City Lights - Characters & Cast

His primary motivation is his pure, unconditional love for the blind flower girl. He is driven by the desire to help her, specifically to pay for the surgery that will restore her sight, even if it means she will then see him for the penniless tramp he is.

The Tramp begins as a solitary, aimless figure, an outsider simply trying to survive. His chance encounter with the blind flower girl gives his life purpose and direction. He transforms from a mere survivor into a selfless benefactor, undertaking immense personal sacrifices for her well-being. By the end, although he remains poor and is now even more downtrodden after his time in prison, he has achieved a profound moral victory. His final, heart-wrenching glance reveals a mixture of fear and hope, having found a connection that transcends his social status.

Initially, her motivation is survival—to earn enough money to live and pay rent. Later, after her sight is restored, her motivation becomes finding and thanking the wealthy man she believes was her benefactor.

The Blind Girl starts as a poor, vulnerable, and dependent character, selling flowers to support herself and her grandmother. Through The Tramp's secret generosity, she gains her sight and economic independence, opening her own successful flower shop. Her arc culminates in the final scene where her physical sight is matched by a deeper, emotional recognition of her true benefactor. She moves from a state of idealized, mistaken love for a rich man to a genuine, compassionate understanding of the poor man who sacrificed everything for her.

His motivations are erratic and driven by his state of intoxication. When drunk, he seeks friendship and excitement, viewing The Tramp as his savior and companion. When sober, he is motivated by the conventions of his social class, which dictate that he should have nothing to do with a tramp.

The Millionaire does not have a traditional character arc; rather, he exists in a cyclical state. He repeatedly swings between two personas: a generous, life-loving best friend to The Tramp when intoxicated, and a cold, dismissive stranger when sober. His character serves as a plot device, providing The Tramp with the means to help the girl, but also as a symbol of the superficiality and unreliability of the upper class. He never reconciles his two halves, remaining a tragicomic figure trapped by his alcoholism and social standing.