Foil

Character Role Analysis

Mr. Pirzada/Lilia's father

Lilia's father isn't a bad guy at all. But he isn't Mr. Pirzada, who treats Lilia with politeness and warmth. Lilia's father harps on Lilia about school and her lack of knowledge of Indian politics and history. By contrast, Mr. Pirzada seems much more tender and fatherly.

Mrs. Sen/Eliot's mother

Mrs. Sen is everything Eliot's mother isn't. But we only know that because Eliot shows us what his mother is like: bland, distant, unengaged, close-minded, ungracious. By comparison, Mrs. Sen is interesting, lively, warm, loving. No wonder Eliot doesn't mind being at Mrs. Sen's.

The community in TBH/Haldar

Without Haldar's terrible treatment of Bibi, we'd never be able to appreciate the kindness of the community in TBH. The community does all the things that Haldar doesn't: they take care of Bibi by helping her become self-sufficient and they support her economically by buying from her shop.