Foil

Character Role Analysis

Joanna, Jeannine, Janet, Jael

Four-person foils are about as common as four-leaf clovers, but we'll leave it to you to decide if this one makes you feel lucky. Janet, Jeannine, and Jael each draw attention to Joanna's complex hopes and fears. They are all one another's uncanny doubles. Through the comparisons and contrasts between them, many facets of the novel's central concern—women's oppression under patriarchy—become clearer.