Foil

Character Role Analysis

The Marquis de Rollebon, Antoine

The dude might not exist anymore, but the Marquis de Rollebon does a really good job of revealing Antoine's character to us. The fact that the M. de R. is a dead historical figure makes him especially suited to this job. While researching him, Antoine can't help but realize that everything he says about the Marquis is actually a statement about himself.

The Marquis is a blank slate, and no matter how Antoine interprets his words and actions, it's clear that the interpretation is telling us more about Antoine than it is about the Marquis. The Marquis, after all, is dead and gone. Antoine is left to face the fact that his interpretation of things is always going to be limited to things he already thinks and believes.