Quote 1
"It's absolutely fantastic!" gasped Grandpa Joe. "It's...it's...it's a miracle!" (27.29)
What's so great about <em>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</em> is that even the adults get to join in on the awe and amazement. Grandpa Joe hasn't had a very easy life, but now, at the ripe old age of ninety-six and a half, he gets to witness a miracle.
"Calm yourself, my darling wife," said Grandpa Joe, stepping out of the elevator. "It's only us." (30.34)
It's nice to see that, even at ninety-six, Grandpa Joe is affectionate with his wife. Maybe that's why this is such a loving family – because the grandparents set a loving example.
Quote 3
"You must start making preparations at once! Wash your face, comb your hair, scrub your hands, brush your teeth, blow your nose, cut your nails, polish your shoes, iron your shirt, and for heaven's sake, get all that mud off your pants! You must get ready, my boy! You must get ready for the biggest day of your life!" (12.23)
We have to admit – Charlie isn't exactly presentable these days. He's so skinny he looks like a skeleton, and we're willing to bet that his clothes and shoes are worn. But the least he can do is put his best foot forward and make himself look as sharp as possible. After all, it's not everyday that a boy gets to go to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.
"That child," said Grandpa Joe, poking his head up from under the blanket one icy morning, "that child has got to have more food. It doesn't matter about us. We're too old to bother with. But a growing boy! He can't go on like this!" (10.10)
Grandpa Joe seems to think that taking care of the young is more important than taking care of the old. What do you think: is it too late for them?
Quote 5
"I certainly can't go myself and leave the other three old people all alone in bed for a whole day." (12.31)
These grandparents sure do seem pretty helpless. After all, they can't go a day without being taken care of by Mrs. Bucket. How come the other three grandparents can't be as peppy as Grandpa Joe?
Quote 6
"And I want lots of Oompa-Loompas to row me about, and I want a chocolate river and I want… I want..."
"She wants a good kick in the pants," whispered Grandpa Joe to Charlie.
One of our favorite parts of the book is the close friendship between Grandpa Joe, who's ninety-six, and Charlie, who's quite young. They're not your typical duo.