"The Great Dictator"

Idea:

As those who are rich and powerful grow more separated from the truly important things in life (community, love, friendship... perhaps a connection with nature?), they become empty, as visually demonstrated by Hynkel's palace. They then need to assure themselves of their worth and fill that emptiness by constantly striving for more power. This leads to war, and to Hynkel and Napaloni's attempts to upstage each other.

Garbitsch wants influence by manipulating Hynkel. Herring wants Hynkel's approval. Hynkel wants to be loved and to have absolute power. These are ways to fill the void in their lives. Perhaps one can even say that they hate the Jews because the Jews have what the Nazis lack, at least as Chaplin portrays them. Even Epstein, the wealthy Jew, feels solidarity with his people, whereas Hynkel is not really friends with Herring, nor does he like his "dictator brother," Napaloni.

Note that Napaloni's name echoes Napoleon, a man of noted ambition. Also, note that Hynkel really wants to have everything, as shown in his "loving" dance with the globe balloon. Further note that Napaloni, while married, cares nothing for his wife. Nor does Hynkel feel any sympathy for her. This is a direct contrast to the relationship between the barber and Hannah, and the way the other Jews look after Hannah. (Of course, this is probably also related to the fact that Hannah is pretty and Madam Napaloni is old and overweight -- she becomes the subject of a "fat" joke when she dances with Hynkel, but then watch how the expression on her face suddenly deflates the joke. Hynkel really has no feelings for other people at all.)

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Writing papers sucks ass. Not that I don't love the analysis -- because I do! -- but actually putting it all on paper in an organized and eloquent fashion for 15 pages... good god, that's a pain in the neck!

I am now going to edit Secrets at last, and send it off to FictionAlley. And then it's back to the grind. *quietly mutters curses*

Oh, and the heat's not on in my room for some reason, so I have to leave the door open all the time. But on the bright side, the lights in the entryway and the second-floor landing are fixed. *beams*

"The Great Dictator"

Idea:

As those who are rich and powerful grow more separated from the truly important things in life (community, love, friendship... perhaps a connection with nature?), they become empty, as visually demonstrated by Hynkel's palace. They then need to assure themselves of their worth and fill that emptiness by constantly striving for more power. This leads to war, and to Hynkel and Napaloni's attempts to upstage each other.

Garbitsch wants influence by manipulating Hynkel. Herring wants Hynkel's approval. Hynkel wants to be loved and to have absolute power. These are ways to fill the void in their lives. Perhaps one can even say that they hate the Jews because the Jews have what the Nazis lack, at least as Chaplin portrays them. Even Epstein, the wealthy Jew, feels solidarity with his people, whereas Hynkel is not really friends with Herring, nor does he like his "dictator brother," Napaloni.

Note that Napaloni's name echoes Napoleon, a man of noted ambition. Also, note that Hynkel really wants to have everything, as shown in his "loving" dance with the globe balloon. Further note that Napaloni, while married, cares nothing for his wife. Nor does Hynkel feel any sympathy for her. This is a direct contrast to the relationship between the barber and Hannah, and the way the other Jews look after Hannah. (Of course, this is probably also related to the fact that Hannah is pretty and Madam Napaloni is old and overweight -- she becomes the subject of a "fat" joke when she dances with Hynkel, but then watch how the expression on her face suddenly deflates the joke. Hynkel really has no feelings for other people at all.)

--------------------------

Writing papers sucks ass. Not that I don't love the analysis -- because I do! -- but actually putting it all on paper in an organized and eloquent fashion for 15 pages... good god, that's a pain in the neck!

I am now going to edit Secrets at last, and send it off to FictionAlley. And then it's back to the grind. *quietly mutters curses*

Oh, and the heat's not on in my room for some reason, so I have to leave the door open all the time. But on the bright side, the lights in the entryway and the second-floor landing are fixed. *beams*