Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Chapter 3 : Mr. Wonka and the Indian Prince | Summary

Summary

Grandpa Joe recounts the story of Prince Pondicherry, who brings Mr. Wonka to India and hires him to build an entire chocolate palace. From the carpets to the ceilings, everything is made of chocolate; hot chocolate even comes out of the bathroom taps.

When the palace is done, Mr. Wonka warns the Prince that it will start melting soon. "You'd better start eating it right away." Furious, the Prince says he'll keep the palace for ever—but it melts on the first hot day, and the Prince ends up swimming in a chocolate lake.

Grandpa Joe lowers his voice to a whisper when he tells Charlie that no one is ever seen coming and going from the factory. The gates are always locked. Does anyone work there? If so, who?

Charlie looks around to see if his grandparents are teasing him, but they're serious. He would love to know more, but it's bedtime. The story will have to wait until the following night.

Analysis

Prince Pondicherry's misadventure foreshadows what will happen to every Golden Ticket winner except Charlie. Throughout the book Dahl repeatedly makes the point that even people who are insanely fond of something should keep their common sense.

Pondicherry, now called Puducherry, was a French colonial settlement until 1954; it is located in Southern India.