The stranger foil characters

Foil Characters

Literary DiscussionBy: Alisha Punjwani

Definition!

1. metal hammered or rolled into a thin flexible sheet, used chiefly for covering or wrapping food

2. a person or thing that contrasts with and so emphasizes and enhances the qualities of another

Background Knowledge

Bassoon ClarinetEnglish Horn

Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f76eZfI5pOM

6:10-8:15

Interactive Activity!

Who are potential foil characters of

each character and why?

Raymond Sintes

“But he wanted to punish her. First he’d thought of taking her to a hotel and calling the vice squad to cause a scandal and have her listed as a common prostitute” –Camus 31

“…he’d go to bed with her and right at the last minute he’d spit in her

face and throw her out” –Camus 32

The Chaplain

“I explained to him that I wasn’t desperate. I was just afraid, which was only natural. ‘Then God can help you,’ he said. ‘Every man I have known in your position has

turned to him.’ I acknowledged that that was their right… I didn’t want

anybody’s help…” –Camus 116-117

Salamano

“Then he beats the dog and swears at it. The dog cowers and

trails behind.” –Camus 27

Woman at the Restaurant

“…he was going to proceed with the calling of

witnesses…I recognized next to him the little woman from

the restaurant, with her jacket and her stiff and determined manner.” –

Camus 86

Thomas Perez

“…Perez seemed to be way back there, fading in the shimmering

heat. Then I lost sight of him altogether. I looked around and saw that he’d left the road and cut out

across the fields. I also noticed there was a bend in the road up ahead. I realized that Perez, who knew the country, was taking a short cut to catch up with us.” –

Camus 17

Literary Criticism

“Within the story Camus creates scenes of explicit parallel and contrast. The tears and fainting of Thomas Pérez at

the funeral, for example, offer a foil to Meursault's lack of emotion. The noise of Salamano cursing his dog directly

precedes the screams of the Moorish woman as Raymond beats her; both relationships share qualities of physical love and abuse. One might argue that Camus's sense of

literary balance is an attempt to put into practice an existential philosophy: the only order in a disordered

world is the one we create for ourselves. “

Critic: Patrick J. Moser

Source: Exploring Novels, Gale, 1998

Take Away

Almost every character can foil the main character in some aspect

By analyzing other characters and their strengths, we can understand the main

character even more

Discussion Questions

Are there any other characters that can potentially foil Meursault?

What are some foil relationships in IB required books that we have read? Explain the foil relationship.

Without foil characters for contrast, would a main character’s actions be undermined?

Are there any other pieces of music where a foil character is obviously present?

Other than music and literature, where else is a foil relationship conspicuous?