Comparing 'Casablanca' to '1984'
Comparing 'Casablanca' to '1984'
How can a hero survive in a world gone mad? Both Casablanca,
the classic 1940s film, and hailed as the greatest movie ever by some,
and 1984, a piece of classic literature by George Orwell, also seen as
being one of the most important novels of the 20th century, revolve
around a world in chaos, where no one trusts anybody else, and a war
wages on within and without. In 1984, Winston hides from a
totalitarian, thought controlling government, that is out to stomp out
all aggression against the Party. Rick dealt with a world rocked by
the impacts of World War II, where everyone was a spy, and even the
spies were spied on. Both wish for hope and courage in their mutually
exclusive worlds, yet only Rick finds hope in his. Winston dies with
utter hopelessness, where no one will ever know of his life or deeds,
yet he dies a hero. Rick is a cynic, tossed into a chaotic yet
romantic world, and comes forth victorious.
In Casablanca, we emerge with a feeling of hope, and joy, that
the forces of good can win, and that eventually we will triumph over
our enemies, wherever or whatever they may be. While slochky and
romantic, Casablanca is a touching movie, and probably one of the best
ever made. 1984 on the other hand, is a deep psychological thriller.
In the world of utter thought-control, we find that even a strong
hero such as Winston, is struck down by the party, for simply being
alive, and that the virtuosity within humanity will eventually be
overcome by our greed and lust. Their struggles are that of man
against the oppressor. Both 1984 and Casablanca deal with a world
gone mad, and the struggles of not-so-ordinary people.
Oftentimes, parallels can be made between characters in the two.
Renault can be compared with O'Brien, because both are 'double agents'
in their own ways, and one never knows for which side they work for.
Of course, in the end O'Brien is an agent of the Party, and Renault is
a sympathetic Frenchman, who befriends Rick - Louis, this is the
beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Sam of course, is stability. He can't be bought or sold, and
is seemingly a constant, always there and never too deep into the
problems of the world. Sam represents the carefree aspect in all of
us, the feeling that we'd just as soon turn our attention away from
the war and hum a tune. Parsons could be the Sam of 1984, the escape
from reality. Winston wishes he could simply give in as Parsons did,
to just pledge his allegiance to the Party, and live out his days in
relative happiness (Parsons is [next page]