I want to you revise this essay and write a comment in each change you made( why
I want to you revise this essay and write a comment in each change you made( why did you made this change )
Analyzing Social Injustice in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Adaptations
Introduction
The narrative lens of social justice in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its film adaptations deeply delves into social injustices. Stemming from Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel, this theme takes on layers that resonate uniquely in the 1971 and 2005 film versions. These works show that social injustice shapes character dynamics and mirrors societal norms and values. Simultaneously, themes of privilege, fairness, and disparity are spotlighted in the setting of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, prompting audiences to contemplate the complexities of social institutions. This evaluation aims to unveil the nuanced commentary embedded within these stories by scrutinizing how social injustice is depicted across each rendition. Identifying Social Injustice in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
In his 1964 children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl deftly crafted a story that captivated readers while offering a moving critique of social injustice. Dahl showed his compassion and eloquence in the character of Charlie Bucket, a character he created to portray a kid from humble beginnings facing the harsh realities of economic inequality. Charlie’s struggle to afford clothes and food, surrounded by classmates who lived lavishly. According to Roald Dahl in his book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (1964), Charlie, upon returning from school, sees the enormous, rich chocolate factory and the children purchasing the chocolates that he has been dreaming about, but he is unable to afford to buy it, so this is a powerful example of the extreme disparity that permeated the era’s culture. Additionally, the narrative addresses the more significant systemic issues of social injustice and economic inequalities that were prevalent then rather than simply describing individual circumstances. Subsequently, Roald Dahl’s writing vividly depicts the challenges individuals like Charlie face, whose resilience amid adversity underscores the deeply rooted inequalities within society. The contrast between Charlie’s limited means and the extravagance of his peers highlights the stark social divide, exposing the harsh consequences of economic disparities and unfair social structures. In ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (1964), A notable example is Charlie’s pleasure on his birthday when his family can only afford to buy him one Wonka chocolate bar every year. This draws attention to the financial hardships his family is experiencing in stark contrast to the wealth and luxury of the Wonka chocolate company. Charlie’s perseverance and optimism in the face of adversity highlight the glaring disparities in society, where socioeconomic class frequently determines one’s access to resources and possibilities. Through Charlie’s journey, Dahl deftly conveys a poignant message that resonates with readers, inviting them to confront the injustices in their communities and foster dialogue around social justice and equality.
Analyzing the 1971 Film Adaptation
The 1971 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory subtly tackles social injustice. It uses characters like August Gloop and Veruca Salt to reflect income disparity. Additionally, the movie suggests the wealth divide between the rich and poor using these two characters. In Mel Stuart’s film ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ (1971), Excess and luxury are symbolized by Augustus Gloop, who is shown as a gluttonous kid from a wealthy family. His unrestricted eating habits are a reflection of his privileged upbringing. While Veruca Salt, the pampered daughter of a wealthy businessman, on the other side, epitomizes consumerism and entitlement. Her lack of empathy and desire for immediate pleasure highlight the gap between money and compassion. These characters gently draw attention to the disparity in income between the rich and the poor, highlighting the ways in which economic inequality affects people’s views and behaviors. The film not only hints at these rich-poor gaps, but it’s more about imparting ethical lessons. It doesn’t directly discuss the more extensive societal inequalities. Instead, the movie draws attention to character flaws more than apparent cut systemic issues, which it uses to deliver moral values and encourage character growth. This depiction of people of different statuses subtly integrates social inequality into the story.
In contrast to Veruca Salt, which symbolized great wealth and power, August Gloop represented luxury and enjoyment (Stuart 1917). By showcasing these diverse personalities, the film indirectly addresses social inequality rather than directly addressing systemic disparities. Therefore, the film emphasizes moral lessons on behavior and personal values while utilizing character dynamics. By interweaving social commentary and character development, this approach adds depth to the plot. It allows for a more complex examination of social issues within whimsical and imaginative scenarios.
Examining the 2005 Film Adaptation
In Tim Burton’s 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the character Mike Teavee is introduced. Mike’s love for technology paints a big picture: a society getting too involved in tech and feeling less. The movie provides a powerful look at how this hurts society by showing how TV changes kids. It shines a light on what happens when parents don’t pay enough attention and, at the same time, teaches about how tech can change a whole society. Moreover, this film tells a tale of shifting cultural attitudes, evidenced by Mike’s constant presence on screens. He loves speed and excitement, which shows how today’s culture depends more and more on tech. However, the movie also talks about how using screens too much can be dangerous and discusses how advances in tech can change how society interacts and change family life. Mike Teavee’s excessive screen time is specifically addressed in a noteworthy scene in the 2005 film rendition of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Mike’s father, Mr. Teavee, realizes the detrimental effects his son’s infatuation with video games and television is having on their family life. This event serves as an example of how technology can impact human connections and conventional family dynamics. Moreover, the effects of Mike’s excessive consumption in screens later appear when he gets transformed and shrunk via Wonka’s creation of television (Burton 2005). This transition is a warning about the possible risks of relying too much on technology and the results of choosing virtual relationships over in-person contacts. Ultimately, this film provides an intelligent view of today’s world as it depicts the issues with how fast tech grows. Also, it shows how the way society talks and connects is changing. All these are evidenced through the story of the character Mike Teavee.
