Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Casablanca and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) :: Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984 Essays
Casablanca and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)          How can a hero survive in a world gone mad? Both Casablanca, the classic 1940s film, and 1984, a piece of classic literature by George Orwell, revolve around a world in chaos, where it is impossible to trust anyone, and a war wages on within and without. In 1984, the protagonist, Winston, hides from a totalitarian, thought controlling government, that is out to stomp out all aggression against the Party. In Casablanca, the lead character, 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.
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