Foil

Character Role Analysis

Sandy to Frederick Douglass

Sandy is a slave who lives near Covey's plantation. When Douglass first starts fighting with Covey, Sandy gives him a special root and tells him that if he carries it with him, Covey won't be able to whip him. But Douglass knows better: he defeats Covey not through magic (which he calls superstition) but because he is willing to die rather than become a slave again. In this way, Sandy is Douglass's foil: while Douglass always tries to look honestly and truthfully at his life, Sandy prefers to believe in magic. He eventually decides to play it safe rather than risk getting caught running away.