The Jerk Scale / Foil Characters - Short Story Blog 1 (Week 2) (Everyday Use)

"She looked at her sister with something like fear but she wasn't mad at her. This was Maggie's portion. This was the way she knew God to work."

~ Alice Walker, Everyday Use


Today in class, we talked a little bit about how putting foil characters together can exaggerate their differences. I think this was probably the story I felt the strongest about (except when I wanted to shoot myself in the face during Bartleby), simply because the two characters are on complete opposite ends of the personality gamut.

Maggie is a shy, resigned, completely selfless person. She always gives to other people (especially her psychotic sister) and thinks little of herself, even though she is genuinely a good person. She has always been a shadow to her sister because Dee is extremely confident and feels restrained in her old life - but we will get to her in a minute. I think Maggie is on the right side of the Jerk Scale.

                                    JERK SCALE

                                                                                       Maggie
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JERK                                                                   NOT A JERK


Dee is an overly confident person. She is selfish, inconsiderate, condescending, and ridiculous. She treats her family like poop and uses them for her heritage - which makes her a hypocrite because she completely rejected her former lifestyle when she went away; she only likes the idea of her background, she likes bragging about it to people, but she hated growing up like she did. Most of all, she never thinks of Maggie, her little sister who looks up to her and needs someone there who will tell her that she is pretty and smart and worth more than she feels like she is. But, Dee fails at all of this, so she goes on the left side of the Jerk Scale.

                                         JERK SCALE

   Dee
---*---------------------------------------------------------------
JERK                                                                     NOT A JERK

Yes, both of these characters probably have traits that contradict their positions on the spectrum, but having two extreme characters in the story just emphasizes their differences.

Tommy vs. Ruth: Character Studies/ Foil Characters ( Chapters 8 and 9/ Pages 90-111)

"So you see, it's got to be you to our rescue. Tommy and I were made for each other and he'll listen to you. You'll do it for us, won't you, Kathy?"

~ Never Let Me Go, page 104

First I want to say that I was so furious when I found out Ruth and Tommy were dating. It's all backwards and sick and twisted and frustrating! It's supposed to be Tommy and Kathy!

Next I would like to point out the irony in the quote. 1) If Ruth and Tommy actually were made for each other, he would be able to listen to her and reconcile the differences. Also, she would be able to communicate with him without worry. 2) If Ruth needs Kathy to talk to Tommy and salvage the relationship, little red flags should be going off in her head right about now.

Lastly I will contrast the differences between Tommy and Ruth who are definitely foil characters to each other.

• Ruth is a leader. She is inclined to control situations (and people for that matter) and wants to be accepted and revered by her friends. Tommy is basically an outsider with a couple close friends here and there. 
• Ruth manipulates people and ridicules them. Tommy was relentlessly taunted for years by people like Ruth. 
• Ruth is very clever and intelligent - she understands the situations she is in, and she knows how to relate to people to get what she wants. Tommy is naive and innocent. The way he displays his emotions is very childlike and honest.