Casablanca

The society depicted in the film is exotic not only because of its setting in Casablanca in North Africa but also because of the mixture of nationalities brought together in an artificial manner in this time and place. This is artificial because it is a function of war and not because these different groups have chosen to live together. The region is ostensibly under French control at the time of the film, though the real control rests with the Germans who are poised to take over as much of this part of the world as they can and who have the military might to back up their demands. The French are in a delicate position, for while they may seem to be in charge, there is doubt about this given that there were then two French governments, one controlled by the Germans at Vichy, the other subjugated by a German invasion. Some of this background is shown in the story of Rick and Lisa

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political strategy undertaken by the British came to be known as appeasement. Germany wanted an adjustment in the Versailles settlement, and the British were not averse to this as long as it did not threaten British interests. The policy was based on the belief of British officials "that even the most intractably hostile could be won over through economic collaboration and concession" (Overy and Wheatcroft 74). The French are also ineffectual for the most part, with the Major played by Claude Rains doing the best he can and with the hero played by Paul Henreid representing the French underground clearly feared by the Germans. Casablanca represents an oasis in some ways because these different groups coexist in a legal limbo where the French have ostensible control and the Germans who have the power do not use it as they might. Otherwise, Henreid would be arrested immediately, but he is left alone until he does something the authorities see as a direct threat. This legal limbo is precisely what attracts Rick, for he thinks he can escape the war by being in a place where the war is not being waged directly. The tensions of the war are apparent everywhere, though, with a large refugee community trapped in Casablanca and onl
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Some common words found in the essay are:
World War, Peter Lorre, Haines Hoffman, Hitler British, Lisa Germans, , Otherwise Henreid, North Africa, French Major, American American, world war, haines hoffman, remain neutral, haines hoffman 21, war york, legal limbo, coming war, war europe, war ii, war prevented, world war ii, attempt remain neutral, germany world,
Approximate Word count = 1731
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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