Topic > The Intellectual Depth of Charlie Chaplin's The Kid

Charlie Chaplin's The Kid appears to be a light-hearted film about companionship, fighting and deception, but an examination from a cultural perspective reveals the intellectual depth of the film . Chaplin illustrates the will to survive despite the degrading aspects of capitalism through his struggle to raise the child he discovered. When Chaplin first finds an abandoned child on the street, he picks him up out of compassion and tries to give him back. Since the car thieves took the child away from his mother, Chaplin fails in his search. Charlie, a poor bachelor, considers himself unfit to care for a child and attempts to place him in the care of several pedestrians. The police thwart his plans and remain unresponsive as he tries to explain. Eventually, Chaplin discovers the note attached to the child and decides to raise him as his own. This is the only viable option for Chaplin, who cannot turn to the law or civilians for help. He has to raise the child. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Even though Chaplin's character does not have the resources to adequately provide for himself, he provides for the child. Chaplin makes his living not through paid work, but by systematically destroying properties and rebuilding them for a fee. The police discover Chaplin's ruse and discover the circumstances under which Chaplin came to raise the boy. After reading the note left with the child, the policeman scolds Chaplin for raising the boy without contacting the authorities. The authorities "take care" of the child, and after a long journey, Chaplin is reunited with his son. The Kid was released in 1921. The Carnegie model of philanthropy reached its peak a few years earlier. In this model, businessmen who created large companies through exploitation and vicious business practices donated public buildings, such as libraries and concert halls, in order to promote learning and a strong work ethic in their communities. Although the results of their philanthropic practices were almost universally extolled, these tycoons often received criticism because those they helped were the very people they targeted in their business practices. Just as Chaplin sought guidance and help before raising his son, those struggling at Carnegie's age sought support in the workplace in the form of reasonable hours or benefits. When these were denied, they continued to work. Then, they were offered institutions such as libraries that served as public and direct action to help them. This was provided without their input and without considering why they have become so poor and ignorant. From the actors to the producer, the "over the top" cinema employees made sure to produce films that appealed to healthy movie audiences. Because of this, Chaplin found a balance between creating a message that would appeal to those frustrated by an exploitative work culture and creating one that upheld traditional values. The child's mother plays an important role in this balance. She appears to be a wealthy, well-connected woman "whose sin was motherhood." His friendly relationship with Chaplin at the end of the film reassures the audience that The Kid's message is not too subversive. The audience understands the societal pressures and hypocrisies that affect Charlie, while understanding the virtues of those involved with the law. Ultimately, Chaplin is reunited with the child within the confines of the law, as emphasized by the physical environment of the orphanage. The character of the woman,.