
The reason we love stories is the characters. Sure, we like a good, exciting plot and an interesting world, but complex characters are what turn those worlds and plots into something memorable—they give us something to root for. The world of “Star Wars” is great, but we all know it’s Luke, Leia, Han, and Darth Vader who make it stand out from hundreds of other sci-fi worlds.
Characters are the basis for every good story. As writers, creating great characters—especially protagonists and antagonists—is one of the biggest challenges we face. Luckily, there are certain character types that can help us along our way. Today, we’ll explore the narrative “cheat code” that is a foil character.
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“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
A foil character contrasts with, accentuates, or highlights another character through their actions, usually to help the protagonist along their journey. This doesn’t necessarily mean they literally help—rather, the foil is meant to bring out the complex character traits within the other character, or helps the other character overcome certain traits.
At its core, the foil character is a narrative device, a tool. Not all stories have them and not all stories need them. But if you’re stuck developing your main character, consider adding a foil to help.
“Captain America: Civil War” Courtesy Marvel Studios
Generally speaking, the foil and antagonist are not the same. While the foil may be antagonistic at times, they’re not the actual antagonist. The key difference is character intention.
- An antagonist’s mission is to directly oppose the protagonist on their journey. The antagonist’s desire is to see the protagonist defeated and will do anything and everything to ensure that failure.
- The foil, meanwhile, is there to help the protagonist discover something within themselves. Again, this could happen in any number of ways, but the foil doesn't necessarily want to see the protagonist fail.
“Sherlock” Courtesy BBC
Though the foil is a secondary character, that doesn’t mean you should give them the short shrift. In fact, some of the most memorable characters are foils.
Ready to create your own great foil? Read on for some tips.
1. Make an opposite list
This is the easiest but most important step. When writing a foil, you need to remember they’re the opposite of the character they’re the foil for. (For the sake of simplicity, we’ll assume from here on out that the character they’re the foil for is the protagonist.) Juxtaposition is everything when developing a foil alongside your protagonist. So, make a list of your protagonist’s character traits—maybe the top five. Then, make a list of the complete opposite of those traits, and that’ll help with your foil.
For example, if your protagonist is submissive or a pushover, your foil would be assertive. It will be through your foil’s assertiveness that the protagonist discovers they’re too much of a pushover and begins to change.
2. Consider the world of your story
While the point of the foil is to be the opposite of your protagonist, an effective foil still inhabits the same world your story—and protagonist—is set in.
Are you writing a family drama? Maybe the foil is a sibling or parent. Does the story take place in a high school? Then maybe the foil is the protagonist’s classroom nemesis. Science fiction? Perhaps it makes sense for the foil to be a fellow member of the crew or a lab scientist.
Truly knowing the world your story is set in is critical in establishing a believable—and useful—relationship between protagonist and foil.
3. Consider the whole plot
Yes, the purpose of a foil is to highlight another character’s traits, but this doesn’t mean the foil only shows up in times of the protagonist’s development. Could the foil also play a larger role within the plot?
Example: You’re writing an action-adventure movie and your protagonist’s arc is going from timid to heroic. You’ve got a big action set piece and your protagonist buckles under the pressure. Perhaps your foil rises to the occasion and ultimately propels the plot forward. Here’s an instance that blends character and plot development.
“Silence of the Lambs” Courtesy Orion Pictures
So you’ve created your foil. You have your opposite list, you know the world and relationships between characters. Now it’s time to actually write. Here are a few points to keep in mind as you develop this important character.
- Consider the conflict: Even if your foil is the protagonist’s best friend, they can’t just be a hype man—your story and the relationship need conflict. Why? Conflict is the basis for everything when it comes to good writing. This is where your opposite list will come in handy as it’s a built-in resource for creating conflict.
- Establish wants and desires: During the character development phase, ensure your foil has clear wants and desires. They can be the same as the protagonist’s or in opposition; either way, they’re the driving force behind the conflict.
- Be careful with dialogue: You know the old saying “show, don’t tell”? Apply it to your foil by paying close attention to dialogue. Yes, a foil’s job is to highlight the character traits of the protagonist, but it shouldn’t be explicit. Subtext is key here: It’s not interesting if the foil just tells the protagonist they need to fend for themselves or toughen up. You’re more creative than that.
“Brooklyn Nine Nine” Courtesy Fox
Storytelling is filled with foil characters. Shakespeare made them an integral part of his writing: Mercutio is Romeo’s foil; Antony is Brutus’; Banquo is Macbeth’s’; Rosaline is Juliet’s. All were major contrasts who heightened the characters they were intended to foil. But film and television also contain many foils. Here are a few examples:
- Draco Malfoy in “Harry Potter”: Conventional wisdom would have you consider Malfoy as an antagonist, but he’s more of a foil for Harry. Malfoy is selfish and a bully, while Harry is compassionate and understanding (and, more often than not, braver). When put in a situation together, Malfoy’s “bad” traits often bring out Harry’s “good” ones.
- Walter Sobchak in “The Big Lebowski”: Everyone knows the Dude, a laid-back stoner who loves to bowl and doesn’t let much get to him (rug aside). Walter, meanwhile, is quick to anger (especially when the rules are broken) and never gives anyone the benefit of the doubt. Walter’s aggressiveness even gets the Dude into hot water, driving aspects of the plot (such as swapping out the money for a ringer). Eventually, Walter’s antics cause the laid-back Dude to explode, which in turn forces Walter to beg for forgiveness.
- Emily Charlton in “The Devil Wears Prada”: As the longtime assistant to Miranda Priestly, Emily devotedly knows the ins, outs, and unspoken world of the fashion industry, making her the perfect foil as we meet our fashion-averse main character, Andy. But only in actively trying to fit into Emily’s world—and eventually surpassing her with ruthless efficiency—does Andy complete her character arc.
- Captain Holt on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”: Detective Jake Peralta is childish, fun-loving, and willing to go with his gut when it comes to his work. Captain Holt, meanwhile, is Jake’s straight-laced, by-the-book, humorless boss. Yet, as the show progresses, both Jake and Holt bring out different sides that allow them to grow. Holt learns to cut a little loose, and Jake discovers that not everything needs to be a joke.
Not every story needs a foil. As you develop your protagonist and plot, you may discover a foil doesn’t make sense. That’s fine! But if you’re in a rut developing your protagonist, consider a foil to help you out.