Foil

Character Role Analysis

Louis Ironson and Joe Pitt

There's no doubt that Louis and Joe are foils. Louis is Jewish; Joe is a Mormon. Louis is from New York City; Joe is from Salt Lake City. Louis has been openly gay for a while; Joe is has only just come out. Louis is just about as left wing as they come; Joe is far right. In Perestroika, their political differences end up driving them apart.