Foil

Character Role Analysis

Ogata, Dr. Serizawa, Dr. Yamane

A foil is a character that provides contrast to another character, typically the protagonist but not necessarily. In Godzilla, we have a foil three-way between Ogata, Serizawa, and Yamane...yeah that may not have been the best phrasing.

Each character provides a foil for the other in the way they view Godzilla. Ogata wants to destroy the monster because it's killing people. But Yamane wants to find a non-lethal method for dealing with the problem. For Yamane, Godzilla represents an unprecedented area of study and knowledge. Although they differ on their approach (attack and study respectively), both men see action as required.

Serizawa, OTOH, doesn't take action. He fears that any action he takes would only make matters worse once the Oxygen Destroyer becomes a tool of politicians.

In the end, this foil relationship is solved when both Serizawa and Yamane reflect that Ogata may be right, and they team up to take on Godzilla.