Foil

Character Role Analysis

Kristina and Bree

Bree, Kristina's alter-ego, is everything Kristina wishes she could be brought to life. While Kristina is quiet, submissive, and somewhat of a brownnoser, Bree is daring, dangerous, and a risk taker who could care less what anyone thinks of her. It's only when Kristina can lay herself aside and slip into Bree's much more carefree shoes that doing drugs is able to shift from a huge no-no to a normal part of life.

Chase and Brendan

On a less multiple-personalities-ish note, Brendan and Chase also bring out each other's differences. While Brendan is selfish and cruel, Chase seems to genuinely care for Kristina and shows her gentleness and kindness. Check out the sexual dynamics within their relationships if you don't believe us—Brendan uses Kristina for sex in a particularly hurtful and violent way, while Chase turns down Kristina's initial request for sex and insists that she take time to heal (Relief, Disappointment.3).

What's kind of weird about the Chase/Brendan dynamic is that both of them end up thwarting our initial impressions of them. Brendan might be the stereotypical hot lifeguard who looks like he could moonlight as an Abercrombie and Fitch model, but he's actually a mega jerk. On the other hand, Chase may not be much to look at, but he's nonetheless the person Kristina falls for the most.