Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Tragedy of the Common Man?
When the unnamed doorman in The Last Laugh is demoted to bathroom attendant, his world collapses. At the end of the film he is estranged from his family, fellow workers and neighbors and only the night watchman gives him succor. Is this film a tragedy in the Aristotelian sense (that is, does he fall because of some tragic character flaw?)? Is it an indictment of the society of the time? A study of the inevitable effects of aging? Or, to put the point another way, whose fault is the doorman's downfall?
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The Last Laugh is a very interesting film in the sense that the doorman's actions after he loses his job as the doorman are somewhat peculiar. It is a great example of German expressionism because of the doorman's over exaggerated reaction to losing his job. The doorman's downfall cannot be blamed on anyone. The reason for his "downfall" is a part of life, aging. The reason I say "downfall" is because he simply was moved to a lower position because of his age. There was nothing he could do about it. We also must consider the idea of a downfall. In my opinion a downfall is classified more as the loss of a job not a job downgrade. Therefore, I do not think that the doorman had a downfall more of a downgrade. It is also no ones fault that the doorman was given a different job, there is nothing that anyone can do about people aging, it is a part of life. Thus, I believe that the doorman's actions are exaggerated considering the reason for his new job. It makes sense that people are unhappy about aging, but they have to get used to it, because it happens to everyone. The fact that his family is estranged from him at the end of the film proves that this film is German expressionism in a great way. In reality, if someone in your family is given a different job because of old age, most people would be supportive. The idea of German expressionism here is his families’ reaction. It is very over the top considering the situation. In conclusion, I believe that the doorman’s downfall is no ones fault because old age happens to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI certainly think the story is a strategy, but more of a tragedy int he sense of what German society has come to. As I wrote in my paper, I think the plight of the doorman accurately resembles the feelings of many Germans at the time. In the space of literally a day, the doorman goes from being a prominent member of his local community, to essentially nothing, hidden behind the doors of the hotel bathroom. In the same sense, over the course of the first world war, the once powerful Germany is reduced to a former power. When the doorman is exposed for who he truly is by the woman he seems to have some romantic feelings for, the sense of disgrace in your past that many Germans felt is depicted. As many Germans felt uncomfortable in being proud of their countries past actions because they had lost the war, the doorman to feels uncomfortable to think that he had once been a man of great importance. The grief overcomes him, leaving him unable to work, and then completely embarrassed as the entire town laughs at him as he heads home. That sort of public embarrassment is again what the entire German nation felt as they very much public defeat looms over them.
ReplyDelete- Will
Unfortunately, due to society's view of the time, I disagree with Annie's definition of downfall. This was not simply a job downgrade in the sense that it affected his social standings and his way of life. Yes, in modern times this change would not qualify as a down point, but this way the way of German Expressionism. It showed the tragedies of everyday life and exemplified them. After attempting to hide this demotion, it became even more of an embarrassment and "shame" to his family when everyone discovered his little secret. As Murnau put it in one of the intertitles, "the forlorn old man would have little to look forward to but death". Because of this seemingly small event in this man's life, he apparently has nothing to live for anymore. Therefore, The Last Laugh seems to be a commentary on society's view of wealth and how harshly society can judge you, even amongst your friends and family. It could also just be a commentary on human nature, saying how you should not have your life be completely dependent on your work; rather have it be dependent on your character. In the movie, the main character is obviously proud of his job, but should he run around town wearing his jacket and showing off his position? If he would have not done so, do you think his demotion would have affected his livelihood as such? I personally do not. I think if he would have been humble from the start, he would have not had such a fall. The reason why it seemed to be "funny" (thus all the characters laughing when they heard the news) to the community could have stemmed from his previous boasting.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I feel for the protagonist of “The Last Laugh”, I think he is certainly to blame for his downfall, and perfectly fits Aristotle’s criteria for a tragic hero. It’s very easy to see the ones who demote him as “the big, bad, emotionless entity that doesn’t care about the older generation”, but ultimately they are just trying to do what is best for both the doorman and the hotel he works for. Frankly, having an old man who can barely lift anything as the greeter at the front door makes little sense, regardless of how long he has held the position or how much he enjoys it. Thus, the blame does not fall on them. While I definitely see the thinking behind deeming the doorman equally faultless (as Annabelle said, old age is not a fault due to its inevitability), what makes me argue otherwise is that I think the downfall is not the demotion itself, but rather, the man’s inability to cope with reality. For years, he has paraded around in his coat, saluting each and every passerby as if they were royalty. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, and in fact it displays a great deal of passion for his work. But the problem is that the doorman has become so proud of his stature that it has blinded him. He cannot see that he is no longer able to carry out his duties properly, which makes the blow of his demotion that much greater.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, one of Aristotle’s assertions about a tragic hero is that he must be undone by some sort of “frailty”, which is exactly the same word used by the doorman’s employers in explaining his demotion. While they certainly meant the word in the physical sense, the protagonist is indeed frail in the mind as well. His pride has made it impossible for him to adapt to or accept any other position, no matter the reality of his condition, and that, ultimately, is his downfall.
