By Drew Hawley
Charlie Chaplin is a performer like no other. Becoming one of the biggest stars in the early days of cinema, Chaplin had a knack for physical comedy. In addition to making people laugh and feel good (which he was exceptional at), he also knew the power that images had on the public. With this knowledge in hand, Chaplin wanted to shine a light on the current events of his time, bringing to light the struggles of the common man. His gift was that he did this in a completely light-hearted way, which was one of the main reasons why his films have had the popularity they have had over time. This is perfectly shown in his 1936 classic, Modern Times. In this review, I will answer the question whether Chaplin uses his character “The Tramp” as a symbol of social change. I will also look at Chaplin’s believe on the role of technology, and what it means for the future, using examples from the film. Lastly, I will analyze the character of the Tramp, tracking whether he is how Chaplin describes him. I suspect that we will see that he is using the character in the way that he describes him, but still brings a political undertone to the proceedings.
Was Chaplin Trying to Make a Political Statement?
Chaplin began to make this movie during the Great Depression, which seemed ripe for Chaplin’s brand of humor. While he makes light of the plight of the common man, he is still sending a strong message on what he believed to be the daily struggles to just survive. He shows this through the eyes of his loveable goof of a character, but the symbolism in the film is ripe with his messages. While Graham Greene, in his film review of the film in the Spectator believed that the Marxists’ would falsely claim this film as their own, I believe that there is some merit to this idea. Chaplin articulates his messages in a sly manner, masking them underneath all of the zany comedy throughout the film.
The first notion of this political message is one that probably flies over the head of many viewers. This scene takes place at the very beginning of the film with the boss of the factory. The scene shows the boss of the factory trying to complete a puzzle while barking orders in his posh office. Chaplin could be using this as a metaphor, using the factory workers as nothing more than puzzle pieces in this harsh world in which they are living in. This point is reiterated in the work that he does in the factory, which is just being one piece on an assembly line. What Chaplin is implying is that we (as a whole) are just insignificant cogs in the machine of life that could be replaced in an instant.
Chaplin also shows the desperation of those who can’t find a job, and a few of the characters breaking the law just so they can eat. This is shown twice in the film, with the Gamine and one of his co-workers. The Gamine is shown stealing food multiple times throughout the film to support her family in their struggles and the Tramp’s coworkers break into the department store that he is working for so they can find something to eat. Both characters are having a tough go at it, and have to resort to breaking the law to survive in the tough terrain of everyday life. In no way is Chaplin judging these characters questionable actions, he is even showing them in a sympathetic light. These characters are so desperate to put foods in their stomachs that they would do these things, but Chaplin is not shaming them.
The Tramp is also shown not exactly obeying the law. When he is placed in jail, it seems that he would rather be in prison than be in the harsh environment of the outside world. When he is in jail, everybody is treated the same, and he gets to eat decent food, a luxury that he wasn’t getting on the outside. Living on the inside is almost akin to communism for the Tramp, where everybody is treated the same, with no money and a classless base. What this is implying is that the system in which they were living (and still living today) was not working and something new and a more basic way of living was needed. Whether or not Chaplin was a Communist or not (although there was a strong belief that he was), Chaplin shows a world in need of change.
Was Chaplin Making a Statement on the Role of Technology and its Effects?
By the time Chaplin made this film, sound pictures had already become the dominant form of viewing films. While he was always hesitant to make the switch himself, he saw a perfect way to incorporate sound while delivering a message. In addition to attempting to make a statement on how tough the times were during this period, I also believe that Chaplin also had strong feelings on the ever-increasing role of technology and our growing dependence on mass production in our society. In the review published in the Guardian, the writer states that Chaplin is “satirizing mass production and the treadmill of industry… And some hints on the synchronizing of film and music.” Chaplin devises an ingenious way to get this point across, and one many may not notice on first blush.
Instead of having everybody speak (like the norm in filmmaking), almost all of the sound in the film comes from machines. These include the boss speaking through the monitors and speakers at the factory in the beginning of the movie, and the machines making noises as the workers are using them. This could be a sign that Chaplin believes that the machines are the ones that are in charge of our society, and that we are working for them, and not vice-versa. The only time that the viewer would hear something that didn’t come from a car or machine is at the end of the film where the Tramp sings in gibberish. I believe that this was Chaplin’s way of showing the emotional growth of the character, after his ordeal in the film.
