Foil

Character Role Analysis

Waverly/Mom

Despite her antagonistic ways, Mom thinks she's on Waverly's side most of the time, and even does her daughter some good, like when she boosts Waverly's confidence before a tournament (37). At the same time, though, she ultimately causes Waverly all kinds of pain and misery, which eventually creates a schism between them. Waverly loves chess—but Mom has no room for doing something simply for the joy of it. It's an important contrast between the two, and in their differences, we better understand Waverly and why she becomes so unhappy.