Foils

A foil is a character who serves as a contrast to another character, usually the protagonist, in order to highlight the differences between them.

Examples

1. Toy Story 3: Woody and Lotso
   • Similarities:
     • Both serve as leaders of their toy families.
   • Differences:
     • Woody prioritizes the well-being of his owner Andy and the other toys while Losto grows to hate his owner Daisy and children in general and treats other toys horribly.
2. Marvel Comicsː Spider-Man and Venom
   • Similarities:
     • Both are humans that have spider-themed powers, a secret identity, and worked at the same place
   • Differences:
     • Spider-Man is a hero who helps save his family, his friends, the people of his city as well as the entire world, while Venom is a ruthless killer who treats people horribly, and kills them.

The Overall Reason Why The Trope Isn't So Different

1. It highlights what the two characters have in common and how they are different from each other.