The Working Poor
The Buckets' home in Burton 's
2005 film adaptation, Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory.
Throughout Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory, a spotlight is
placed on the socioeconomic status of
the titular character. The first twelve
chapters, comprising almost half of
the book, detail the struggles faced by
little Charlie Bucket and his family.
Mr. Bucket is the only working
member of the family. He works in a
factory. His role is minor, yet vital; he
screws caps onto toothpaste
containers. While he is not an
employee of Wonka's factory, his
working conditions would resemble
those of the workers employed by Mr.
Wonka. Thus, parallels can be drawn
between the two.
This factory job is never enough to ensure that the Bucket family has access
to their basic human needs. Adequate food, shelter, and healthcare must all
be forgone by the family. The narrator notes:
"However hard he worked, and however fast he screwed on the caps, was
never able to make enough to buy one half of the things that so large a
family needed. "
The family's living arrangement is a significant complication. Charlie, his
two parents, and four grandparents all live together in the same small house
comprising of only two rooms and one bed. All four grandparents share the
bed, whilst Charlie and his parents sleep on mattresses on the floor. This is
an acceptable arrangement in summer, but during snowy winters the family
truly suffer.
The family can also only afford the smallest, plainest meals. Much of the
family border on malnourishment. Their diets consist almost entirely of
cabbage, and they spend whole days "with a horrible empty feeling in their
tummies." One chapter of Dahl's book is titled 'The Family Begins to
Starve.' Within this chapter, it is stated that Charlie grows so thin that he
begins to resemble a skeleton. He had to make changes, like walking slowly
to school or sitting inside during playtime, to simply avoid exhaustion.
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Who is the target audience:
What is the purpose of the first text:
The purpose of the first text is to discuss the socioeconomic status and struggles of the Bucket family in the movie adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Who is the target audience:
What is the purpose of the text:
The target audience of the text is likely fans or viewers of the movie adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as it specifically mentions the film version.
The purpose of the text is to highlight the working poor and socioeconomic struggles faced by the Bucket family in the movie. It also draws parallels between the working conditions of Mr. Bucket and the workers employed by Mr. Wonka in the factory.
When you close your eyes and imagine what you've just read, you see
When I close my eyes and imagine what I've just read, I see the small and cramped living space of the Bucket family, with Charlie, his parents, and four grandparents all sharing one bed or sleeping on mattresses on the floor. I see their meager meals of plain cabbage, and the physical toll it takes on Charlie, as he grows thin and begins to resemble a skeleton. I also visualize Mr. Bucket working in the factory, diligently screwing caps onto toothpaste containers but still struggling to make enough money to meet their basic needs.
his text is about…
It begins with…
Discusses the idea that…
And ends with…
This text is about the socioeconomic struggles of the Bucket family in the movie adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
It begins with introducing the Buckets' home and Mr. Bucket's role as a factory worker screwing caps onto toothpaste containers.
It discusses the idea that Mr. Bucket's job is not enough to provide for the family's basic needs, such as food, shelter, and healthcare. It also highlights the living arrangement of the family, their limited and plain meals, and the physical toll it takes on Charlie.
And ends with emphasizing the hardships faced by the family, including Charlie's exhaustion and changes he has to make to cope with their situation.