"Citizen Chaplin" reposted

"Citizen Chaplin" (repost of the definitive mini-psychobiography)
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Chaplin both resented and envied William Randolph Hearst on various
levels.

By stealing Hearst's mistress, he expressed the resentment.

By transforming himself into a Hearst-like plutocrat as he aged, he
expressed the envy.

He especially resented Hearst's imperious manner, a trait many have
ascribed to
Chaplin.

He angrily denounced Hearst in these words:

>"Who does he think he is?? Nero?
>Napoleon?"? (pg. 315, MA)

Those were personae lurking in Chaplin.

(Recall the photo of CC as Bonaparte and the ballet with the globe in
GD:


> "Aut Caesar, aut Nullus, Emperor of the
>World." )

(Tim Durant, Chaplin's personal assistant, commented, "he's very
self-centered, he's very egocentric.? He's like Hitler, he wants to
dominate and possess.")

Stealing Marion had deep significance for him on all these levels, for:

"If I were asked what personality in my life has made the deepest
impression on me,
I would say the late William Randolph
Hearst."? (pg. 308, MA)

Thus, in many ways, CC was "Citizen Chaplin."