The Last Laugh contains many complex and relatable things that stick with the viewer well after the film is over. I believe that this film is a tragedy, but not in the Aristotelian sense because I believe a character flaw lead to his death, but his down fall is caused by natural life progression. The doorman did not have a “tragic flaw,” in the Aristotelian sense, that caused him to lose his job as doorman, he began to age, making him unable to do his job at the same level he could when he was younger. Getting old causes the old man to lose his job, therefore age is his downfall. His death was his escape from the worthless feeling that was associated with losing his purpose and people mocking him for not having the glamorous doorman job. In many cultures there is a high respect for elders, but this film shows that this belief is shifting due to the fact the hotel moved the old man into the bathroom to be a bathroom attendant. The respect for elders is being replaced by efficiency and the desire to make money. No one can fault the hotel for trying to give costumers the best service and no one can fault the doorman for getting old. This film really emphasizes the importance of working hard in order to maintain a sense of purpose; the old man loses his job, which takes away his sense of purpose. He is not an Aristotelian tragedy, he is a tragedy of reality.
ReplyDelete"The Last Laugh" satisfies the criteria of an Aristotelian tragedy because the doorman does in fact display a distinct character flaw and he is given closure at the end of the film, two necessary elements of any Aristotelian tragedy. Jannings' performance as the doorman clues the audience into the character's inability to accept the ever-changing society that he lives in. His life spirals out of control due to the cover-up of his demotion and the consequences of the unwanted divulgence of his truth. Pride, a quality that for most of modern history has been seen as virtuous, ends up being the only character flaw for the doorman. Murnau succeeds in commenting on the detriments of a change in culture because of Jannings’ portrayal of his character’s epic undoing. He is able to bring to attention the idea that the doorman was caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. As a man that was physically incapable to swallow his pride, the doorman had a major character flaw as is. When Murnau combined that flaw with a German society that would wait for no one, it was easy to guess where the doorman’s path would go.
ReplyDeleteEssentially, the character’s immense amount of pride combined with a society that advocates upward and downward mobility work together as detrimental elements that cause his eventual Aristotelian downfall.
In the film “The Last Laugh” the doorman downfall isn’t his fault. I agree with Jackson as in the hotel manger is not at fault but I do not agree with the fact that it is the doorman’s fault he lost his job. The doorman doesn’t understand the fact that his age has caused his demise. The doorman is jaded by his pride but he has to be because in Germany status is power. The power the doorman has is respect, respect from his fellow neighbors and colleagues. In German Expressionism a person’s status is how they are viewed by society. So losing anything is considered a slash at your knees, the doorman losing his coat is like losing his sense of status. Losing his status drops him down the hierarchy society. The doorman is a high respected job then he becomes the bathroom butler who is the dirt and grime of society. His once nice overcoat is now a white robe. Not only is he being deemed by society he believes that it is his fault for his downfall. The way he looks upon himself as he fears others opinions. I feel like he hates himself more than people look down on him. In the film “The Last Laugh” his aging is the sole reason he loses his job but sees himself as if he is a scum. Society views him as a low-grade citizen who never had importance before he was a bathroom butler.