Conclusion
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” adaptations across a variety of media provide an engaging examination of social injustice and its effects on both specific characters and larger society systems. By illustrating the hardships of characters such as Charlie Bucket in the face of economic injustice, Roald Dahl’s first novel established the framework for further exploration of themes of privilege, justice, and inequality. In addition to teaching moral lessons about behavior and personal values, the 1971 film adaption gently addressed socioeconomic inequality by utilizing characters like Augustus Gloop and Veruca Salt to symbolize income discrepancy. In the same way, the character of Mike Teavee was established in the 2005 film adaptation to highlight the shifting social views of technology and its effects on society. The movie explores the risks of technology addiction and the possible repercussions of giving priority to virtual relationships over in-person interactions through Mike’s excessive screen time. Each of the adaptations provides a nuanced commentary on social injustice by combining morality, fantasy, and social critique. This allows viewers to participate in stimulating conversations about the intricacies of social structures and the value of empathy and compassion in combating inequality. By examining these adaptations, we can learn important lessons about how literature and movies can be used as platforms for examining and challenging social issues, which encourages us to consider our own roles in bringing about a more fair and just society.
Works Cited
Burton, Tim. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 2005.
Dahl, Roald. Charlie and Chocolate Factory. 1964. Stuart, Mel. Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. 1971.
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here is my professor comments.
– Meets rhetorical situation: Mostly – falls away from task at times – Title, intro, two+ BP, conclusion: yes! – Thesis with topic sentences: yes! – Works Cited: yes! – MLA formatting: yes! – Effective/ethical textual evidence: sometimes, not always clear what you’re pulling from each film. – No outside sources: yes! – Paper formatting (3, double space, 12/TNR font): yes! – Clear theme/issue and two filmic adaptations: identified, but not always followed – Effective organization strategy: No – Veruca paragraph and Mike Tevee parts are misplaced or not clearly supportive of thesis.
also here is the assignment requirement if you to see them:
In this comparative essay, you will analyze and compare how filmic adaptations embody a key theme, issue, character or other singular focus from a literary text. In this three page essay (not including Works Cited), you will analyze either The Secret Life of Walter Mittyor Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and their filmic adaptations. Once you’ve picked a story narrative, you will then need to note a singular change found in the text (short story/novel) and each filmic adaptation.
To help you find the larger purpose for this change, you should ask “what does [text] say about [theme/issue] and how is that represented in the adaptations”? If you follow the Secret Life of Walter Mitty track, you will ultimately need to discuss the 1939 short story, 1947 film, and 2013 film. If you follow Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you would need to discuss the 1964 children’s book and the two films: 1971 and 2005.
*** Note, I have taken out the option to write on the 2023 Wonka. I will explain this in class.**
As an example, I might explore “fatphobia” as a theme in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I would need to establish that this is a theme in the text and then explore how the the 1971 film and 2005 film portray fatphobia. I would need a clear claim, such as:
“Despite a more modern approach, the 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory uses similar filmic elements as the 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to portray fatness as inherently bad”
“Both filmic adaptations further the them of “fatness” as inherently bad through their portrayal of Augustus.”
The 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory provides a better version of Augustus by playing on audience’s expectations of “fatness.”
Rhetorical Situation
Audience: Professors within the HU/COM department
Task: Analyze and compare the treatment of a singular adaptive element (theme, issue, character, etc) and its representation in two filmic adaptations
Context: You can assume that readers will know of the artifacts, but may have not seen or read them in some time. Purpose: Identify and discuss trends between an original artifact and it’s adaptations and argue why these differences matter
Essay Structure and Minimum Requirements:
Must include an engaging title, intro, at least two body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Provide and follow a clear, engaging thesis, supported by topic sentences
Create a Works Cited (may be attached at end or on new page – up to you!)
Use MLA formatting throughout
Effectively and ethically uses textual evidence (from class texts and films) to support your claims
Do not use outside sources – this is a close analysis essay!
Have 3 double-spaced pages, 12 pt. Times New Roman black font
Clearly identify the theme/issue in the artifact and explore two filmic adaptations
Implement an effective organization strategy (suggestion: dedicate one body paragraph per film)