The Rivals

by Richard Sheridan

The Rivals: Foil 1 key example

Act 5, Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Absolute and Faulkland:

Captain Jack Absolute and Mr. Faulkland are foils for one another. Throughout the play, both men deceive the women they love, but with very different aims in mind. Where Absolute is deceptive in order to get Lydia to love him, Faulkland deceives Julia to test her love for him. Faulkland’s lovesick worrying is contrasted to Absolute’s cool and clever scheming so that Sheridan can explore the ins and outs of romantic courtship practices of high society and comment upon the standards of supposed gentlemanly behavior.