Foil

Character Role Analysis

Walter/Bruce

Walter is slick, smart, world-wise, brusque, and criminal. ("What do you think I am, a crook? He asks. "Yes." Hildy replies.) Bruce is the anti-Walter; he's gallant, faithful, and a bit naïve.

And dull. So, so dull.

If Walter and Bruce bring out each others Walterness and Bruceness by contrast, they also show that Hildy's torn between the two of them. She married Walter, but she's engaged to Bruce. On the one hand, she likes it when Bruce treats her like a woman, and holds open doors for her. But she likes it too when Walter treats her like a water buffalo, and sends her out to grab that story by tackling the warden.