Fishin' for Friends

(Hemingway, 131-135)

Literary Term: Foil Characters

When Cohn deserts Bill and Jacob for the chance to see Brett, they still continue their fishing trip where they meet Cohn's foil: Wilson-Harris. Instead of spending the trip with Cohn, who would have been stingy, annoying, and focused on Brett, they spend the trip with Harris. Harris turns out to be a wonderful companion who treats Bill and Jacob well thus improving the fishing trip. They have a lovely time playing cards, fishing, drinking, and getting to know each other. Bill, Jacob, and Harris really enjoy it as quoted by Harris: I say. Really you don't don't know how much it means. I've not had this much fun since the war. The war is another foil Harris has with Cohn, for Cohn has no connection with the war while Bill, Jacob, and Harris all do. This connection they have seems to be pretty vital at the time and the fact that Cohn has no part of the war seems to contribute to his weak and annoying nature. Harris is a likeable character who helps the make the fishing trip not become a disaster since Mike, Brett, and Cohn didn't go.