Foil

Character Role Analysis

Theodore Finch and Josh Raymond

Finch fluctuates between feeling envious of and sad about his seven-year-old stepbrother's situation. His stepbrother (who lives with Finch's dad) strikes Finch as a young version of himself—but his stepbrother has a lot more material things:

I am trying not to let it bother me because jealousy is a mean, unpleasant feeling that only eats you from inside, and I do not need to stand here, an almost eighteen-year-old with a really sexy girlfriend, even if she's not allowed to see me anymore, and worry about the fact that my stepbrother seems to own thousands of Legos. (40.12)

That's right, Finch. Rise above.