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Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is the story of five lucky children who won a chance to tour the secret factory of legendary candy man, Willy Wonka. Although the film is regarded as one of the greatest childrens musicals of all time, the movie subliminally forces Christian motives upon an unsuspecting audience. Throughout the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, there are numerous allusions to Christianity. The first of these allusions can be found in the opening scene, during a song about the candy man. With such lines as: The world tastes good because the candy man thinks it should. And who can make tomorrow, dip it in a dream, separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream?
The candy man can. Wonka himself is made into a God. Furthermore Wonka has created a paradise in his factory that encompasses many of the same characteristics that Heaven does. Both places are prosperous, fruitful, nearly perfect, and are considered a reward.
Heaven is the reward for a life of dedicated service to the lord, and the chocolate factory is the reward for a dedicated life eating chocolate. Wonka's factory is also similar to heaven in that only a fortunate few are allowed within their gates. Whereas Willy Wonka is used to portray God, Mr. Slugworth is used with the purpose of depicting Satan.
Although the real Mr. Slugworth is never shown in the movie, his image plays a major role in the film. In virtually all of his appearances in the movie Slugworth appears out of the shadows and offers to buy the childrens Everlasting Gobstoppers. Much like Satan might attempt to purchase a persons soul. Wonka and Slugworth are always at war much like God and Satan.
In addition to allusions to God and Satan, the movie makes references to numerous biblical themes. For example, each of the children portrays one of the seven deadly sins. Augustus Gloop, a heavy set boy who is continuously eating, demonstrates the sin of Gluttony. In nearly every scene the obese character is feasting in a restaurant or inquiring about his next meal. Augustus end is eventually brought by his need to be constantly eating.
Although Augustus demise was obviously a consequence of his obsessive eating, the connection to Christian theology is not mentioned within the context of the movie. Thus, one may state that the connection between Augustus and the deadly sin was concealed from the viewer. After Augustus is sucked up into the chocolate milk pipe his worried mother asks Willy Wonka where her son is headed. Wonka replies by telling Mrs. Gloop that Augustus will end up in the boiler. This is perhaps one of the clearest allusions to Christianity in the entire movie.
The boiler, is a place of intense heat, and is placed within the film with the sole intention of representing hell. Another character whose purpose in the movie is to symbolize a Christian moral is Veruca Salt. Veruca uses her dads financial status to demand every material possession that she sees. By forcing her dad to buy her everything that she wants she embodies the characteristics associated with the deadly sin of Greed. Most of Veruca's lines begin with Daddy I want and end with No I want one now! She is never content with what she has and is always demanding that her father buy her what she wants.
The viewer is too busy watching Veruca for act childish and snobby to realize the religious relevance of her conflict. After Veruca meets here demise, an alarmed Mr. Salt enquires about where his precious Veruca will end up. Wonka nonchalantly explains that Veruca will end up where all bad eggs end up, in the trash. The term bad egg is often used to describe a person who is misbehaved or a delinquent. In the Christian faith the delinquents and the unfaithful end up in eternal hell.
This scene is obviously placed with the intention of stating not that all bad eggs end up in the trash, rather a life of unfaithfulness will result in hell. What began as a group of five fortunate children was reduced to only one, Charlie Bucket. Charlie had survived the factory and the lifetime supply of chocolate would soon to be his. At the end of the tour the lone survivor, Charlie, asked Wonka where they would be going next. Wonka replied by telling Charlie that the tour was over and to show himself out. Wonka then entered his office and Grandpa Joe followed him in to inquire about the lifetime supply of chocolate.
Wonka became angry at Grandpa Joe for even asking. Wonka then informed Grandpa Joe that he knew that he and Charlie had stolen the Fizzy Lifting Drink and because of this they would have to forfeit their lifetime supply of chocolate. This confusing portion of the film needs to be broken down into two segments in order to understand the full impact of the scene. The importance of the first part of the scene is that Charlie had endured the trials of the factory, the symbolic equivalent of staying strong and true to God through life. As a reward for his faithfulness he would be receiving his reward of a lifetime supply of chocolate, this symbolized heaven. The second portion of the scene is that although no one had seen Charlie and Grandpa Joe steal the Fizzy Lifting Drink, Wonka knew of their actions.
This sent an underlying message to the viewer that although they might not get caught, God can see all of your actions. The final scene concluded with Grandpa Joe becoming infuriated with Wonka and as he led Charlie out of Wonka's office he leaned over to Charlie to say, "If Slugworth wants that Gobstopper, then well give it to him. " Then to everyones surprise Charlie paused and turned around. He walked back and placed the Gobstopper on Wonka's desk. "So shines a good deed in a weary world. " Said Willy Wonka as he turned in his chair and continued with "Charlie, my boy. Youve won! You did it! Oh, I knew youd do it, I just knew you would.
Please forgive me for putting you through this. Forgive me, but I had to test you. " Charlie then finds out that not only did he win the chocolate but had also won the entire factory. The importance of this scene is that although Charlie did make a mistake he was granted forgiveness when he placed the everlasting gobstopper on Wonka's desk. This message can be related to Christian theology in that one may repent for his or her sins and be granted forgiveness. This gives the viewer the message that although they may make a bad decision in life one may still be forgiven.
After examining a number of scenes and characters there is ample evidence throughout the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to support any allegations that the film was laced with many Christian motives. The obvious goal of this movie is to inform the viewer that one who sticks to the straight and narrow path of religion will be rewarded in the long run.
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Research essay sample on Christianity In Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
