Gender Roles In Casablanca

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Communication
Communication or lack of communication is clear in Casablanca whether it’s the people or the countries themselves. Rick is very secluded in the way he lives his life. Playing the part of the lone stoic character, he is surrounded constantly by others but still keeps very much to himself mentally. Though, like every human, his needs for emotional and physical connection is made aware with his connection to Ilsa. Likewise, with Ilsa when she is departed from her husband she seeks out a means to not be alone mentally and physically compelling her to Rick. Both, take part in the human nature to communicate with others. Everyone in Casablanca is communicating in some way. Whether it is nonverbal communication or directly speaking …show more content…

Even more so in 1950s Hollywood where most things are dramatized. Rick’s gender role in masculinity is the very definition of the word; acquiring strength, independence, being a risk taker, logical, and even rejecting weakness until confronted by Ilsa. While, Ilsa takes the role of being more feminine by caring for looks, focusing on her relationship, and being weak in a way where she needs to be comforted by a male counterpart. Casablanca like most Hollywood films, expresses the ideal gender roles of 1950s and give text book examples of gender roles whether it is biological or deprived from society expectations. Gender playing a part in the characters personality and …show more content…

When Rick meets Ilsa, she confronts him with the fact that she will not reveal her past and Rick follows suit. The audience later finds out the reason for Ilsa’s secrecy, has to do with her past relations involving her husband. While, Rick’s reason for silence has to do with Ilsa’s ideals and his own independence. With so many things unknown about each other, their relationship was bound for ruin it was just a matter of timing. If they had been upfront about the people they were maybe Ilsa would have realized her feelings for Rick outweighed that of her husband. Or Rick and Ilsa could have had the closer they needed instead of letting their past haunt

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