Foil

Throughout literature, an author places a foil, for a main character or minor character that enables them to grow and develop as a character and emphasizes the theme of the book as a whole. A foil in literature is a character who shows opposing or contrasting qualities to another character. A foil is often used to show the unique characteristics of a person by comparing his actions, words, and thoughts of another character. A foil can be someone who compliments the character's actions and goals…

Character foils are present in almost any book, and Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare, is no exception. This book focuses mainly on this huge situation that consists of a chain of events that could’ve been avoided completely if approached in an entirely different manner. Many of the characters are on a quest to find love, including Benedick and Beatrice. The two, at the beginning of the play, had a burning hatred for the other, until a friend of Benedick’s…

Everyone has family problems at one time or another, yet there 's one certain royal family that has the worst problems of them all. In the Greek tragedy called Antigone , written by Sophocles, the new king , Creon and his son, Haemon are in a conflict over how to rule the kingdom. More specifically , they 're fighting what to do with Antigone who defied her uncle, the king, and buried her brother against the law. Creon resents Antigone for disobeying his law and going against him,however on the…

Leo Tolstoy’s novel War and Peace deeply illustrates the lives of many characters. A compelling novel, Tolstoy maintains the characters’ verisimilitude through the use of body language and conflicts. The lives of Prince Andrei and Pierre -- two foil characters -- parallel each other as they embark on their journey towards a deeper self-understanding. Through the use of details, interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts, and the subtle juxtaposition of Prince Andrei and Pierre, Leo Tolstoy is…

deserted island in the Pacific Ocean. But every foreigner, even with similar backgrounds, all have differentiating axioms. Mentors guide their students with principles that follows their own perspective on how to better navigate through life’s maze. Two foil characters,…

Most movies and books in this day and age have simple plots with miniscule character development, but this is not the case in Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare uses foils that the viewer has to dig into in order to see what he is trying to convey, which increases the understanding of the play. The foils are created between three similar characters––Fortinbras, Laertes and Hamlet––that emphasize where they deviate from each other on specific traits. Even if one reads into all of the…

and depth in the world they create; Evil vs Good, fire vs ice, light vs dark, the sun vs the moon, the list goes on. Sometimes it is the protagonist and the antagonist that reflects these similar themes and sometimes it’s just two wonderfully written foil characters. Arthur Miller, the classic American playwright of The Crucible, is no exception to this well used tactic, especially with the characters Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Proctor and their complex relationship with John Proctor, that…

Character foils are individuals who parallel each other, but have some dissimilar traits. As these individuals are comparable, their differing characteristics have heightened contrast, allowing for certain qualities to manifest themselves more fully. Within Hamet by William Shakespeare, foil characters serve the purpose of characterizing the protagonist. This characterization is witnessed three times when foils are employed to highlight Hamlets’ indecisiveness, sanity and remorsefulness. While…

Character foils and relations have a great impact on the meaning and structure of literature all around the world. The play “Much Ado About Nothing” by WIlliam Shakespeare, takes place in Messina, Italy where the characters are reunited after many of them being away in war. Throughout the book, each character is faced with a struggle they must overcome ranging from tragic events, broken relationships, to even internal conflicts. In the play, Shakespeare uses character foils as a way of enhancing…

A vital cast member from the very first episode of Parks and Recreation, Ron Swanson acts as Leslie’s foil. Not only is he a stoic older man, whose time working in government has caused him to be frustrated and apathetic, he is a steadfast libertarian. He holds no trust in authority, believes in limiting government control, and opposes most social programs. Rather than keeping his money at a bank, he keeps gold bars hidden in various secret locations. Once he realized that most internet sites…