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Casablanca Characters


                                       -Casablanca-

 Rick
Rick is the main character of Casablanca, he plays a man who was left by someone he loved (Ilse) and was changed forever. Rick is one of the people who are happy to settle down in Casablanca and isn't attempting to reach America (as he isn't allowed back into the country). Rick doesn't "stick his neck out" for anyone, and at the beginning of the film he is happy to just stay and run his cafe without being disturbed by anyone, however, toward the end of the film we see his aims change, he wants to help Ilse escape Casablanca with victor, he doesn't care what happens to himself, he just wants to protect his lover. Rick is meant to portray America at the time, who weren't currently involved in world war two)

 Ilse
Isle is victors wife, and Ricks former lover, who left him in Paris. In the film we see her torn between Victor, her husband, and Rick. When she and Rick first started their relationship, Ilse thinks her husband has died in a concentration camp. Her main goal at the start of the film is just to escape Casablanca with Her husband, but she soon realises she still loves Rick. She plans to escape with him, however, Rick sacrifices himself for her, as the ultimate romantic gesture. She is quite strong for women of the time, although, as per the time, her main purpose in the movie is to help Rick grow into a stronger person.

Captain Renault 
Captain Renault is a morally ambiguous character. Although he isn't a nazi, he is clearly abusing his power over the people, saying things such as "round up the usual suspects" suggesting he doesn't really care about arresting the correct person, just so long as he looks good doing it. He also uses vulnerable women for sex. However, he helps to save rick at the end, making up for all his wrongdoing (or not, but hey it was the Fourties, were abusing women emotionally was fine, note the sarcasm). He doesn't really pick a side throughout the movie, however, in the end, he shoots the nazi and walks off with Rick into the mist, suggesting he is now no longer un-bias.

 Victor Laszlo
Victor Lazlo is Ilse's husband. he is a world know rebellion leader, who arrives in Casablanca, hoping to escape to America, and having no idea about Rick and Ilse's previous romantic relationship, that happened while he was married to her. We don't really see him interact with Ilse in the way we see her interact with Rick. To him, she is less of a person and more of a prize. Over time, he figures out about Ilse and ricks love affair, however, he still wants to be with Ilse, telling her he understands if she got lonely while he was at the concentration camp.

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