A Painful Case

by James Joyce

A Painful Case: Foil 1 key example

Foil
Explanation and Analysis—Duffy and Mrs. Sinico:

In “A Painful Case,” Mrs. Sinico is a foil to Duffy, meaning that her presence in the story reveals important information about Duffy, the protagonist. While both characters start the story feeling alienated from other people—Mrs. Sinico is trapped in a loveless marriage, and Duffy lives with almost no human interaction—Mrs. Sinico is far more in touch with her needs, desires, and emotions.