Literary elements in writing are interesting and sometimes even useful. I am not a literary writer, although I flatter myself, claiming that Members of the Cast has a literary feel. One agent seemed to confirm the idea: “…the writing at the line level in these sample pages is lovely.” I cherished the compliment in the middle of a rejection letter. All this is to say that I am not an expert in literary figures.
Mirror characters are often similar and even embark on parallel plots. Foil characters bring out the qualities of another character by contrast.
Members of the Cast isn’t a ghost story, but two women, who have passed away, have tremendous influence on Margo. Both are mirrors of other characters and foils to some.
Margo’s grandmother was not easy on her, and much of Margo’s lack of self-worth results from Grandmother’s comments and attitudes. To put it simply, Grandmother was an unhappy bully. The grandmother’s mirror character is Bonnie, a bully Margo’s age. While not overt, Margo’s character arc is highly influenced as she begins to understand these two characters and their motivations.
The second woman, no longer living, is Virginia, Margo’s mirror. While Margo has never met Virginia, she is fascinated with the stories and remnants of Virginia’s life in Margo’s new home. Many of the changes in Margo’s character result from emulating Virginia. What begins as copying becomes the new Margo—the Margo who begins to think of herself as Maggie, a person of worth who can make choices in life.
The stark contrast between Grandmother and Virginia is brought into sharp relief as Margo ponders her life. By broad definition, Virginia’s foil is the grandmother. In the midst of the negative influences in life, we long for the person who makes us blossom. Virginia doesn’t need contrast to make her qualities shine, but Margo chooses to emulate Virginia. As Margo grows into herself, the contrast between Margo and Bonnie comes into sharp relief.
In closing, I will say I don’t enjoy writing unhappy bullies. The sad truth in life is that some people are never happier than when they are unhappy, and soon they have good reason to be unhappy.
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