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Violet Beauregarde
Mike Teavee is the fourth child to find a Golden Ticket; he’s Mr. Teavee and Mrs. Teavee’s son. He loves nothing more than watching television—especially shows or movies with a lot of violence and guns—and he often wears shirts featuring favorite film characters and a variety of toy guns strapped to his body. Indeed, he becomes very upset with reporters when, after he finds his Golden Ticket, they try to interview him and distract him from his favorite show. Like Augustus, Veruca, and Violet, Mike’s parents have to restrain him to keep him from scaling Mr. Wonka’s factory fence in the minutes before their tour starts. Throughout the tour, Mike asks Mr. Wonka questions that Mr. Wonka deems “silly” or simply refuses to answer. Mike wants to understand his world and know exactly how things work, something that Mr. Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas suggest is a product of Mike’s love of television. Television, according to the Oompa-Loompas, destroys children’s imaginations—so Mike struggles to simply accept and enjoy many of the wonderful things he encounters at the chocolate factory. Mike is the fourth child to have to end his tour of the factory early. In the Television Chocolate room, Mike refuses to follow directions and uses Mr. Wonka’s special camera to transport himself into a television—causing him to shrink to only an inch tall. The Oompa-Loompas are able to stretch Mike to cause him to grow again—but after they’re done, Mike is 10 feet tall and stick-thin.
Mike Teavee Quotes in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory quotes below are all either spoken by Mike Teavee or refer to Mike Teavee. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 13 Quotes
The tall bony old figure of Grandpa Joe could be seen standing quietly among them, and beside him, holding tightly on to his hand, was little Charlie Bucket himself.
All the children, except Charlie, had both their mothers and fathers with them, and it was a good thing that they had, otherwise the whole party might have gotten out of hand. They were so eager to get going that their parents were having to hold them back by force to prevent them from climbing over the gates.
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On the morning of the Wonka factory tour, all five children who found Golden Tickets gather outside the factory. But Charlie is the only one who stands politely as he waits for the tour to begin, while the other four children try to climb the factory fence. This is the first time that readers see Charlie—the hero of the novel—beside all the other kids, who are antagonists. This encourages readers to compare Charlie to the other kids, and to see that he’s more well-behaved than the others. Notably, Charlie isn’t just standing quietly and politely to wait for the tour Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia sol
Chapter 15 Quotes
“Don’t you think they look pretty? I told you I hated ugliness! And of course they are all eatable! All made of something different and delicious! And do you like my meadows? Do you like my grass and my buttercups? The grass you are standing on, my dear little ones, is made of a new kind of soft, minty sugar that I’ve just invented! I call it swudge! Try a blade! Please do! It’s delectable!”
Automatically, everybody bent down and picked one blade of grass—everybody, that is, except Augustus Gloop, who took a big handful.
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In the factory’s chocolate room, Mr. Wonka excitedly points out his chocolate river, the candy trees and bushes, and the sugar grass to the awestruck tour group. First, this passage shows just how interested Mr. Wonka is in making his factory into a place where things are beautiful, awe-inspiring, and somewhat absurd. Indeed, he sees making things beautiful as the antidote to “ugliness,” particularly ugly factories (which he mentions earlier in the tour). The world, he seems to imply, is full of ugliness. It’s therefore important to him to create something like his chocolate factory, which inspires wonder and awe Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae
Chapter 26 Quotes
“That isn’t exactly how [television] works,” said Mike Teavee.
“I am a little deaf in my left ear,” Mr. Wonka said. “You must forgive me if I don’t hear everything you say.”
“I said, that isn’t exactly how it works!” shouted Mike Teavee.
“You’re a nice boy,” Mr. Wonka said, “but you talk too much.”
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Mr. Wonka is explaining how television function. According to him, it works by taking a picture of something, breaking that picture into tiny pieces, and then reassembling those pieces inside a television screen. In reality, this isn’t how television actually works. But the novel as a whole encourages readers—and the children enjoying the factory tour—to look at the world with wonder and awe, and to not try to ascribe too much logic to something or otherwise try to make a given situation make conventional sense. Mr. Wonka wants to teach the children that it’s more fun to accept his version Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. M
Chapter 27 Quotes
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink—
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSES IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK—HE ONLY SEES!
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After Mike Teavee is reduced to being only an inch tall after transporting himself through Mr. Wonka’s special movie camera, the Oompa-Loompas explain why television on the whole is so bad. Notably, they begin by acknowledging that television—which was gaining in popularity during the 1960s, when Roald Dahl wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—is fast becoming an integral part of people’s lives. It engrosses children, allowing parents to accomplish household tasks without worrying about whether their kids are getting in trouble. In this way, the Oompa-Loompas frame television as a sort of surrogate parent. In a household where parents are Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Dolores aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem qui voluptatum. Voluptatibus sed placeat. Aut tenetur autem. Fugit voluptates in. Quidem impedit sunt. Excepturi ullam nobis. Ducimus odio quo. Ut autem harum. Omnis vel voluptatum. Assumenda officia maiores. Voluptatem sint velit. Quod quia sapi
‘All right!’ you’ll cry. ‘All right!’ you’ll say,
‘But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!’