ReplyDeleteThe doorman of the film, "The Last Laugh", is a very relevant example of an Aristotelian tragedy. In other words, the reason why the film has very pronounced German Expressionist elements, such as isolation, dehumanization and degradation, and why the doorman takes such a hard fall when he is demoted, is because the doorman has several character flaws, including his blindness and immaturity. For example, one would expect to retire after a certain age. However, the doorman, oblivious to the fact that his age has robbed him of his strength, continues to masquerade as the youthful, strong doorman he previously was. The doorman's blindness to his age only helps to disillusion the doorman, which results to his shock when he is demoted to the washroom attendant. The doorman also displays some immature, childish behavior. For example, the doorman attempts to retrieve his coat and feels partially relaxed and satisfied when he puts the coat on. One has to realized that the only reason why the doorman gets this partial gratification is due to a coat. It is as if a child stops crying when he or she gets her favorite toy back. In other words, if the doorman displayed a sense of self-awareness and also mature behavior, the fall he would have taken would not have been as extreme or dramatic.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the film, The Last Laugh, is in many ways similar to a Greek tragedy, the protagonist falls not due to his own shortcomings or flaws, but rather because of the inevitable effects of aging. At the beginning of the film, the doorman is a well-respected man, constantly being saluted by those around him and admired by his neighbors. The protagonist starts the film in position of power and respect, a traditional location of the tragic hero in the Aristotelian sense. Although the protagonist shares the character traits of a Greek tragic hero, he fails to have a fatal flaw other than the inevitable effects of aging. In the opening scene of the film, the protagonist goes to retrieve a bag from on top of a car, but the bag is above him and extremely large. The camera angle then becomes low when looking at the bag, making it appear as a large obstacle that the protagonist has to overcome. Although the protagonist’s aging can make tasks more difficult, this trait of every common person should not be considered a fatal flaw in the original Aristotelian sense. Hamartia, a fatal flaw in Greek tragedy, as defined by Dictionary.com is, “an inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero of a tragedy, who is in other respects a superior being favoured by fortune”. Aging is not a defect or shortcoming of the protagonist, but is rather a common ill of everyone lucky to live long enough. The reason the protagonist cannot be considered a tragic hero is because there is no distinctive trait that caused his downfall. Instead, the protagonist falls because of a common part of human life, rather than the tragic flaw of an Aristotelian tragic hero.
ReplyDeleteAs most people agree, I feel terrible about what happened to the doorman, as it was a very unfortunate incident that ultimately ended his life mentally, however, it is his fault that he was in that situation. Of course one cannot expect an old man to be able to lift heavy objects and it is a part of life that cannot be avoided, but to blame the hotel manager for what happened to the doorman is absurd, because he was only doing his job. Any hotel that requires a doorman in the first place is obviously high class, so the manager was just accommodating more people. Also, at least he did not fire the doorman; rather he was demoted to a less valuable situation. Ultimately, it’s how one reacts to change that really exemplifies how strong that person really is. The door man could not grasp the fact that he could not work in this position anymore and was simply stuck in his past when he was stronger and more charming. It was inevitable that this was going to happen to the door man at some point and the way he reacted to change was immature and unnecessary. As much as he loved the job, it shows that he didn’t really care about the hotel or the business, but rather how other people viewed him and how he viewed himself. He was the man that everyone staying at the hotel first saw and the first to assist, however, he did his duty as door man, and it was his job to move on from the past. Unfortunately for the door man, that was too much for him.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Emma and Christina in the sense that I believe that the doorman is not at fault for his fate. His old age and his frailty are two qualities of his life that he could not control, which therefore makes “The Last Laugh” not an Aristotelian tragedy. While I see where people are coming from thinking that his excessive pride is a tragic flaw, I do not believe this is the case because even without his hubris, he still would have been demoted. He could not control his age and his frailty which are the two reasons he encountered his immense downfall. I think Christina put it very nicely when she mentions how the doorman is, “a tragedy of reality” rather than the Aristotelian tragedy. Any person who was in the doorman’s position would eventually face this same situation he was in, regardless of their self-pride, and so everybody eventually would encounter this tragedy of reality. It really is quite sad to see the doorman lose everything over something that he cannot control, but it had to happen eventually. When he could not lift luggage off cars, struggled to stay on his feet for long periods of time, and became tired very quickly, it became very clear that this demotion was necessary for such an elite hotel. The doorman is the first aspect a visitor sees at a hotel, so to have a weak and frail looking doorman sets a negative tone for the rest of the hotel. To get back to people’s comments about his hubris, I believe that his hubris may have caused him more humiliation than he should have faced and so the whole situation was totally amplified, which is seen after he is first caught working in the bathroom and is laughed at when he returns home, but his overwhelming pride is definitely not his tragic flaw, therefore classifying this as a typical tragedy rather than the Aristotelian tragedy.
