Nights of Cabiria - Characters & Cast

Cabiria's primary motivation is to find true love and achieve a life of dignity and happiness, far removed from her existence as a prostitute. She craves respectability and genuine human connection, believing that if she can find one good man to love her, her life will be redeemed.

Cabiria does not have a traditional character arc of profound change; rather, her journey is one of endurance. She begins as a hopeful, naive woman who is brutally betrayed, and she ends in the same position. However, her arc is internal. She moves from a fierce, defensive bitterness after the first betrayal to a state of complete, soul-crushing despair after the last. Her final act of raising her head and smiling suggests not a return to naivete, but the emergence of a more profound, resilient spirit that can acknowledge suffering and still choose life.

Oscar's sole motivation is money. He preys on Cabiria's deep-seated desire for love and marriage, which he likely witnessed during the hypnotist show, to manipulate her into selling her home and handing over her life's savings. His interest is purely financial and predatory.

Oscar's arc is one of escalating deception. He presents himself as a kind, understanding man who sees Cabiria's inner goodness, a stark contrast to the others in her life. He carefully builds her trust through chaste meetings and promises of marriage. However, his kindness is revealed to be a predatory performance. His nervousness and guilt become more apparent as he leads her to the cliff, but he ultimately follows through with his cruel plan, revealing his true nature as a heartless thief.

Lazzari is motivated by ego and momentary impulse. He wants company and an audience after being humiliated by his girlfriend, Jessy. He is not interested in Cabiria as a person, but only as a placeholder to soothe his wounded pride for an evening.

Alberto Lazzari is a static character who represents the glittering, self-absorbed world of fame that is completely inaccessible to Cabiria. He picks her up on a whim after a fight with his girlfriend, treating her as a temporary distraction. His arc is minimal; he is briefly charming and then dismissive, quickly forgetting Cabiria the moment his glamorous life resumes. He doesn't change or learn anything; he merely uses and discards her.

Wanda's motivation is her friendship with Cabiria. She genuinely cares for her friend's well-being, even if she expresses it through gruff realism. She tries to protect Cabiria from her own naivete and offers comfort when her dreams inevitably shatter.

Wanda is a constant in Cabiria's life. She is more cynical and worldly-wise than Cabiria, acting as a grounding force. Her arc is flat; she remains the skeptical but loyal friend throughout. She is there to comfort Cabiria after Giorgio's betrayal and is implicitly skeptical of Oscar's sudden appearance. Wanda represents a form of pragmatic survival, a contrast to Cabiria's dreamy idealism.