Foil

Character Role Analysis

Ronnie Neary

Ronnie provides Roy his foil—that is, a character that contrasts another to highlight certain qualities. Ronnie's practical; Roy's a dreamer. Ronnie's focused on the grown-up responsibilities of keeping her family together; Roy's a big kid impulsively running around after UFOs. She wants desperately to maintain the status quo; her husband's compelled to search for bigger truths.

They say that opposites attract. Maybe that's true, but their marriage couldn't survive differences this huge. Could be that before Roy's paranormal experience, they were pretty compatible. But their different reactions to the UFO incident highlighted their contrasting personalities.