The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms - Ross Murfin 2018

Foil

Foil: A character whose contrast with the main character (protagonist) serves to accentuate the latter’s distinctive qualities or characteristics.

EXAMPLES: Fortinbras is a foil to Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet (1602), taking decisive action while Hamlet vacillates. “Slasher movies” often use a less subtle foil. In films such as the Halloween (1978— ) and Friday the 13th (1980—2009) series, promiscuous teenagers are murdered, often while they are having sex, thus highlighting the virginal purity of the heroine, who survives the killer’s attacks.