The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - Characters & Cast

In Francis's narrative, Caligari's motivation is rooted in a historical obsession with a mystical figure who used a somnambulist to kill. He seeks to re-enact these events to satisfy his own ego and thirst for control. In the reality of the frame story, his motivation appears to be the treatment of his patients, specifically understanding and curing Francis's delusion.

Dr. Caligari is initially presented as the clear villain of Francis's story—a sinister carnival showman who uses a somnambulist to commit murder. He is depicted as a figure of absolute, malevolent authority. The film's twist ending dramatically shifts his character's arc, revealing him to be the director of the asylum where Francis is a patient. In this new context, he is framed as a benevolent, if misunderstood, authority figure trying to cure his patient, although the final shot leaves his true nature ambiguous.

Cesare's primary motivation is to obey the commands of Dr. Caligari, as he exists in a hypnotic, sleepwalking state. His flicker of motivation shifts when he sees Jane, where his actions become driven by a primal, perhaps aesthetic or emotional, impulse that momentarily overrides his programming.

Cesare begins as a mysterious and terrifying figure, the mindless instrument of Dr. Caligari's will. He is the monster in the shadows, committing murders without apparent emotion. His arc takes a turn when he confronts Jane. Instead of killing her, he is captivated by her beauty and abducts her, showing the first sign of independent will. This act leads to his pursuit and eventual death from exhaustion. He evolves from a simple monster to a tragic, sympathetic figure, a victim of Caligari's control.

Initially, his motivation is to solve the murder of his friend Alan and protect his beloved Jane. He is driven by a quest for justice and truth. In the context of the asylum, his motivation is to convince others of his version of reality, a reality in which he is sane and the asylum director is the evil Dr. Caligari.

Francis starts as the film's protagonist, a determined young man driven by love and grief to uncover the truth behind the murders in his town. He acts as the audience's guide through the horrific events. The final twist reveals that his entire story is a fabrication, a delusion created in his mind. His arc is a complete inversion; the hero who sought to expose madness is revealed to be the one who is mad. He transforms from a reliable narrator into an unreliable one, and from a hero into a patient.

Jane's motivation is primarily to survive and be with Francis. She experiences fear and seeks protection from the men in her life. She does not drive the plot but is central to the motivations of the male characters.

Jane is initially introduced as the object of affection for both Francis and Alan. She functions as a classic damsel in distress, becoming the target of the film's monster. Her arc is largely passive, as she is victimized and eventually captured by Cesare. However, it is her beauty and innocence that trigger Cesare's moment of defiance, making her a catalyst for his brief transformation. In the frame story, she is a fellow inmate of the asylum, her delusion being that she is a queen.