Self-Interest and Self-Discovery in the Characters of 'Casablanca' Amy Hale 11th Grade

Self interest is a prominent ideal in Casablanca, manifesting itself in characters such as Louis Renault, and his manipulative tendencies. Conversely, kindness and altruism prevail in characters such as Rick Blaine and Victor Lazlo, most saliently through their respective relationships with Ilsa Lund, as well as their prioritisation of politics. All of these characters do indeed “look out for themselves,” to an extent, but they ultimately choose the Allied cause as their primary focus at the conclusion of the film - all of them sacrificing love for duty - demonstrating that the characters in Casablanca all make the journey from self interested to selfless.

The bitter and jaded Rick Blaine typifies the masculine and cynical man of the time, with his indifferent veneer and drinking habit, yet, he is perhaps one of the most selfless and kind characters of the film. The audience is initially introduced to Rick as an elusive and enigmatic figure, always hearing about him, but never actually meeting him. In fact, in our first encounter with Rick, he attempts to demonstrate that he indeed “sticks his neck out for nobody,” by turning his back on Ugarte, and then subsequently rudely rejecting his lover, Yvonne’s, earnest question; “will...