The Gold Rush Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Gold Rush - Essay Example Apparently, the search for gold in the silent narrative establishes the point where the conflict develops as the main characters find themselves seeking after desperate means to obtain food and shelter. Though â€Å"The Gold Rush† illustrates the serious theme with comic relief via Chaplin’s signature slapstick routine, the borrowed ‘Tramp’ character herein projects no element of formalism. The Lone Prospector remains a common-man figure yet, as may be observed frequently, it is his sense of humor and humble attitude toward life which lightens up the rather severe image of poor and rough living in an all-snow mountainous region. Details of realism are vivid in the creation of the plot as the actors portray natural roles of men in pursuit of treasure with an approach that engages them in the course of nature instead of heroic transformation or magical escape from reality. The realist perspective of the plot guides their actions to arrive at the turning point and settle for resolution through real unpredictable circumstances. One concrete evidence would be the instance when Big Jim McKay exclaims having found gold at the onset (00:04:53) but the story proceeds into the situation where the famished McKay craves food (00:20:49) and says to his fellow â€Å"I thought you was a chicken† out of an illusion. Life in Alaska in the first quarter of the 20th century entailed having to cope with significant crises in economy which affected even the moral and social relations among the state inhabitants, in general. This is quite conspicuous in the unfortunate affairs which the Lone Prospector, McKay, and Black Larsen are confronted with in that, while Larsen sets off to get even in fate despite the burning cold weather, the other two have gone to the extremes of having a cooked shoe served for a Thanksgiving dinner (00:18:50). Their representational acting, in this stage, altogether appears lacking in emotional consequence or one that exhi bits warm human sentiment as the film attempts to demonstrate the truth regarding pretense and suspicion which humans were disposed to behave with at such times. Nevertheless, the abrupt pace of the acts coinciding with the thematic rhythm enables the audience to perceive â€Å"The Gold Rush† under the influence of its comical effects notwithstanding a grasp of the film’s historical context by a viewer. With humor, being the principal component of the cinema piece, the economic issue loses its essence as the heavy subject as the audience becomes more drawn to recognize the filmmaker’s chief objective of structuring the story flow with comedic schemes. By the moment the Lone Prospector parts from his temporary comrade and ventures across the icy environment, his trip leads to the Monte Carlo Dance Hall in Yukon where he is bound to meet Georgia. In the midst of the rush for gold, the man encounters the love of his life at an instant (00:31:53). Since his silent c haracter onscreen is further silent in this portion of the film, Chaplin renders peculiar gestures in acting out the fascinated yet speechless man after the woman’s invitation to dance. He utilizes certain body language to speak of the hidden feelings as via