film’s conflict is also straightforward, broadly divided into two threads. First, can Charlie win?
Second, can Willy Wonka overcome his own trauma? The conflicts in fantasy films typically follow a one-versus-one or one-versus-many structure. This film faithfully adheres to that convention. Both conflicts seem to resolve relatively smoothly, yet the process doesn’t feel overly abrupt. The conflicts are resolved within a range that the audience can accept.
Willy Wonka, who appears with equal prominence to Charlie, leaves an impression distinct from a typical sidekick. Of course, he ultimately helps Charlie. Yet, upon closer inspection, he shows clear differences from conventional allies. For Willy Wonka, Charlie’s very existence might have felt like a fantasy itself. The two are starkly contrasting. Willy Wonka grew up as the son of a renowned dentist in the city. He was forbidden from eating sweets and grew up wearing bizarre orthodontic appliances. In contrast, Charlie is poor but has strong family bonds. He shares even a single chocolate bar with his family. The fact that he visited the factory with his grandfather Joe, unlike the other children, would have also captured Willy Wonka’s attention. Having lived a lonely life without family, Willy Wonka might have unconsciously envied Charlie. In typical fantasy films, the helper consistently aids the protagonist. But Willy Wonka is different. He remains utterly focused on finding his successor. Perhaps he had Charlie in mind from the very beginning. Even so, he doesn’t show Charlie unconditional kindness. They don’t share many conversations either. Only when Willy Wonka hands Charlie chocolate during the boat scene does his goodwill finally become apparent. Willy Wonka isn’t merely a bizarre figure on the surface. Traumatized, he struggles to pronounce the word ‘parents’ and constantly adopts a sarcastic attitude. Whereas the traditional helper was relatively bland, Willy Wonka commands a powerful presence throughout the film.
Another convention is the protagonist initially being unaware of his own abilities. Early in the film, the Oompa-Loompas describe Charlie as a lucky boy. This scene faithfully follows genre conventions. Towards the end, Willy Wonka declares he will leave the factory to someone less corrupt. Ultimately, Charlie’s very nature already possessed the qualities of a winner. Charlie doesn’t expect to be the one with the Golden Ticket. While he secretly hopes for it, he doesn’t prioritize that desire over his family. Despite his young age, he seems to understand life’s truths. Charlie’s line, “You don’t have to be useful to be candy,” remains deeply memorable.
The ending also follows genre conventions. Charlie becomes the victor, and Willy Wonka overcomes his trauma. It seems like a simple happy ending, but upon reflection, it’s not quite that straightforward. Charlie, the last remaining winner, enjoys his triumph, but Willy Wonka demands he choose between his family and chocolate. The fantasy protagonist is forced to choose between cherished things at the final moment. Charlie chooses his family. Willy Wonka disappears. Later, he returns, reflecting on Charlie’s choice. Like a protagonist who catches two rabbits, Charlie gains both family and chocolate. Particularly noteworthy is the structure where the protagonist resolves the helper’s trauma. When asked what Willy Wonka does when he’s feeling down, Charlie states a simple truth: being with family makes him feel better. Willy Wonka, tormented by anxieties about the future, finally confronts the father he feared. While the process of overcoming trauma is presented somewhat briefly, the crucial point is that the driving force for this change originated from Charlie. The ending faithfully delivers what the audience expects. Today’s audiences tend to prefer closed endings. While endings open to diverse interpretations aren’t inherently bad, this likely reflects a psychological desire for clarity in cinema amidst complex realities.
This work’s subgenres include children’s fantasy, fairy tale fantasy, and reality fantasy. Most films inherently blend multiple genres. This film holds particular significance for reflecting facets of reality. The four children other than Charlie obtain their golden tickets through their parents’ wealth and calculation. This remains a recurring reality even today. In that sense, the very premise of poor Charlie getting the golden ticket is a fantasy. The film captures a brutally realistic portrayal while simultaneously offering hope that transcends that reality.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” remains an appealing work while adhering to familiar genre conventions. Fantasy must faithfully deliver the elements audiences expect. This film achieves a unique atmosphere through its fantastical setting and musical numbers. The protagonist Charlie appears a two-dimensional character. His personality lacks distinct facets. He is simply good. In reality, it’s not easy for someone like Charlie to triumph. The inheritance of wealth continues, both in the past and present. Yet Charlie wins. He may not just be a protagonist with a weak presence, but perhaps a fantastical response to an era where good people struggle to survive. Therefore, this film remains a work that goes beyond a simple fairy-tale happy ending, posing questions that still hold meaning for today’s audience.