The notion of technology and mass production beginning to take over is shown multiple times throughout the film. Some of these technological innovations include having video screens and cameras following the workers everywhere (including the bathroom), almost to the point where they cannot escape them. Another example is the giant machines in the factory, and how the workers’ jobs are basically making sure the machines are working right. When this film was made, this idea was still in the early stages of the type of factory, and the success of it had a hand in bringing a great depression type hard times in the present day. This idea may also be why the unemployment rates are so high in today’s society as well.
This idea is even shown in one of Chaplin’s sight gags. When the Tramp falls into one of the machines and just squeezes through unharmed. Now we all know in real life that this action would end in an incredibly violent fashion, but Chaplin uses it as a sight gag. In the review published by the Guardian, the reviewer sees the brilliance in the sight gag, noting that Chaplin is a “great artist is that he is not shackled by the bonds of realism which still limit such diverse imaginative work.” While this joke works as one, it could also be viewed as a metaphor that he is just another part of the machine.
The Tramp as a Character in this Harsh World
Being the artist that he is, Chaplin was able to sprinkle these messages throughout the film, but Chaplin is able to stay true to the character that he took several films to build. Chaplin has described his popular character in a way that perfectly exemplifies the character. He stated that the Tramp is “a tramp, a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow, always hopeful of new adventure.” This quote comes straight from the horse’s mouth, and it is very easy to see that most, if not all of these qualities are present in the character. I can think of multiple times throughout the film in which Chaplin shows these characteristics.
A great example of this is when he gets a job at the department store. Instead of doing his job, he sees the store as a new adventure for him to have some fun in. After finding food for himself and the Gamine, the two immediately go to the toy section of the store, and begin rollerblading. It is shown that the Tramp is very apt at this activity, enough where he can do it blindfolded. This laissez-faire attitude eventually leads to extreme danger when he rolls right next to the edge of the room, and a very long fall. He is completely unaware of any of this, which is just like his attitude on how he is living in his everyday life. This is also shown later in the film when his coworker falls into the machine, and he fails to see the danger in which the man is in.
On that point, danger is not something he really seems to comprehend. When he ends up in prison, he bumbles his way into inadvertently escaping from custody, and foiling an escape plan. After mixing some cocaine into his food (accidently, of course), he gets hopped up and escapes custody on the way back to the cell block. When he is gone, a few of the prisoners set off their plans on escaping, but he walks back into the room and thwarts their efforts. All of this is played for laughs, but Chaplin is seriously undermining what has happened here. But detailing the severity of the situation is not something that Chaplin is interested in doing, which works into the characters’ favor.
All of these examples showcase the character traits of the Tramp perfectly. Even amidst the depression, he still seems to find the best of a bad situation. Another quote, this time in the Guardian, the reviewer comes up with another phrase that exemplifies the strengths of his character. He writes that the Tramp has a “‘take-the-world-as-you-find-it,’ yet curiously impersonal emblem of humanity which he represents.” Just by watching this film, it is easy to see that this is an accurate description of the character. He marches to the beat of his own drum, and he walks into each new job with a childlike innocence that causes his comedic mishaps.
The “take-the-world-as-you-find-it” aspect of the character falls directly in line with the Tramp’s continuous optimism. This is shown in the end of the film after the two friends (and potential lovers, which is another aspect of the character that Chaplin discusses in the above quote) lose another job. Not knowing what the future holds for the two puts a strain on the Gamine’s spirit, but not on the Tramp’s. He cheers her up by telling her that everything is going to be okay, and that they have a bright future ahead of them. This cheers her up and they walk shoulder to shoulder into the distance, with a renewed optimism on the future. Being the last film in which Chaplin portrays the Tramp, it is only fitting to have the character walk into the sunset in the last frame. It is truly a just end to a terrific character.
Close
Whether the viewer thinks that Charlie Chaplin was trying to deliver a political message or not, Modern Times is still an enjoyable way to pass the time. While watching the film, it is undeniable how talented the man was. The reviewer from the Guardian describes Chaplin to perfection, writing that Chaplin “is the greatest artist of the silent screen… the most eloquent master of mime, and the simplest, most essential, and most touching of comedians.” Just by watching the particular film, it is clear that Chaplin was a one of a kind innovator. What Chaplin is able to accomplish in this film is outstanding. As an artist, he is able to get his messages across while staying true to the character that he took a career to build. It almost doesn’t matter if Chaplin was trying to make a statement or not. The film is entertaining regardless, and the film still holds up to this day.