chasing charlie

Born and raised in London, Charlie Chaplin was a movie screen comedic genius but also a tragic hero. Chaplin spent his childhood in a children’s home while his father was anonymous and mother was mentally ill. Unusual circumstances only called for humor. With eccentricity, Charlie Chaplin could join a show, first dancing and then acting. Moving to America as a child to pursue his acting career, Chaplin took the film industry by storm. Charlie Chaplin was certainly praised for producing glorious silent films, differing from the orthodox political views, and coming to terms with the happenings dealt, setting himself up to be the textbook example of a tragic hero.

Heroism is having valor, bravery and boldness. Tragedy is calamity, misfortune, and heartbreak. A tragic hero is a virtuous character destined for a downfall. Charlie Chaplin was a righteous soul, and at the peak of fame, Charlie Chaplin was the star of silent movies, and he “scored an immediate hit with American audiences” (Charlie Overview). Chaplin’s success, happening in a short period of time, excited businesses to start bidding for his service. His movies in the 1930s and 1940s were the true gems throughout his career (World). Practically on top of the world, all loved Charlie Chaplin. He was the “All American Foreigner." Society engulfed all he said and did. At the time, Chaplin was the most respected and favorable man. Within a half decade, Chaplin was the utmost famous cinema celebrity and during the same year “filmgoers experienced a case of what observers called chaplinitis” (Maland). He was an idol to the citizens and high standing to the eyes of the critics. Chaplin contributed humor and creativity back into a country under strain. His films gained popularity ...

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...women, and children. Post WWI, Charlie was accepted back into the countries of which made him; all was forgiven. Fitting all the shapes and characteristics of a tragic hero, it is clear to see that Charlie Chaplin is the perfect example.

Works Cited

"Charlie Chaplin : Overview of His Life." Charlie Chaplin: Official Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014.

"Charlie Chaplin." History. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2014.

"Charlie Chaplin." UXL Biographies. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. Student Resources in Context. Web. 22 May 2014.

Maland, Charles J. "American National Biography Online: Chaplin, Charlie." American National Biography Online: Chaplin, Charlie. Oxford University Press, 2003. Web. 22 May 2014.

Turk, Ruth. Charlie Chaplin: Genius of the Silent Screen. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2000. Print.

"World Biography." Charlie Chaplin Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2014.