ReplyDeleteThough The Last Laugh resembles some aspects of a Greek Tragedy, the doorman does not fall because of his flaws, but ultimately due to the inevitable effects of aging. As seen in the first few scenes of the film, the doorman is a respected man who is very passionate and devoted to his job. In the Aristotelian sense, a tragic hero is portrayed to have two aspects: power and respect, both of which the doorman has in the beginning of the film. Although the doorman’s character traits are similar to those of a tragic hero (someone such as Odysseus), the doorman does not have any tragic character flaw besides the unavoidable process of aging. In the beginning of the film, the doorman transports guests through the pouring rain from their car to the hotel. The doorman then returns back outside to retrieve the guest’s suitcase. Then director of the film, F.W. Muranu creates a low camera angle, from the perspective of the doorman looking up at the suitcase. By doing this, the suitcase appears to be large and overpowering, which ultimately becomes an obstacle the doorman must overcome. Seeing the large suitcase, the doorman motions over for help, but no one comes over. The doorman then has to take the suitcase down himself from the car and carry it into the hotel. After retrieving the suitcase, the doorman then sits down and is very fatigued because he no longer has the strength to carry such a heavy suitcase. Through this, even though the doorman’s old age affects him from performing certain tasks, this common trait among people cannot be viewed as a flaw.
ReplyDeleteThe failure of the doorman in The Last Laugh ultimately comes down to the inevitable effects of aging. The whole reason the doorman is demoted to his job in the bathroom is because he is no longer able to carry out tasks such as carrying the luggage of those staying at the hotel. His old age is beyond, thus his fall from the job of a doorman is inevitable. However, I feel as if the reason that his demotion is such a big deal has to do with character flaws, such as priding himself on his occupation and caring so much about what people think. The doorman's whole life revolves around his job, and it is what he seems to determine his worth as an individual by. Thus, when he eventually just cant do his job anymore, it is an incredibly big deal to him. If he didn't define himself by job but rather by other facets of his life such as his personality, the doorman wouldn't be taking his demotion so harshly. In that sense, I think the movie also is providing a criticism on capitalism, and that a person shouldn't define themselves on how successful they are at their job or how much money they make. The impact of the fall of the doorman is also magnified by how much he cares what others around him think. He doesn't want his neighbors to know that he has been fired, so ultimately when they do, they make him feel like a fool by laughing in his face. His neighbors also see his worth defined by his occupation, which is problematic when he reaches his old age and can't perform his duties as a doorman anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe Doorman in The Last Laugh gets demoted to being the bathroom attendant because he is not as strong as he used to be due to his age. His demotion has nothing to do with the year and society during the time because this is something that can happen in today’s working world. His old age brought along frailty and his job is carrying the guests’ bags into the hotel. Being replaced was the inevitable, but he had not accepted this. The only way he would not have been replaced is if he retired before they had the chance to demote him. He has too much pride though to retire before he would be forced to (or inherited money) and would never accept quitting his dream job. This has nothing to do with how society acts, but the fact that the Doorman is getting old and has not accepted this fact. Although this movie can be looked at as a tragedy, it deals more with dealing with the facts of life and how people get old and not everything will happen as you would want it to. The Doorman does not have any tragic flaw that makes him loose his job, but he is just not the same person he came into the job being. He has aged and lost a lot of his muscle. If the Doorman would have retired earlier than his demotion, he would not have to deal with the tragedy he had previously faced.
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