Foil

Character Role Analysis

The Friar and Cardinal Morton

While these two guys are pretty minor characters, they represent opposite methods of being both a respected figure of authority and an honest Christian leader. Even though the Friar has a title of religious authority, his actions and manners reveal that he doesn't embody Christian values of kindness, patience, and generosity. In fact, he's very proud—a vehicle for our big bad Antagonist: Pride. Cardinal Morton, on the other hand, is everything a Christian leader should be: welcoming, strict, honest, and able to take criticism. The presence of both these examples of religious authority nicely complicates any single attack, or praise, of religion.