Foil (literature)
In literature, a foil is a character designed to contrast with another character, typically to highlight specific traits and qualities of the latter. This literary device enhances the reader's understanding and emotional response to a character, often making the protagonist seem more admirable or compelling. For instance, in Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights," the peaceful Thrushcross Grange serves as a foil to the chaotic Wuthering Heights, emphasizing the contrasting qualities of the two settings.
William Shakespeare frequently employed foils in his works, such as in "Romeo and Juliet," where Rosaline's reserved nature contrasts with Juliet's passionate spirit, thereby amplifying Juliet's vibrancy. Similarly, Hamlet features Laertes and Fortinbras as foils to the indecisive Hamlet, showcasing different approaches to avenging their fathers. Other notable examples include Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, who represent the duality of human nature, and Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, whose differing strengths provide depth to the narrative. Overall, foils serve to illuminate character traits, enhance themes, and enrich the reader's engagement with the story.
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Foil (literature)
A foil is a character whose traits are a contrast to those of another character. The purpose of the foil is to highlight the qualities of the opposite character. This literary device is meant to strengthen the reader's impression of traits and generate good feelings toward one character.
Any comparison meant to highlight differences may also be described as a foil. For example, the homes in Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Brontë are the tranquil Thrushcross Grange and the forbidding Wuthering Heights. Thrushcross is refined and elegant, while Wuthering Heights is wild and dark.
Overview
A writer creates a foil as an opposite to a character, usually to make a good character seem even better. The traits of the bad character can help the reader like the good character more.
William Shakespeare created many memorable foils in his plays. Romeo and Juliet (1597) is a love story. At first, Romeo is in love with Rosaline; then he meets Juliet and forgets his first love. Rosaline's character traits—quiet, distant, and a steadfast virgin—are not at all like Juliet, who is open to Romeo's romantic gestures, responds wholeheartedly, and revels in wedded bliss. Rosaline's careful control highlights Juliet's carefree nature. Romeo is impulsive and bold. He ignores social practice by speaking to Juliet directly. Yet, he is also romantic and lovesick, first for Rosaline and later for Juliet. Mercutio, his friend, is also bold, but they differ in their approaches to women. Romeo is looking for love, but Mercutio is only interested in having a good time. As a foil for Romeo, Mercutio serves to enhance the romantic love Romeo feels for Juliet.
In Hamlet (1609), Shakespeare created two foils for his title character. They are Laertes and Fortinbras. Both are sons who have avenged their fathers, while Hamlet, who believes his uncle has murdered his father, has dithered. Gertrude and Ophelia, the only women in the play, are also foils: Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, has married her brother-in-law, and Hamlet sees her as a fallen woman. In his eyes, Ophelia, sister of Laertes, remains a virtuous maiden.
Some of the most famous character pairings in literature are foils. For example, in 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson created Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde, two personalities in the same body. Jekyll is a respected doctor who conducts charitable works. He sees in himself a dark side, however, and wants to free himself from the parts of his personality that behave indecently. His experiments separate his personality from the dark Hyde, who displays all the traits Jekyll finds repulsive.
Arguably the most famous pair of literary foils, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, debuted in 1887. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective creations are strong contrasts but not complete opposites. Both are intelligent, but their strengths are in different areas. Holmes solves a mystery on the barest of clues through observation, while Watson, who is a doctor and writer, rarely grasps the solution to a puzzle; Holmes must explain it to him. On the other hand, Watson displays a range of social skills that completely escapes Holmes. If the detective stories were all about the crimes and clues, they would have little human interest; Watson brings the everyman perspective to which the reader can relate.
Bibliography
"Biography." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Literary Estate, www.arthurconandoyle.com/biography.html. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Sparknotes, www.sparknotes.com/lit/jekyll/characters.html. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
"Dr. John Watson." Shmoop, www.shmoop.com/sherlock-holmes/dr-john-watson.html. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
"Foil." Literary Devices, www.literarydevices.com/foil/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
"Foil." Literary Devices, literarydevices.net/foil/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
"Foil." Shmoop, www.shmoop.com/hamlet/foil.html. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
"Rosaline." Shmoop, www.shmoop.com/romeo-and-juliet/rosaline.html. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.
"What Is a Foil? Definition, Examples of Literary Foil Characters." Writing Explained, writingexplained.org/grammar-dictionary/foil. Accessed 8 Nov. 2017.