No foils necessary

William A. Gough

Sometimes in books and movies a character is presented who is direct contrast to the hero. By comparing the hero to this character—his foil—the book or movie brings out the hero's good points more clearly. Although this technique can be helpful in showing an audience why they should like the hero, should this type of comparing be done in real life?

When I was growing up, I had a tendency to compare myself with a brother of mine. He was good in school and in sports. So, to make myself look better I tried to find other areas to excel in where he wasn't as successful. I treated him as my foil.

I was never really comfortable with this attitude. I had the nagging feeling that it wasn't right to make myself look better at the expense of someone else. But behind the habit of making comparisons was the notion that good was limited and unevenly distributed. It seemed to me that another's good somehow diminished my own. Yet as I became familiar with what Christian Science teaches about God, and man's relationship to Him, it became clear to me that I could stop this "foil" thinking. There was really no need for it!

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Proving the fullness of man