We’ll answer this by asking you,
‘What used the darling ones to do?
‘How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?’
Have you forgotten? Don’t you know?
We’ll say it very loud and slow:
THEY…USED…TO…READ!
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As the Oompa-Loompas continue their song after Mike Teavee’s disastrous trip through Mr. Wonka’s magical television, they offer parents an alternative to television: books. The Oompa-Loompas again acknowledge that television is a convenient invention for parents, as it allows them to leave their children in front of a babysitter of sorts while they perform other tasks. Parents, the Oompa-Loompas note, need something to give their kids to keep them entertained; this is to be expected. But the Oompa-Loompas also suggest that parents have forgotten a way of life that, at the time of the novel’s publication in 1964, wasn’t that Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibu
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Mike Teavee Character Timeline in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The timeline below shows where the character Mike Teavee appears in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 8
Mr. Bucket reads that the fourth Golden Ticket was found by a boy named Mike Teavee. The reporter shares that young Mike was annoyed when all the reporters showed up,...
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Chapter 13
...patient. People in the crowd point out Augustus, Violet (still chewing her piece of gum), Mike Teavee, and Veruca Salt. They discuss how spoiled Veruca is, and several wonder why Charlie...
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Chapter 14
...that Veruca’s name is odd—he thought a “veruca” was a wart. He greets Violet and Mike in the same fashion, and then Charlie steps forward and whispers his name to Mr....
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Chapter 18
...laugh, and he ushers everyone onto the boat. As they start to move, he scolds Mike Teavee to stop licking the boat.
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...pass a room that’s labeled as a storeroom for “all the creams,” including hair cream. Mike Teavee asks if Mr. Wonka really uses hair cream, but Mr. Wonka says that there...
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Chapter 20
...and with a groan, a drawer opens. There’s a small gray strip in the drawer. Mike Teavee is disgusted that that’s all the machine made, but Violet says she knows what...
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Chapter 22
...She will, however, still be purple—that’s what happens when you chew gum all day long. Mike Teavee asks why Mr. Wonka even makes gum if he hates it, but Mr. Wonka...
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...Eatable Marshmallow Pillows and Lickable Wallpaper for Nurseries, which feature pictures of fruits—including snozzberries. When Mike Teavee asks what a snozzberry is, Mr. Wonka accuses him again of mumbling. They pass...
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Chapter 23
...all have little faces on them, and Oompa-Loompas sit at one end painting the faces. Mike Teavee says that the candies don’t look round, and Veruca agrees that they’re square. Mr....
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...he leads the group to a staircase and slides down the banister. Charlie, Veruca, and Mike are right behind him. The adults—particularly Mrs. Salt, who’s very fat—struggle to keep up.
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Chapter 24
...there are 100 squirrels in the room, sitting around a big table and shelling walnuts. Mike Teavee asks why Mr. Wonka uses squirrels instead of Oompa-Loompas. Mr. Wonka explains that Oompa-Loompas...
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Chapter 25
...assures the remaining people in the group that “They’ll all come out in the wash!” Mike Teavee says that he’s getting tired and wants to watch TV, so Mr. Wonka suggests...
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...this is “fantastic,” and Mr. Wonka explains that the elevator is made of clear glass. Mike whines that he can’t see anything, but Mr. Wonka tells Mike and Charlie to each...
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Chapter 26
...antenna. Then they go into the wire and re-form into a picture in someone’s TV. Mike Teavee says that it doesn’t work that way, and Mr. Wonka replies that Mike is...
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...same thing with a bar of chocolate—it could emerge in the TV, ready to eat. Mike says this is impossible, but Mr. Wonka shouts for the Oompa-Loompas to bring in the...
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Mr. Wonka shouts for Mike to get back—he’s too close to the camera and isn’t wearing a protective suit. When...
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Chapter 27
Mike Teavee is more excited than Grandpa Joe at what they just saw. He asks if...
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Mike doesn’t listen as both Mr. Wonka and Mrs. Teavee shout for him to stop and...
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The screen flickers and grows brighter as Mike’s image slowly appears in the screen. He waves at his parents and celebrates his victory....
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Mrs. Teavee asks how they can make Mike grow. Mr. Wonka says that little boys are “springy and elastic,” so they should be...
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...few weeks, but kids will eventually come around. In closing, they say that it serves Mike right if they can’t fix him.
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Chapter 29
...she’s still purple. Veruca, Mr. Salt, and Mrs. Salt are all covered in garbage, while Mike Teavee is 10 feet tall and also thin. Charlie says that’s dreadful, but Mr. Wonka...
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