Representations

• What themes does Rick Blaine represent?


  • Cynicism
  • Isolation
  • Sacrifice

  Rick is initially portrayed as self-serving and disillusioned

  He stays out of politics and emotional entanglement, but has a strong moral compass

  He is the reluctant hero- he sacrifices his happiness for a greater cause

  He represents US foreign policy- tough and cynical, yet altruistic

  Tough and cynical masculinity: his love for Ilsa shows his vulnerability
• What themes does Ilsa Lund represent?

  • Love
  • Duty
  • Moral conflict

  She embodies the internal conflict between love and duty

  She is torn between her love for Rick and her commitment to Victor

  Also represents the human heart's struggle- when personal desires clash with moral obligations
• What themes does Victor Laszlo represent?

  • Resistance
  • Idealism
  • Courage

  Victor is the symbol of the heroic and principled resistance to tyranny

  His unwavering commitment to fighting fascism is a strong contrast to Rick -> which highlights the moral imperative to oppose injustice

  He also reflects the broader struggle of Europe under Nazi occupation
• What themes does Captain Louis Renault represent?

  • Opportunism
  • Redemption

  He is pragmatic and self serving- he aligns with whoever offers him the most benefit

  He represents the people who exploit the war for personal gain

  But, by the end, he joins the resistance

  Renault's character arc represents the redemption characters can have even if they have compromised their principles
• What themes does Major Strasser represent?

  • Nazi oppression
  • Tyranny

  Strasser is the embodiment of authoritarianism (a way of governing that values order and control over personal freedom)

  He symbolises the threat of fascism (most of the country's power is held by one ruler or a small group, under a single party)

  His cold, menacing demeanour makes him the primary antagonist; he is a stark contrast to the other characters, who wrestle with their ethics and humanity
• What themes does Sam represent?

  • Loyalty
  • Nostalgia

  Sam acts as the bridge between Rick's past and present, embodying the nostalgia of Rick's days in Paris with Ilsa

  His music evokes memories of love and loss

  He remains steadfast in his loyalty to Rick; theme of personal allegience
• What themes does Ugarte represent?

  • Selfishness
  • Desperation

  He represents the self-serving individuals trying to profit from the war.

  His desperation to get out of Casablanca link to the moral compromises some people make when faced with survival

  He is a strong contrast to Rick and Victor Laszlo
• What themes does Signor Ferrari represent?

  • Neutrality
  • Pragmatism (dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations)

  He is the neutral form of opportunism (taking advantage of opportunities with little regard of the consequences it'll have on others)

  He is straightforward about his desire to profit from the situation, but without taking a clear moral stance

  He represents the pragmatic side of war; some people seek to benefit from both sides without engaging in the wider ideological battle