* Charlie Bucket: Charlie is a kind, humble, and resourceful boy. He represents the ideal child, being rewarded with the chocolate factory at the end.
* Augustus Gloop: Augustus is a greedy and gluttonous boy. He falls into the chocolate river and is nearly sucked into the pipes.
* Veruca Salt: Veruca is a spoiled and demanding girl. She wants everything and gets angry when she doesn't get her way. She is ultimately deemed "bad" and is thrown down the garbage chute.
* Violet Beauregarde: Violet is a chewing gum addict and loves to break rules. She chews an experimental gum and turns into a giant blueberry.
* Mike Teavee: Mike is a TV-obsessed boy who cares only about technology. He gets sucked into the TV screen and is ultimately returned as a shrunken version of himself.
These experiences highlight the consequences of bad behavior and the importance of good character. They also emphasize the theme of the story: the power of kindness, hard work, and humility.