Beauty of food and magical mind in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl takes us into a world of food in it's finest beauty in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.


As they walk into Willy Wonka's edible garden they are greeted with a chocolate waterfall; “What a marvellous smell!’ answered Grandpa Joe, taking a long deep sniff. All the most wonderful smells in the world seemed to be mixed up in the air around them — the smell of roasting coffee and burnt sugar and melting chocolate and mint and violets and crushed hazelnuts and apple blossom and caramel and lemon peel.” The description presses a response from several of our senses, visually imagining the beautiful, brightly coloured scene, taking a deep breath in to capture the warmth and comfort it brings and tasting a touch of caramel on our lips.

“EATABLE MARSHMALLOW PILLOWS 

LICKABLE WALLPAPER FOR NURSERIES 

HOT ICE CREAMS FOR COLD DAYS 

COWS THAT GIVE CHOCOLATE MILK 

FIZZY LIFTING DRINKS 

SQUARE SWEETS THAT LOOK ROUND” 

Roald Dahl being exclusively a children's writer further elaborates his exotic ideas for food. The garnished imagination of Roald Dahl brings out sparkle and fun to food, giving it no limit for the amazement it can provide.

A quote from the novel that does something different within the language when describing the importance of food; “There is something about very cold weather that gives one an enormous appetite. Most of us find ourselves beginning to crave rich steaming stews and hot apple pies and all kinds of delicious warming dishes; and because we are all a great deal luckier than we realize, we usually get what we want—or near enough.” Dahl expresses the importance of food, by identifying the ways in which it comforts us in uncomfortable times i.e. cold, wet weather, relaxing our tense cold muscles into a warm steaming bowl of soup. Oh, for the love of food.

 One key moment to explore within the text is Willa Wonka's amazing creation of a three course dinner in the form of chewing gum. As Violet Beauregard grabs a stick she begins to  enjoy a warm tomato soup running down her throat, soon the taste changes and her main meal consists of 'Roast beef and baked potato. Crispy skin and butter!'. Then finally, the taste of dessert begins as Violet concludes; 'Blueberry pie and ice cream!'. It is after the sweetest part of any meal that Violet suddenly begins to inflate into a enourmous blueberry. In this moment Dahl describes a rather traditional three course meal, beginning with soup, a main consisting of roast beef and potato and a blueberry pie and ice cream, we can relate with Violet in the taste she is experiencing and he personal exploration of 'Crispy skin and butter!' inevitably spark our nasal senses at the thought of warm butter. Furthermore, in this moment we are seeing Dahl's saddistic side as Violet inflates as wide as she is tall but yet this entertain's his audience of children as to them seeing, a particularly annoying character, turn into a humongous blueberry is something only imagination can create, thanfully we are all aware that this is not possible and can invite laughter.

Comments

  1. Sarah Payne's Food Blog24 November 2018 at 00:29

    All those treats in the Dahl books! Have you checked out this recipe book of Dahl's Revolting Recipes? A great way to re-create the concoctions he describes in his books and immerse yourself into the sensory world you describe even more! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revolting-Recipes-Red-Picture-Book/dp/0099724219


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  2. The Impish Reader27 November 2018 at 08:45

    The way that you have explored food in this book is really fascinating. I love the use of quotes as well as how you have included the list of food that Willy Wonka offers, and I feel that the tone of voice that you use is particularly suitable. :)

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