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City Light Essay

Decent Essays

Being one of the last silent films, Charlie Chaplin starred in, directed, produced, wrote, and edited a comedic and entertaining film serving as a great farewell to the Silent Era. Being reliant on audio, the idea of a film with no dialogue seemed unappealing, however, Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights offers a new sense of humor although it is considered antiquated.
The film commences with the Tramp ( Charlie Chaplin) walking the streets of what seems to be a city, although never specifically mentioned. It is during his wandering where he the audience and the Tramp are introduced to The Blind Girl( Virginia Cherrill), whom The Tramp soon becomes infatuated with. The two of them begin to form a romantic relationship under the misconception the …show more content…

Also being the the writer of the film, Chaplin incorporated literary aspects into the film allowing the audience to understand the overall theme - love is blind- without the dialogue exchanged between the characters. In City Lights, love is blind both literally and figuratively. The Blind Girl is physically unable to see the Tramp and his lifestyle, however, that does not stop the feelings she develops for the Tramp. Also applying to the Tramp, although the Blind Girl herself is also not financially well off and cannot see, the Tramp’s love for her is so strong he sacrifices his body to physical pain and spends time in jail to solve her monetary problems and cure her blindness. Both characters are not focused on the superficial aspects of how each other look and their wealth, but rather based their relationship on how they felt with each other. Chaplin also exhibits symbolism with the Blind Girls bird cage. The bird is trapped inside its cage, and is unable to get out and be free. …show more content…

The overall fashion, seem obsolete to those living in modern times, however, it was casual daily wear for those living in that period of time. Relating to a cinematic aspect, the camera movement was stationary, thereof it forced the actors to face the camera, similar to theatrical

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