Chaplin's Vision of Compassion and Success

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that Charlie Chaplin was one of the most successful performers of the silent era of film. The writer discusses that two of Chaplin's most famous film comedies show that wealth does not always equal success. The writer notes that even when his famous character, The Little Tramp was poor, he still had great compassion for others, and a sense of humor that enabled him to survive against all odds. The writer concludes that both of Chaplin's films show that when people are poor, cold, and hungry, they are always thinking about becoming wealthy, comfortable, and well-fed, but that does not mean that money and success are as necessary as love. The writer maintains that the films demonstrate that without love, happiness is impossible.

From the Paper:

"Amongst the discarded trash that no one else wants except poor people like the Tramp, Chaplin finds a treasure--a baby. The baby has been thrown in the alley by thieves, who value an expensive car more than a human life. The baby's wealthy but unwed mother left the child in her car with a note pleading to take care of the child. She went off to commit suicide, but could not bear to do it. When she returned to where she left her baby, the child was gone. The image of Chaplin's character finding the baby in the alley shows that the Tramp has found real, human riches that have been discarded like garbage because he is always able to spot treasure amongst trash, like good cast-off gloves. Afterwards, everyone mistakes the baby for the Tramp's child, and the boy and the Tramp become inseparable."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "The Gold Rush" Directed by Charlie Chaplin. 1925
• "The Kid." Directed by Charlie Chaplin. 1921.
• Koenig, Michael. "The Gold Rush."24 Jan 2000. 30 Apr 2007. http://www.filmmonthly.com/Silents/Articles/GoldRush/GoldRush.html
• Weissman, Stephen. "Chaplin's, The Kid." From Images in Our Souls: Cavell,
• Psychoanalysis and Cinema. Edited by Joseph H. Smith, M.D. & William Kerrigan, Ph.D. Copyright 1987, The Johns Hopkins University Press. 30 Apr 2007. http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/soc/kid.htm

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