The film follows the Tramp as a factory worker overwhelmed by the relentless pace of a dehumanizing assembly line [1, 5]. After a nervous breakdown involving a literal trip through the gears of a giant machine, he bounces between jail and unemployment [1, 3]. Along the way, he meets "The Gamin" (Paulette Goddard), a young woman fleeing the law, and the two form a resilient bond, searching for happiness in a world that treats them as cogs [1, 5]. Key Themes & Impact
The image of Chaplin caught in the giant clockwork gears remains one of the most iconic symbols in cinema history, representing the struggle of the individual against an automated society [3, 4]. Charlie Chaplin Modern Times
Chaplin used physical comedy to highlight the soul-crushing nature of mass production and the Great Depression's economic struggle [2, 5]. The film follows the Tramp as a factory
