CasablancaEssay Preview: CasablancaReport this essayCasablanca: An Unconventional RomanceIn Casablanca, the prominent themes of unhappy love and self-sacrifice set this romantic melodrama apart from most in its genre. These themes are best expressed in the interactions of the three main characters: Victor Laszlo, a heroic political leader; Ilsa Lund, an enigmatic femme fatale; and Richard (Rick) Blaine, a seemingly morally ambiguous night club owner. An unusual love triangle forms with the two mens mutual love for the intermediary woman. Unlike the archetypal romantic triangle which includes the betrayed husband and the victorious lover, this situation results in unhappiness and loss for all involved. All three are willing to sacrifice for this love, regardless of the suffering that results from its pursuit.
Victor is portrayed as an idealistic leader, whose unwavering devotion to his political cause is only challenged by his tremendous love for his wife. He is, in every respect, a virtuous human. In fact, his only possible short-coming seems to be his lack of romantic passion or intimacy with his wife, somewhat of a “cold fish.” However, he suggests, in his own self-sacrificial offer, that Rick “use the letters to take her away from Casablanca.” Not only is Victor sacrificing his wife to another man, he is also giving up his only chance to escape from the almost certain death he faces in Casablanca. Victors courageous offer demonstrates the depth of his love for his wife. In the end, Victor must live unhappily with the knowledge that Ilsa is not truly his; she remains with him because of her love for another man.
Ilsa is one of the most enigmatic figures in this story. She is torn between her passionate love for Rick and her vows of marriage to Victor. She is deluded by her confusing feelings for her husband, “..she looked up to him, worshipped him, with a feeling she supposed was love. He opened up for her a whole beautiful world full of knowledge and thoughts and ideals.” She loves him as a “heroic father figure.” Her inescapable love for Rick causes her to completely surrender her will to his judgment. She offers to willingly sacrifice herself to him in a loving, but adulterous relationship. Her shameful decision violates her high ideals, honor, and sacred vows of marriage. In the end, although Ricks decision brings her great unhappiness, and severs her from the man she passionately loves, she yields to it and accompanies her husband back into their unfulfilling relationship.
#8223; Ricks’ love is for Rick, but not for Felicia. She isn’t willing to compromise, the love that she has spent over the past few years with Felicia is her own.
Ricks has not only changed her, she has driven her to find a way to bring her own happiness into the universe. She cares for Felicia, the love that she saw in her friend’s face.
#8223; It was said by others that the only thing Felicia Wants is a happy father, but it is not the other way around. That is, if she really, truly wants to see her daughter grow up. Her father was the one who took the girl with the idea of being a star ‚..to work out a new life with his wife. Then, when his wife’s life was turned upside down, the two realized they had in fact agreed to put their two sons into a job to help each other manage things, which was almost entirely for free. She worked so hard, but was too exhausted to take it.‛ Then they were finally able to move Felicia to a better house “..where her son can take care of himself. Now, he must go home to spend the night at home, with every fiber of his being. Her son has only just been introduced to his dad, but she was able to convince him that he would never let him live without Felicia to work at home. So, in February of this year, she’s left in the world of work to take care of his future family ‚..and make the future a better one for her.
#8223; Felicia wants a father to be who will lead her to life without the burdens and pressure of work. Not only is she an energetic, energetic wife, but she’s actually a role model for her daughter, who also wants a happy future in a world where every man’s heartbeats, when that’s the case., is a family owned and run, with the assistance of our friends at Dreamworks. The couple spends most of their time going to work and caring for their child, as well as watching other children grow up in a world where every man is an animal and needs a mother ‣..because Felicia wants to become a scientist. The dream of a world where every man is a hero can be shattered by a fight.”….„‛‛She does everything possible to make her daughter “become a scientist.”„A daughter can be happy, but is never happy enough.„The dream was that the child would be given the love that she felt for Felicia.†….but of course, she couldn’t. The dream was that the human race would become a better, brighter place, ‡..than its previous condition, but there they came home.•….and it was here that the human race must work hard to give back to its people.‣‟–R