Literary Analysis: Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl
by Khairunnisa Bratandari Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl is a strange but exciting sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Instead of staying in the factory, the story takes Charlie, Willy Wonka, and his family into space, where they face crazy situations like alien monsters and even a visit to the White House. The book mixes science fiction with humor and shows how adults can sometimes act more foolish than kids. The story itself is full of weird and wild inventions. The story still contains some important messages about family, being kind, and not to do anything without thinking. Roald Dahl uses humor, unusual characters, and science fiction setting in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator to teach readers the importance of staying humble, being clever, and valuing family. In this analysis, I will explain how Dahl uses funny characters, strange events, and imagination to show these ideas.
One of the ways Dahl shares his messages is by using humor to make adults look silly. A good example of this is the way he describes the President of the United States. Instead of being a serious and strong leader, the President is shown as panicky and confused. When he thinks the Great Glass Elevator is an enemy spaceship, he overreacts and gives silly orders. This shows how adults, even those in charge, can be just as scared and ridiculous as anyone else. Dahl makes fun of people who think they are important, teaching that being in power doesn’t always mean being smart.
Another way Dahl gets his messages across is through the characters and how they deal with problems. The Vermicious Knids, for example, are scary alien creatures that attack the space hotel. While the grown ups panic, Mr Wonka stays calm and uses his creativity to solve the problem. He tricks the knids by flying the elevator away fast enough that they crash and explode. This shows that thinking clearly and using your brain is more useful than just being scared. It also proves how Wonka, even though he’s strange, is clever and helpful.
The space setting and wild inventions in the story help bring out the theme of family. When Charlie’s grandparents take too much Wonka-Vite, they get into serious trouble — one even disappears completely. Even though they were being difficult and selfish, Charlie and Mr. Wonka still worked hard to help them. This shows that family members should support each other, even when things get hard. Also, Charlie stays calm through all the chaos, showing how much he’s grown as a person since the first book
Another interesting part of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is how Roald Dahl uses onomatopoeia throughout the story. Words like “crash,” “boom,” “whizz,” and “zap,” appear often when the Elevator moves or when something explodes, making the scenes more exciting. These sound words help readers imagine what is happening and make the story feel alive, especially for children. Since this is a children’s book, the onomatopoeia also adds a fun and playful feeling to the story, helping young readers stay interested while following the action. It shows how Dahl uses language creatively to match the fast and crazy adventures in the book.
In Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Roald Dahl uses silly moments, creative characters, and weird settings to teach important life lessons. He shows that being smart and kind is more important than being powerful or serious. Through all the strange adventures in space, the story reminds us that family, cleverness, and a good heart matter the most. Even though the book is full of fun and chaos, it still leaves readers with strong ideas they can take with them.