Foil

Character Role Analysis

Carolyn, Lester

Carolyn is Lester's polar opposite. And these opposites do not attract. She's aggressive, angry, and image-obsessed, whereas Lester is passive, meek, and not easily embarrassed. They both end up having epiphanies at around the same time, which take their attentions outside the marriage. But while Lester's activities are largely limited to the fantasy world, Carolyn goes ahead full throttle and starts an affair with her professional rival, Buddy King, who teaches her how to shoot a gun.

So, bottom line: even Carolyn's attempt to cut loose is pretty aggressive and suggests that her whole approach to life involves controlling the bejeezus out of everything. In contrast with Carolyn's manic, aggressive attempts at "bettering" her life, Lester's pot-smoking and relaxed attitude toward finding passion in his life seem significantly more zen and likely to lead to something resembling serenity and self-acceptance.