Foil

Character Role Analysis

Leonard

Since Leonard's such a bad guy, it may seem strange to call him a foil for Thornhill. But think about what the two men have in common: a great fashion sense. In this sense, Leonard's function is to be a lightning rod, to deflect critical energies and unseemly associations away from the proto-Metrosexual Roger. Leonard's constantly dour and sneering presence seems to emphasize Thornhill's sense of humor and generally good-guy persona. See our "Characters" section for a more extensive discussion of Leonard.