The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Characters & Cast

Blondie's main motivation is to acquire the $200,000 in gold. He is also driven by a strong sense of self-preservation and a desire to maintain his independence. He operates according to his own set of rules in a world without them.

Blondie begins and ends the film as a pragmatic and self-interested bounty hunter. His arc is not one of significant moral transformation but rather a reinforcement of his personal code. While he is capable of compassion, as seen with the dying soldier, his primary motivation remains his own survival and enrichment. He consistently outsmarts his rivals through his cunning and stoicism. In the end, he upholds his own form of justice by killing Angel Eyes and leaving Tuco with a share of the gold, albeit in a cruel and humiliating manner.

Angel Eyes is motivated solely by greed. He is relentless in his pursuit of the gold and is willing to torture and kill anyone who stands in his way. He believes that money is the ultimate measure of a man's worth.

Angel Eyes is a static character who remains consistently ruthless and sadistic throughout the film. He is introduced as a man who will do anything for money, including killing his own employers. His arc is a straight line of villainy, serving as the primary antagonist and a representation of pure, unadulterated evil in the film's moral spectrum. He never wavers from his cruel and calculating nature, ultimately leading to his demise in the final duel.

Like the others, Tuco is driven by the desire for the gold. However, his motivations are also more personal and immediate: survival, revenge against those who have wronged him, and a certain vanity. He sees the gold as a means to escape his life of poverty and hardship.

Tuco is the most complex and developed character in the film. He is a wanted bandit who is both comedic and dangerous. His arc is a series of ups and downs, from being a victim of Blondie's schemes to seeking brutal revenge. A key moment in his development is the encounter with his estranged brother, a priest, which reveals a more vulnerable and perhaps regretful side to his character. Despite his many flaws, Tuco is a survivor, and his emotional range makes him a compelling and memorable figure.