01-03-2005, 12:38 PM | #1 | |||
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Character foils in Harry Potter
Post which two characters you think are foils, and why.
A character foil is two characters who are seeming opposites. This usually applies only to the main character, but I thought it would be interesting to look at all the foils in the Harry Potter books. Good definition: Quote:
First of all, I think Voldemort and Professor Dumbledore are the most clear foils in the series. Voldemort embodies all that is cruel, malicious, and evil, while Dumbledore is kind-hearted, and represents good. They are pretty much equal in terms of power, they both have a group of loyal followers - the Death Eaters versus the Order of the Phoenix. Like Voldemort and Dumbledore are quite similar and yet opposite, the Death Eaters and the Order embody the same qualities as their leaders. The Death Eaters are either cruel or evil people who desire power above all else, or they are weaker wizards forced or tricked into membership. The members of the Order joined voluntarily, and are brave people who will make extreme sacrifces to fight for freedom and good. Many argue that Harry and Voldemort are foils. However, I think my arguments above that it is V. and Dumbledore are much more compelling, however, I welcome debate. So who is Harry's foil, you ask? Well, I think it is Draco Malfoy. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are similar enough (as Dumbledore and Voldemort are) to make their differences meaningful. They are both Slytherin potentials, and reasonably good students. However, while Draco chose Slytherin, Harry chose Gryffindor. Harry is brave, and Malfoy is a coward and a tool. Harry has trouble in the dating department, while Malfoy is popular with the Slytherin girls. Harry comes by his Quidditch position through natural talent, and Malfoy (even though he doesn't stink) bought his way on to the team. They each have two best friends, though like Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle are tools. Like Harry, Ron and Hermione are both smart, brave individuals who think for themselves. Harry and Malfoy are the perfect character foils, and not just because they hate each other's guts. Who else do you think are foils?
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Last edited by Nurvingiel : 01-03-2005 at 12:41 PM. |
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01-03-2005, 02:16 PM | #2 | |
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Whee, I'm so glad you ended up making this thread!
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01-04-2005, 12:14 AM | #3 |
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I agree, Dumbledore and Voldemort seem to be clear foils to me. And I agree with you about Harry and Draco as well, that was what immediatly popped to mind.
Seems a bit strange, but the twins and Percy seem to be foils to me, too. Obviously they come from the same background, being brothers, but they ended up totally different. While they're all VERY ambitious, the twins know to put family before work and are immensly loyal. Percy, however, puts work first and even needs to be reminded that "Christmas is a time for family."- by the twins, no less. Percy is a total rule freak, and the twins are, well, not. And they would by no means want to be a prefect, yet that is Percy's greatest achievement. Unless that was becoming Head Boy.
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01-04-2005, 08:03 AM | #4 | |
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"...then how shall I Revive the dying tones of minstrelsy, Which linger yet about lone gothic arches, In dark green ivy, and among wild larches?" Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum. |
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01-05-2005, 10:24 AM | #5 |
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Well, I think HP and Voldemort are foils, not D and V. D's foil is more like to be the Minister of Magic. Note that D taught both V and H. But the very first time we meet H we find that he has bested V. So from intro to current OotP, its H vs V. We have only one confrontation between D and V, and NOTE that it was H who again beat V, not D!
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01-05-2005, 12:33 PM | #6 | ||
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Actually in book five, Dumbledore was the one Voldemort feared, not Harry. However, you do make good points.
Dumbledore and Fudge are excellent foils as well. I think it's possible for there to be more than one in a book.
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"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
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01-05-2005, 02:59 PM | #7 | ||
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Quote:
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"...then how shall I Revive the dying tones of minstrelsy, Which linger yet about lone gothic arches, In dark green ivy, and among wild larches?" Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum. Last edited by Minielin : 01-05-2005 at 03:01 PM. |
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01-05-2005, 05:41 PM | #8 |
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Fudge is the opposite in characteristics of Dumbledore, if you reflect on it. There is antagonism between Voldemort and all the good guys as well, but the deliberate pairing of V and H is quite daring. We know that V is Tom Riddle gone bad, and since evil is monotonous in is eventuation, JKR daringly shows us the development of the GOOD in HP.
In thier foil-ish way, Dumbledore is an achieved "good guy" who successfully defeated Grindewald, and Fudge is a self-oriented blighter who refused to see and deal with a retuned V. Need I say more?
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Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941 |
01-05-2005, 06:09 PM | #9 |
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Oh...come on! Say more! How about Hermione and Luna...or are they just "different"?
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01-05-2005, 10:39 PM | #10 |
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Lizra,
Hermione and Luna are foils as well. Hermione is virtually all intellect and logic and rationality. Luna is intuitive, unaffected by rational thought, and other-worldly. They are foils! How much more do you want?
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Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941 |
01-05-2005, 11:13 PM | #11 |
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Oh geez! Don't get me started Inky-poo!
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01-06-2005, 05:25 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
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"...then how shall I Revive the dying tones of minstrelsy, Which linger yet about lone gothic arches, In dark green ivy, and among wild larches?" Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum. |
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01-07-2005, 12:55 PM | #13 |
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How about Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy. Both are pure blood wizards, but A is very interested in Muggles whereas L hates them and everything to do with them. A is a member of the OotP and L is a Death Eater. Both have sons attending Hogwarts who also hate each other.
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01-07-2005, 05:28 PM | #14 | |
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Quote:
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"...then how shall I Revive the dying tones of minstrelsy, Which linger yet about lone gothic arches, In dark green ivy, and among wild larches?" Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum. |
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01-07-2005, 05:52 PM | #15 |
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I keep thinking of the Weasley twins...being so funny and fuul of humour and life...who are they foils to?
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Happy Atheist Go Democrats! Last edited by Lizra : 01-07-2005 at 06:05 PM. |
01-07-2005, 05:53 PM | #16 | |
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Quote:
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"...then how shall I Revive the dying tones of minstrelsy, Which linger yet about lone gothic arches, In dark green ivy, and among wild larches?" Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum. |
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01-08-2005, 12:40 AM | #17 |
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Oh, yeah. Arthur and Lucius... that's a true foil, right there. They completely loathe each other. Much like Dumbledore and Voldemort, actually.
EDIT: Whoopsies, posted as Ethi. This is Sirigorn, by the way.
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01-09-2005, 07:13 PM | #18 |
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Crabbe / Goyle vs Hermione / Ron
Hagrid vs Filch
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Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941 |
01-09-2005, 09:55 PM | #19 |
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Oh man! That actor that plays Filch in the movies is creepy GREAT! "Love him!".... in all his creepy glory!
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01-10-2005, 07:29 PM | #20 | |
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Quote:
Anyway, Harry's very obvious foil is Draco because Draco wants to become a Death Eater and Harry wants to become an Auror for the Order of the Pheonix. But on a very philisophical level, Harry's foil is himself, because one part of him wants to be the hero, another wants to be normal, and a deep dark one wants to be evil. It is the same thing with every teenager in real life, and it wouldn't be a good story without the inner turmoil. moop
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