Foils: Relationship Foils Are Those

Foils: Relationship

Foils are those minor characters which lend a support to the main characters and thus cement the relationships so integral for the story. One very interesting reason why foils are used is to further accentuate the typical characteristics of each character. For example a character with dominant virtuous characteristics should appear even more virtuous when it stands in contrast with the foil.

In the novel Kite Runner, Amir and Hassan are two important characters but Hassan is clearly the foil who lends support to the plot as well as the leading character, Amir. They are two young boys of the same age with completely different personalities. While Amir is rich and loves to dominate, Hassan is a poor servant who is meek and very loyal. Though he stays in the shadows, Hassan is the driving force behind the entire plot. Amir's whole life changes due to one incident with Hassan and his redemption comes when he finally faces Hassan's son since Hassan is already dead. Hassan thus bolsters the plot and Amir's character while his own character remains rather subdued and yet very influential. Loyalty is the main characteristic of Hassan's personality while the lack of it is Amir's. Amir doesn't show loyalty on many occasions while Hassan says he can give his life for Amir. This is a huge contrast in their nature which is accentuated each time they are together.

Foils offer valuable comparisons that are so important to the plot in some cases. Shakespeare used this technique very often and his relationships were usually presented in a way where one acted as a foil to another. This allowed the contrast in their personalities to be even more prominent and their characteristics became even more obvious. Some good examples from Shakespearean plays would Brutus and Cassius, Iago and Othello and Macbeth and his wife. If we look closely Iago and Othello's relationship was such that whenever they came together in one scene, we could immediately spot the differences in their personalities and their qualities. While Iago was cunning, scheming and manipulative, Othello was noble, simple and trusting.