Yeah, that's probably my guess that Willy Wonka wanted to do one last test on Charlie to see if he was worthy enough.

Ugh, I hate that scene. It makes me so uncomfortable, and I feel so bad for poor Charlie and his grandpa. Even though I know it's just a test, I hate it I hate it I hate it. It's cruel.

@Strannger18 said:

I wonder why he had to trick Charlie. He was a good kid and or all he knew Charlie wasn't going to betray him. He could've eatten the candy or through it away. I guess he wanted a show of faith?

That's how I've always looked at it. Here is a man who has utterly removed himself from the world, to the extent that he has filled his factory with indigenous Oompa Lumpas, because he cannot trust. No wife or child is waiting in the wings to inherit the factory that is clearly his unhealthy obsession.

And every other child has shown themself to be deceptive, selfish, and untrustworthy. Charlie stands to gain enormous week k wealth and security for passing a pretty minor test.

@AlienFanatic said:

@Strannger18 said:

I wonder why he had to trick Charlie. He was a good kid and or all he knew Charlie wasn't going to betray him. He could've eatten the candy or through it away. I guess he wanted a show of faith?

That's how I've always looked at it. Here is a man who has utterly removed himself from the world, to the extent that he has filled his factory with indigenous Oompa Lumpas, because he cannot trust. No wife or child is waiting in the wings to inherit the factory that is clearly his unhealthy obsession.

And every other child has shown themself to be deceptive, selfish, and untrustworthy. Charlie stands to gain enormous week k wealth and security for passing a pretty minor test.

Of course Charlie would win, he was the only morally good kid out of all of them, Charlie being a child from a poor economic family helped with that regard, the other kids were greedy, selfish and spoilt.

I get the feeling it wasn't purely an act. I think Wonka was genuinely crushed, angry and resentful at how the day turned out. So he blew up at Charlie & Grandpa Joe. It may have been extreme, but look at it through Wonka's perspective.

He has lost all faith in humanity already. For years he avoids everyone. Then he summons up all the hope he has left, thinking out of 5 random kids, one of them will be a good person. Imagine how he felt when even that was a bitter disappointment. Sure, Charlie's violation was minor compared to the other kids, but think of how you'd feel if you invited people into your home and they wander off and take something they weren't supposed to touch? I think Wonka just lost it.

What's remarkable is how quickly Wonka composes himself when he realizes Charlie really is a good kid. "So shines a good deed in a weary world."