Bruce Hearle

FILM-1070
October 27, 2016

The Oppression of a Capitalistic Society

Modern times follows the struggles of a working class individual during the Great Depression.
The films underlying theme is commentary on social issues of class using a humorous, understated
style. Simply put, the film Modern Times is a film that identifies with the plight of the common masses
in an oppressive capitalistic societyand even suggests communism as a viable alternative.
The first scene depicts a herd of sheep crowded together and being directed by some unseen
force; then, the next scene depicts a crowd of people in the same circumstances. This appears to be a
comment on how people are driven like livestock by society, but perhaps it also alludes to our
collective nature. That is, we, like other social animals, are best considered as members of some larger
whole.
Further, after several scenes depicting the feverish pace and indecent treatment of workers on a
factory line, a metaphor for the oppressiveness of capitalistic society in general, the protagonist, a
typical working class man, is shown to have a mental breakdown as he is unable to deal with the stress.
However, after he recollects himself, he is immediately, though inadvertently, associated with a
communist march. Clearly, the film is suggesting that communism is the paradigm shift that may solve
the woes of capitalism.
Eventually, though, the protagonist gets arrested and returns to the capitalistic narrative as
showing too much sympathy for communism would not be looked upon well, though the film remains
highly critical of the difference in wealth between the successful and those less capable. This is
portrayed again in a scene between the protagonist and another prisoner of much larger stature when

the larger prisoner uses his capability to avoid sharing a loaf of bread. In other words, the film once
again demonstrates that the current paradigm creates an unfortunate situation for the little guy.
Interestingly, our protagonist remains incapable of or unmotivated towards working after being
released from jail, initially, but that changes when he meets a homeless girl and the two fall in love.
Afterwards, his motivation for working changes, and he earnestly tries to function in his capitalistic
society because caring for this girl becomes more important to him than his complaints with the
paradigm. In this, perhaps the film seeks an explanation for why the majority of people tolerate a
society that they likely hold disdain for; for most people, the idealism of youth gives way to the
necessities of adulthood.
In summary, this film, as with many of Chaplin's other films, associates with people, in the most
general sense. Humanism is a general theme in Chaplin's workslikely both because it targets the
working class as an audience and because Chaplin associated with the ideal himself. Therefore, it
makes sense that the subject of a Chaplin film on the modern times of the Great Depression would
focus on the social issue of the class divide. Additionally, it would seem that Chaplin saw an
aggressively capitalistic society as the reason for the disparity, and even offered communism, a
common theme in his films, as a solution.
Personally, I absolutely acknowledge the existence of a large class division and the oppression
of an overly capitalistic society. However, I am opposed to pure communism as a solution, as I feel that
a system that enforces equality reduces everyone to a low common denominator. Anecdotally, I have
heard it described as a conspiracy of the losers against the winnersand society benefits greatly from
the work of its most capable members, perhaps especially when they are motivated by personal gain.
There are not really any easy answers to this fundamental issue of society, but I, like the protagonist at
the end of the film, am vaguely optimistic.