I'm sick of doomer posts and I want to laugh at hidden weird reactionary sentiments in children's books.

  • EnsignRedshirt [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    It's arguably worse than that. If I recall the book correctly, Oompa Loompas lived in the South American jungle and were prey for some sort of fantastical creatures. They coveted cocoa beans, but had trouble getting them because of the aforementioned creatures. They were then essentially "rescued" by Wonka and taken to his factory where they could have all the cocoa beans they wanted (in exchange for their labor, of course). They aren't slaves, they're grateful savages who were rescued by a magnanimous industrialist. Barf.

    • Sharon [none/use name]
      cake
      ·
      2 years ago

      Always since childhood I interpreted Wonka as a caricature of a bad, sad man. As an adult I see him as a caricature of a bad, sad industialist. I always picked up a dark vibe to the oompa loompas presence as well

      • extremesatanism [they/them]
        hexagon
        ·
        2 years ago

        same, I think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory may actually be an early communist litmus test.

        • corgiwithalaptop [any, love/loves]
          ·
          2 years ago

          What about Lord of the Flies? I put it down maybe 40% through cause I felt so bad over how the little shits treated Piggy.

          • extremesatanism [they/them]
            hexagon
            ·
            2 years ago

            given how angry people are getting over my slight discomfort with this book, I don't want to cause another struggle session so I'd rather not

              • extremesatanism [they/them]
                hexagon
                ·
                2 years ago

                okay, fine, here we go

                "The Lord of the Flies is proof that anarchism doesn't work."

                • blight [he/him]
                  ·
                  2 years ago

                  it just doesn't hit the same when you say it like that :meow-tableflip:

              • extremesatanism [they/them]
                hexagon
                ·
                2 years ago

                oh yeah I think anyone who feels skeptical about the premise of Lord of the Flies is likely to be a communist, but then again it's probably also true if you aren't skeptical about it at all. But I also don't want to get into an anarchist vs ML struggle session

    • Nakoichi [they/them]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      Yeah that sounds about right. It's been like 30 years since I read it. That and Treasure Island were my very first two novels I read.