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How do you measure the heroism of a man? The answer depends on the definition of heroism. At first glance, to define heroism appears rather easy, but is it? In recent decades, culture has blurred together the heroes of reality with scripted actors on a screen. More people look up to Tom Hanks for his role as a war hero than the 101st Airborne Division. So, what distinguishes the life of a true hero? A hero performs deeds of sacrificial and inspirational valor in situations that put him at risk in the real world. Heroism exhibits itself not in a uniform package but in varying degrees. Ironically, I will attempt to rank the heroism of three movie actors and their roles in the movie world. With the three men in Casablanca, heroism varies according to their consistency and motives. Let us first examine each man individually with these aspects in mind and conclude with a comparison. With his fame announcing his courageous deeds before him, Victor Laszlo enters Rick’s bar with a reputation of heroism in the resistance against fascism. Even stoical Rick expresses his admiration for Laszlo when he tells Renault that Laszlo has succeeded in impressing half the world. During the movie, Laszlo lives up to his heroic reputation with his inspiration of the French anthem, participation in the underground meeting, and his willingness to sacrifice his escape for Ilsa. In examining Laszlo’s motives for his heroism, a conversation he has with Rick later on in the movie sheds some light.
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