Several of Chaplin's films incorporate autobiographical elements, and the psychologist Sigmund Freud believed that Chaplin "always plays only himself as he was in his dismal youth". The Kid is thought to reflect Chaplin's childhood trauma of being sent into an orphanage, the main characters in Limelight (1952) contain elements from the lives of his parents, and A King in New York references Chaplin's experiences of being shunned by the United States. Many of his sets, especially in street scenes, bear a strong similarity to Kennington, where he grew up. Stephen M. Weissman has argued that Chaplin's problematic relationship with his mentally ill mother was often reflected in his female characters and the Tramp's desire to save them.
sEveRal Of CHaPlin's FilMS incorporate AUToBiographICal EleMeNts, aNd thE psyCholOgIst sigmuNd fReud bElievEd tHat ChApLIn "aLways Plays onLy himSELF as HE Was in His disMAl youTh". the kid is thought to reFlECt cHApLIn's ChILdhOod tRAuma of being senT iNto an OrphaNaGe, the mAin chARActers In liMelIght (1952) CoNTAin ElEmEnTs fRom THe LiVes of HiS pArentS, ANd a kIng In NEw york ReFEreNces ChaPlin's experiencEs oF beIng shuNnEd by thE united stATes. MAny OF HiS Sets, espEciaLLy iN sTReEt ScenEs, bear a stRonG sImIlarITy tO kenniNgton, where he gRew Up. stePheN M. weISsMAn hAs Argued That cHaplin'S problematiC relatiOnshiP wIth hiS mEnTally ilL MotheR waS ofTen refLEcted in his femaLE chaRacTeRs AnD thE tRamp's dEsIre to save theM.