It is impossible to overestimate the role that Charlie Chaplin played in the cinema industry, but his The Gold Rush is also significant because it specifically describes 1920s society. As mentioned in Lecture 12, comedy allows people to examine the serious world of societal structures and human needs. That is why the Little Tramp character, also known as the Lone Prospector, demonstrates that 1920s society was concerned with basic needs, including money, food, and morality.
To begin with, one should highlight that the film’s plot tells much about the society of that time. Since the Little Tramp character was prospecting for gold, it is possible to mention that Chaplin wanted to emphasize the role that money played in society. Ordinary people were typically obsessed with obtaining economic benefits, and Chaplin reflected this fact by showing that his character was ready to live and cooperate with a criminal for some time to find gold (Chaplin, 1925). This description proves that money was a significant driving force in 1920s society.
Simultaneously, the Little Tramp character reveals that the topic of food supply was significant in society. Chaplin addressed this idea and presented it in a sequence when the main hero was in a cabin with Jim Larsen during a blizzard. In particular, this description refers to the scene when the Lone Prospector was out of food and decided to cook and eat one of his shoes (Chaplin, 1925). Thus, irrespective of people’s focus on gaining wealth, some individuals were in compromised economic positions, which resulted in significant problems for them.
The Little Tramp character’s relationship with Georgia also reveals a significant feature of 1920s society. The time was a period when people were less concerned with morality and obtained more sexual freedom. Even though the topic of sex is not covered in the film, lowered morality is addressed since Georgia is depicted as frivolous. This condition manifests itself in the fact that she uses the Lone Prospector to escape dancing with a ladies’ man and that she firstly accepts the Little Tramp’s invitation for dinner and then fails to come (Chaplin, 1925). Chaplin uses these events to show how the perception of morality changed, but the Little Tramp character suffered from it.
In conclusion, the answer has demonstrated that the 1920s society had specific characteristic features that were present in Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush. The Little Tramp character was depicted in a particular way to show that economic motifs, hardship, and lower morality were prevalent in society. The most exciting aspect is that Chaplin commented on these serious phenomena in a comedy, which proved his genius.
Reference
Chaplin, C. (1925). The gold rush [Film]. United Artists.