Rick Blaine's character and role in Casablanca

¶ … Rick Blaine in Casablanca

Casablanca is the 1942 film that explores how people behave when confronted with the choice to help others regardless of personal attachments. In the film, Rick Blaine runs a cafe, aptly called Rick's Cafe, which serves as a front for an illegal casino in addition to being a safe haven for people that are attempting to flee Morocco and the Nazis that have slowly taken over the city. While some people, like Rick, give the impression that they are trying to stay out of the rising conflict that is arising between French Resistance fighters and Nazis, others' alliances and loyalties will be dictated by the people they work for. In Casablanca, Captain Louis Renault is, at first, indifferent to Rick's businesses, but is pressured into choosing between what is right and what his job requires. While Renault accuses Rick of being a "sentimentalist" and "a man of conscience and justice," Renault himself undergoes a personal that in the end mirror Rick's.

At the beginning of the film, Rick is the unimpressionable and emotionally and politically detached owner of Rick's Cafe. It is often hinted at that there is a reason for Rick's behavior and that he once was a very different person; soon thereafter it is revealed that his attitude changed after he lost the love of his life, Ilsa Lund; Ilsa and Rick carried on an amorous affair while they were both in Paris, but when Ilsa found out that her husband, Victor Lazlo was still alive, she broke off the affair. Before leaving Paris and relocating to Morocco, Rick was outspoken and politically active, but transformed into a very different man when Ilsa left him. The Rick that Ilsa ran into in Casablanca was a very different man than the one that she knew in Paris, however, the reunion between the two former lovers appears to have ignited a spark within Rick that motivates him to help those trying to flee the Germans; for example, he allows Jan Brandel to win enough money while playing roulette to pay for the proper (and falsified) documents that will get him safely out of Morocco. Renault's accusation against (or for) Rick that he is a "man of conscience and justice" is further exemplified at the end of the film. Though Rick clearly is still in love with Ilsa and has the opportunity to escape Casablanca with her, he arranges safe passage for her and Victor because he knows that staying behind will allow him to help others.

Ultimately, Rick is an both an altruist and an utilitarian. Rick's altruism allows him to let go of Ilsa so that she may rejoin Victor and help him to bring an end to Nazi rule. Rick's utilitarianism comes into play as his decision to stay behind not only benefits Victor and his political aim, but also the people in Casablanca who may seek help in getting away; by staying behind and helping Victor flee will benefit the most people; had Rick left with Ilsa then the French Resistance would have lost a powerful ally.

Renault, on the other hand, is indifferent to Rick's business, legal and illegal, and can often be found at Rick's Cafe. It is only when he is pressured by his superiors to take action against Rick does he take action against the illegal casino. Furthermore, while Rick's loyalty lies with those that he believes will have the greatest impact against Nazism, Renault's loyalty, regardless if he agrees with their policies, lies with the Vichy government. Renault is passive-aggressive against the Vichy government and though he must follow their orders, he does not act upon his orders in a timely manner and loosely enforces laws and regulations. Because he has pledged his loyalty to the Vichy government, Renault is not as free to act out against Nazism as Rick is, however, his attitudes and beliefs are slowly transformed to match those of Rick's. At the end of the film, an utilitarian relationship is formed between Rick and Renault as they successfully worked together to help Ilsa and Victor escape. Realizing the result of their joint effort, Rick states, "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."