Foil

Character Role Analysis

Frank Alpine—Morris Bober

In addition to being a mentor to Frank Alpine, Morris Bober is also his foil. They are very different men who find themselves in similar predicaments and facing similar temptations.

Morris is much more honest than Frank, or likes to think of himself as such, but he keeps secrets from his wife Ida and even momentarily considers insurance fraud when desperation takes him over.

Frank is much more industrious than Morris, but despite all his efforts to improve business, he ultimately lands in the same state, anxious and exhausted and just getting by.