Soupçon, In Memoriam, V. Iv

                             Soupçon III                                                        In Memoriam Series                                                           V.iv

In my opinion, truly noteworthy are the unmistakable literary echoes in "Modern Times". Let us look at the allusion in the scene when Ellen steals bread. She is an orphaned street urchin running after stealing bread, with police in hot pursuit. The Tramp, however, takes the blame on him.

The allusion to the beginning of Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" is unmistakable. The Tramp thus is an example of the solidarity that the rejects of the society often share, though they may not be as humane as the priest in Hugo's novel. 

Chaplin is, after all, interested in creating a comic effect. Any sentimentality is hence out. It is hence shown that this noble plan is so as to return to the jail which in itself is ironic. The alibi that apparently saves him, too, is a comment on the empty conscience, attempted when conveniently nothing is at stake.

Yet another major allusion in the Hut Sequence as well as in the final walk in to sunset is  to Voltaire's world weary "il faut cultiver notre jardin." Such a sensitive alternative with its "back to nature" message continues to make this film relevant today, given the climate crisis.

Pratima Agnihotri