Chinua Achebe, "Things Fall Apart" Explain how Ikemefuna used as a foil to help make clear the essence of Nwoye.

Explain how Ikemefuna used as a foil to help make clear the essence of Nwoye. A foil is literally a sheet of bright metal that is placed under a piece of jewellery to increase its brilliance. In literature, by extension, the term is applied to any person or sometimes thing that through strong contrast underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another. The first 47 pages set up two character foils, Unoka for Okonkwo and Ikemefuna …

…sadness and affection. In conclusion, Ikemefuna's foil on Nwoye is strong and if it were not for Ikemefuna, Nwoye's character would not be one which one could make a connection between him and his grandfather, Okonkwo's father. As of now, the traits that have enhanced are perhaps a foreshadow of bad luck to Nwoye, if we were to find out what happens when he has a family of his own later on in the book.