This individual's story is an inspiration for the struggling writer. His life is a wonderful example of character development and a way to hook the reader to take his side against all the odds. Our story is a classic rags to riches story. Biographies suggest this man was born and raised around Kennington, south London. The reality is that he did not know where he was born and that the word "raised" seems an optimistic one given the facts (as we know them) that his early life was unstable and poor - very poor. He and his brothers became orphans when their father died of excessive alcohol consumption and their mother was committed to an asylum. Our rags to riches hero later recalled his early memories of waiting outside the local pubs that his father would frequent.
He also recalled a man named Rummy Binks, who cared for the horses at a pub run by his uncle. Rummy was noted for an odd shuffling walk, but he also sported a very short pair of trousers and a strange gait. Rummy Binks lived on in our hero's later career.
Focus on his ambition was one of the characteristics of this man. At the beginning of his career he took on many "occupational digressions" in order to make ends meet. Among these digressions were: toymaker, doctor's boy and printer but he never lost sight if his goal. This determination paid off. By the age of 26 he was a superstar.
This superstar was a focused, fearless, risk-taking perfectionist. The results of his work speak for themselves. He died in December 1977 and soon after he was buried, "body-snatchers" removed the body from its grave and demanded money for its return. This man's life was a drama until and beyond its end.
Why am I blogging about him? Because, for me, he embodies the sentiments I expressed in my previous blog from 9 December entitled: Inspiration from the Adult Orphan, that the absence of parents can be a spur to success. Think about this man's upbringing. Think about his most famous creations - not merely a small man but a child-man, his charm, his doll-like face, his stuck-on toy moustache, his tiny wrists, his small body. These attributes are those of a child and, without the public being aware of it, it was, perhaps, as a child that our hero found success. Perhaps at 9 years of age, his success was assured. He simply looked his audience in the eyes, and found his way into their hearts. Who was he? The answer is written under the photo.
Charlie Chaplin.
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