Veblen sets up the belief in luck as yet another foil of the leisure class. He describes superstition as a force that facilitates the lower class' participation in the cycle of pecuniary emulation, thus retarding social progress.

It is interesting that the film sets Charlie up as someone so hopeful, so prone to belief in luck when he proves himself to be so strong in his ideals. In this scene, Charlie is discouraged that there was no golden ticket in Grandpa Joe's birthday gift to him, a Wonka bar. Grandpa Joe reassures Charlie that he will find a golden ticket because he is different than all those other children, and because he wants it more than anyone else. Veblen argues that the belief in luck sometimes predisposes individuals "to yield to circumstances," especially gambling (281). Perhaps this vulnerability is what makes Charlie's decision to return the gobstopper all the more noble, and all the more worthy of reward.