A Bumpy Ride in Cassablanca
In order to answer the question on which stages or key moments we see Rick playing a Reactive rather than an Active Hero, we must first define the Central Dramatic Question of the story. In Casablanca, I believe the question that is predominant in the movie is what Rick’s choice would be when it comes to choosing between his own happiness or the good of the many. In other words, choosing to be with Ilsa or letting her go as she would remain an important part of Lazlo’s life as a successful revolutionary.
From my understanding being an Active Hero, one must take charge of the situation at hand, while playing a Reactive role would mean that one merely acts in response to a situation rather than controlling it.
Answering the initial question, I think that Rick played a Reactive role (in answering the Central Dramatic Question) when he wasn’t doing anything with the Letters of Transit, when he knew for a fact that the letters would be needed by Laslow and Ilsa in order to exit the country. Rick had the right cards in order to play the game, but he wasn’t using it. Instead, he let things unfold before taking a more proactive move. But I believe Rick was doing this because he was still confused, and he needed a little more in order to know what would be the rightful thing to do. I think his realization happened when Ilsa came to his room, asking him to give them the Letters of Transit. After this moment, and perhaps in addition to realizing that when it comes to love, people are willing to do anything—as with what happened with the Bulgarian couple—he bagan to understand Ilsa’s situation. He started playing a more Active role as the hero of the story, planning everything that was to happen henceforth.
