The Chrysanthemums

by John Steinbeck

The Chrysanthemums: Foil 1 key example

Foil
Explanation and Analysis—Elisa and the Tinker:

When chatting with the tinker, Elisa fantasizes about living a life like the Tinker's, and he immediately shoots her down—an exchange that establishes the pair as foils for one another:

“It must be nice,” she said. “It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things."

“It ain’t the right kind of a life for a woman.”