Speeches in history, speeches on history: a reflection on “The Great Dictator” and “Monsieur Verdoux”.

Abstract

In this paper, we reflect on the relationship between actor/director Charles Chaplin and history. This reflection occurs through the discussion of two films by the filmmaker: The Great Dictator, from 1940, and Monsieur Verdoux (idem), from 1947. Two elements are highlighted in the discussion. First, the main characters played by Chaplin: Hynkel, from The Great Dictator, one of two characters played by the actor in the film, alongside the Jewish barber; and Verdoux, from Monsieur Verdoux. Secondly, we focus on the speeches that are said at the end of the two movies, which represent moments in which the characters express themselves and take a position about their times and in which they indicate possibilities of new times (or lack thereof): the first, by the Jewish barber (or Charles Chaplin), and the second by Verdoux. Each speech is addressed, initially, in its characteristics and specificities, mainly the relation of Chaplin with his times. Besides that, the discourses are also compared, aiming to observe how the vision and positioning of the director may have changed in the passage between one film and another. For this reflection, we address essentially texts that help to observe the relation between Charles Chaplin and the history, mainly readings on the work of the filmmaker, between which stand out analyses, criticisms, and reflections on The Great Dictator and Monsieur Verdoux. In addition to this works, we address other ones from varied fields of knowledge, which also contribute to the discussion (history, sociology, politics, translation).