Summary

Chapter 1 introduces the entire Bucket family: Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josephine, the parents of Mr. Bucket; Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina, the parents of Mrs. Bucket; Mr. and Mrs. Bucket themselves; and, finally, their young son, Charlie. The family lives in a tiny house with only one bed, and they are so poor that they only ever eat bread, boiled potatoes, and cabbage. Mr.Bucket’s job at the toothpaste factory cannot sustain them all so they are constantly hungry, however young Charlie suffers the most because he wants, more than anything, to be able to eat chocolate.

Charlie is given one bar of chocolate each year on his birthday, which he relishes so much that it takes him a month to eat it. Every day on his way to school, poor Charlie is tantalized by the sight of the famous chocolate factory...