Rick, a kind-hearted man with a strong moral compass, is far from the most detestable of Casablanca's characters. While he demonstrates some qualities and actions that might lead one to assume he is repugnant, he is not to be confused with his cowardly counterparts. His tireless charade at the beginning of Casablanca may give the wrong impression as he appears cynical and aloof, detached not only from other people but from the traumatizing events happening around him. This quickly changes as the film progresses and his strong moral compass shines through, showing that he is undoubtedly "a sentimentalist at heart". This is not the case with some of the other characters, as their weak and unscrupulous ways become apparent and make Rick seem almost angelic in comparison. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay When Rick sees a poor Bulgarian couple desperately trying to escape the uncertainty that permeates Casablanca, he is at first reluctant to help them. Her idealistic side soon prevails and allows her husband to win at roulette, saving him from the fearful capture of the city. A horrible person surely wouldn't have rolled over as quickly and easily as Rick did; this act disproved his earlier statement that he "(exposed) his neck for no one". It's indisputable that his jaded, sardonic outer shell can lead to feelings of antipathy towards Rick, but his compassionate core emerges so frequently in the film that it would be impossible to call him despicable. In the flashback to Paris we see his kind and loving side as he and Ilsa fall in love with each other. The man in Paris had kind, sparkling eyes and was relaxed and happy. His heartbreak and the terrible events of the war have removed this characteristic from the surface of his being, but Paris implies that he has the capacity to love and be loved. At the film's conclusion he commits a selfless and noble act, putting aside his feelings for Ilsa and helping Laszlo escape to continue his heroic fight for freedom. Louis is perhaps the most complex character in Casablanca and constantly blurs the lines between good and evil. . His appropriate manner makes it clear that he is not a man of high moral standing; However, clues in the film and his part in the final scene show that there is more to Louis than meets the eye. His actions make it clear from the start that he is attentive and curious, as nothing escapes his eyes and he leans in to listen to Rick's opinions. The way he leans back in his chair almost casually and salutes his fellow Vichy French soldiers shows his irreverence and deceptive lightheartedness in what is happening. He happily follows the prevailing wind and arrests Ugarte on orders, but clearly sees this as an opportunity to impress and increase his status among the officers. He closed Rick's Café with the excuse that gambling was no longer allowed, but upon leaving he happily collected his winnings. So it can certainly be said that Louis is self-centered and indulgent in his every impulse. In contrast, Rick clearly sees the good in this character from the beginning, and when he didn't join in with the German national anthem, a crucial point of the film, it became clear that Louis wasn't completely devoted to the Nazis. His final act of assisting Rick in his predicament to help Laszlo escape despite the consequences on Louis himself is proof that he can be as admirable as he is corrupt. Overall his noble deeds outweigh his selfish misdeeds. Ilsa may not be an obviously detestable character, but perhaps her own.