Analysis of Charlie Chaplin's Speech from The Great Dictator Essay Sample

The Great Dictator is one of the most successful American comedy films. The film was written, directed, and produced by Charlie Chaplin. It was released in 1940. The film involves majorly two characters, the Jewish barber and the dictator Adenoid Hynkel, and Chaplin plays the role of both characters. The film exists from a period of two world wars, which brings in the concept of dictatorship. The film presents two moral universes,where "the ghetto people" are perceived as good and "the palace people" as evil. The film concludes when the war in Europe, which was to be referred to as World War II, started. From this war, the Jewish barber was mistaken for Adenoid Hynkel, which forced him to address a large group of individuals. During this incident, the barber addresses people, but this time, Chaplin does not take the role of the barber. In this context, Chaplin delivers his speech where he says, "you are not machines."

The speech, “you are not machines," is delivered by Chaplin himself out of character. It was after the crowd mistook him for Adenoid Hynkel. However, while addressing the crowd through the speech, Chaplin does not present the speech as the barber but rather removes the comic mask. Chaplin directed the speech to the gathered masses/citizens. Chaplin had a relationship with the citizens since the dictator (Adenoid Hynkel) had subjected them to brutal policies, and he was one of the individuals to get affected by the policies. In terms of the plot, the speech gives individuals an idea about how the series of events occur in the film. It helps in explaining how one action led to the other. The character "Chaplin" Jewish Barber" is monologuing through a speech to give the gathered mass in-depth details about the film's plot. A monologue is also crucial in sharing internal thoughts of the plot. In the Great Dictator film monologuing occurs towards the end of the film when the barber is mistaken for Adenoid Hynkel hence the chance for monologuing.

In terms of the story, the speech demonstrates how the "poor" get involved in the war to get freedom/be free, but in return, they do not possess/enjoy the freedom. They are perceived as machines with too much effort but no yield. The central idea of the speech is 

to educate citizens on how to conquer issues facing them due to selfish leaders. The speech also helps selfless leaders to see how they should view themselves in the world. The speech is presented in a quality manner and a tone that helps individuals perceive the faith beneath humanity. Additionally, the speaker opens the eyes of the citizens/fighters on how the dictators free themselves while enslaving the citizens, which is currently reflected in most countries. 

Through the speech, the film utilizes different rhetorical devices. Logos have been used to convince the audience through logic and reasons. For example, through the statement "our knowledge has made us cynical “(Chaplin, 2016). The statement has many logical appeals since the evidence has contributed to slavery through their knowledge due to disbelief about sincerity and integrity. Another example of logos is from the statement, “you the people have power, the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a beautiful adventure” (Chaplin, 2016). The statement effectively convinces the audience that the power to be happy, look beautiful, and be free is entirely within them and not their leaders. Also, alliteration is used in the above sentence to emphasize power. It helps the audience to have specific attention to the word "power." Additionally, pathos has also been used to convince the audience by evoking their emotional responses (Gagich & Zickel). For example, from the sentence “you have lost the humanity in your hearts," Champlin has managed to convince the audience of the speech emotionally. Ethos has also been used at the beginning of the speech in the sentence “I’m sorry, but I do not want to be an emperor. That’s not my business, I do not want to rule or conquer anyone. I would like to help everyone…” (Chaplin, 2016). It has attained its effectiveness by providing honesty, "I'm sorry but I do not want to be an emperor "credibility, "That  is not my business," and reliability, "I should like to help everyone” (Chaplin, 2016). The rhetorical devices, logos, alliteration, pathos, and ethos, have effectively convinced the audience about the depth in which happiness and freedom depend on them.

Several stylistic devices have been used in the speech. First, simile has been used to help the audience visualize and relate to the comparison in question. From the example, "who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle and use you as cannon fodder. Chaplin has also used metaphor in the speech to aid in addition to powerful details to the speech. For example, in the sentence, “You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! (Chaplin, 2016). Additionally, an analogy has been used to explain the concept of men’s hate which may be unfamiliar to the audience. It is through the sentence, “the hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from people will return to people. And as long as men die, liberty will never perish “(Chaplin, 2016).

The analogy has helped instill hope to the audience that one day they will be free from dictators. Lastly, personification has been used to help the audience connect with the nature of the inventions. An example is from the line, “The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for the universal brotherhood, for unity of us all” (Chaplin, 2016). Therefore, the above literary devices have helped the audience understand the important concepts as the ideas are strengthened, thus connecting with the themes.In a nutshell, “You are not machines “was said by Chaplin to the gathered crowd. Chaplin has a relationship with the crowd since they were all oppressed by the dictators' policies. Plotwise, the speech is essential in explaining the events in the film, while in terms of story, the speech helps educate the audience. Chaplin uses monologue to communicate his thoughts and ideas about freedom to the audience. Rhetorical and stylistic devices have been effective in the speech since they have helped the audience relate to the concepts efficiently.