Symbols and Society

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In the 40s the world was divided up into societies: the societies of Europe and the society of the west. The society of the west was that of the American Patriots. As writer J. Hoberman would articulate, “Casablanca was the culture of the west, everything we were fighting for in World War II, brought together in one neat package.” Casablanca: An Essay Many critics who saw the translation of society being represented in the film praised the specific artistic roles that represented each group. Casablanca as an allegory

To be more in-depth on the articulation of society in the film, many sources have listed out the symbols in the movie, a powerful tool that the producers used to make Casablanca the vivid creation it is. The movie, flowing with symbolic idealisms, uses its symbols to portray the societies of the late 30s up until Pearl Harbor. The first symbols of course, are the characters themselves. By observing the personalities of the characters, it’s easy to see the symbolic matchup to societies. (Symbols and Semiotics:  themes and symbols & Casablanca Semiotics: Characters as symbols ) Although Casablanca is a fictional film, it can be used as historical evidence for past societies the same way other representational art forms do. Learn why Casablanca is an accurate assessment of past societies

By observing the personalities of the characters, it’s easy to see the symbolic matchup to societies. Lazlo represents the freedom fighter society. He represents those in the resistance willing to do whatever it takes to keep the world from a sick Nazi regime. Ilsa, as previously mentioned, represents the higher ideals in life. Her personality shows the plight of the society she represents: the innocent people who know what’s going on in Europe is wrong but doesn’t know how to respond. This decision of the heart was beautifully reflected in the love triangle. Not simply a romantic twist, the love triangle is critically important to the society Ilsa represents because it shows the conflict of purity in the 40s. The higher ideals are too pure to be polluted, so they can’t succumb to a corrupt dictator. However they must choose between how belief in such ideals will be expressed. Will Ilsa’s conscience decide to come forth like Rick, with an indifferent, keep to yourself attitude, or like Lazlo with passion and willingness to fight regardless of the cost? Themes and Symbols in Casablanca