But Rick's attitude changes when Ilsa arrives in Casablanca with her husband, Laszlo. Rick agrees to sit down with Ilsa and Laszlo at their table, something that he has never done for any of his other guests, showing the audience that Ilsa is very important to Rick.
We later learn through a series of flashbacks that there was actually a third Rick, an innocent romantic who went by Richard. Ilsa and Richard had a happy life in Paris, although they didn't know much about each other. Richard loved Ilsa, and when the Nazis began arriving in Paris, he planed to leave with her and get married... but she stood him up at the train station, never to be seen by Rick until they meet in Casablanca. This was the moment when Rick changed from an innocent lover to a tough man, who sticks his neck out for nobody.
Near the end of the movie, we realize that, while Rick maintains his tough, non-caring faรงade, he does in fact assist those in need. For example, he helped a young man win money from a roulette table, so he would have enough money for visas, and his wife wouldn't have to sleep with Renault for them.
At the very end, Rick sticks his neck out for Ilsa and Laszlo, holding a gun at Renault (his own friend), and even shooting Major Strasser! This moment was a HUGE change for Rick, because for once, he put his own life on the line in order to let the love of his life, fly away to safety with her husband (instead of taking the visas for himself or for profit).
Rick is a very complicated character, and he goes through many emotional changes throughout his life (or at least what we see of it). He goes from an innocent lover, to a serious cafe owner (who let his own friend be arrested), to a caring, selfless individual. The other thing that is interesting about Bogart's charter, is that we don't know much about his past and we don't really know what will become of him in the future!
Why can't Rick go back to America?
You make two really great points. We still don't really know what happened in Rick's past other than him being in love with Ilsa, and how he always fought with the underdogs. We also don't really know what is to become of Rick once the on screen story comes to a close. This is really interesting, and I think this mystery is actually a component to why this film is still popular after 70 years.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you all the way. After Ilsa arrives, we gradually see Rick transform. Also, on top of what you mentioned, I think there is another example of Rick's change. The way I saw it, Rick let Ilsa go for two reasons. First, he did not want to restrict her to being stuck in Casablanca, like so many others who said they would die there waiting. Second, we can see Rick no longer having his "neck out for nobody" policy, because he sent Ilsa with Laszlo so that he could continue his work against the Nazis. Rick made a sacrifice, giving up his own happiness for the greater good of ending the war. Again, Rick reveals himself to be more of a sentimentalist than he seemed at the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that we never know why he couldn't go back to America has always bothered me, and it continues to every time I see this movie. That aside, I think you did a great job summing up and explaining some of the complex changes that Rick goes through as a character in the timeline of the film. The metaphor of the "Three Ricks" actually made the differences in Rick's character easier to understand as you were going through them.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly to Carly's previous post, I think that this question is a big part of why this movie is still considered to be one of the best one's of all time. The real thought process of Rick's before he refused to get on the plane is far beyond me, but it's interesting to see multiple ideas and put together your own. You bring up many good points of how Rick is only looking out for himself and those he cares about, which is interesting since he is known to not "stick his neck out for anyone". Personally, I think that even though this is said, Rick is trying to keep everyone in a good place. Very interesting post, great job!
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