Foil

Character Role Analysis

The Grandmother to The Misfit

What's added to the basic protagonist/antagonist relationship by calling these two foils, you might ask? Well, besides being on opposite sides in the story, The Misfit and the grandmother contrast in more substantive ways that make each of their characters stand out more. The grandmother is all about appearances and "good behavior" by society's standards, hence her concerns with "being a lady."

The Misfit is more interested in getting straight to the heart of things, as his daddy said. He's looked into religion himself and not found anything there. That's why his questioning and ultimate rejection of religion reveals the grandmother's faith as shallow.