Foil

Character Role Analysis

Jerry Mulligan and Henri Baurel

Jerry and Henri are a study in opposites. Jerry's a struggling artist; Henri's a successful singer. Jerry's so broke that he can't afford lunch and lives in an apartment the size of a closet; Henri has cash to spare, lives in a posh pad, and wears luxurious suits. Jerry, at times, is egotistical and manipulative; Henri, on the other hand, is generous and kind, almost to a fault. In the end, he loves Lise enough to realize he has to let her go and be with Jerry. Why? Henri is self-aware. Jerry? He's just selfish.

Lise Bouvier and Milo Roberts

Lise and Milo represent two wildly different versions of womanhood in An American in Paris. While Lise is young and inexperienced, Milo is old(er) and wise. She knows what she wants, wields power through her inherited wealth, and is thereby viewed as a threat to men. Lise, on the other hand, in her immaturity and indecisiveness, is seen as mysterious and complicated. By today's standards, Milo is a far more complex and interesting character, but for the time period in which An American in Paris is set, it's Lise who represents the ideal woman.