What is the premise?


Create a large umbrella and then crosscut and condense



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Casablanca
1. Create a large umbrella and then crosscut and condense.
In this approach, you describe the largest scope of the story somewhere near the beginning. In effect, you start with the big world and the wall that divides it from everything else. Then you focus on the smaller worlds within the arena as the story progresses. This large umbrella could be as big as the flat plain of the West, a city, outer space, or the ocean, or it could be as small as a small town, a house, or a bar.
This technique can be found in Casablanca,
* Moral Choice Rick must choose between being with the woman he loves and fighting worldwide dictatorship.
* Moral Problem How do you balance your personal desires against sacrifices for the larger good of society
* Characters as Variations on a Theme
Rick: For most of the story, Rick cares only about himself and nothing about the troubles of the world. Ilsa: Ilsa tries to do the right thing, but ultimately love is too strong for her.
Laszlo: Laszlo will sacrifice anything, including his love, to lead the fight against fascism. Renault: Renault is a complete opportunist, concerned only with his own pleasure and money.
* Values in Conflict
Rick: Self, honesty, his friends.
Ilsa: Loyalty to her husband, love for Rick, fighting Nazi takeover. Laszlo: Fighting Nazi takeover, love for Ilsa, love for mankind. Renault Women, money, power.
moral argument
* Rick's Beliefs and Values Self, honesty, his friends. * Moral Weaknesses Cynical, selfish, cruel.
* Moral Need To stop looking out for himself at the expense of others. To return to society and become a leader in the fight against fascism.
* First Immoral Action Rick accepts the letters of transit from Ugarte, even though he suspects they came from the murdered couriers.
* Second Immoral Action Rick refuses to help Ugarte escape from the police. Criticism A man tells Rick that he hopes someone else is around if


9 the Germans come for him. Justification: Rick tells the man that he sticks his neck out for nobody. * Desire Rick wants Ilsa. * Drive Rick attacks Ilsa many times while also trying to lure her back. He also takes a number of steps to preserve the letters of transit, either to sell them or to use them for himself. *
Immoral Action When Ilsa returns after the club closes, Rick refuses to listen to her and calls her a tramp. Criticism: Ilsa voices no criticism, but she does give Rick a stricken look as she leaves. Justification: Rick offers no justification for his abuse. *
Attack by Ally Rick's first opponent, Ilsa, makes the main moral attack against him and his methods over the course of the story. However, his friend, the bartender Sam, does urge him to quit dwelling on his lost love. Rick's classic response "If she can stand it, I can. Play it our song"

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