Foil - Frankenstein

"I applied so closely, it may be easily conceived that my progress was rapid. My ardour was indeed the astonishment of the students,a nd my proficiency that of the masters. ...Two years passed in thsi manner, during which i paid no visit to Geneva, but was engaged, heart and soul, in the pursuit of some discoveries which I hoped to make." p. 48

This quote was in reference to the study habits of Victor Frankenstein. His apparent foil in this story is Henry Clerval. In comparison, Victor prefers to study the science behind life, where as Henry studies the morals of it. In chapter 7 Henry learns languages for efficiency and success. Victor learns them to pass the time, but for no real use. Throughout the story so far, Victor and Henry, though friends, seem polar opposites. This is true even so far as Victor's work results in what he sees as an abomination, but Henry works to heal Victor from his illness, a truly good and thoughtless act. The point of having this foil is to create a comparison for Victor, to show his flaws. Henry is the more natural humanistic person, and Victor is a form of corrupeted being. In this, the foil character is necessary to see the extreme deviance Victor has come to from the normal person.