"'You seem older than the rest'" page 106
Derby and Billy are foil characters. Billy is young and innocent, and fights as a wandering child in the war, against his will (He was drafted). Derby is older and mature, and volunteered for service. Billy is tall and weak, with an awkward, unimpressive body. Derby is said to have a "good body," fit for service. Derby is strong willed, unlike Billy, who often wants to give up. Another contrast is that Derby dies, and Billy survives. This is ironic. The good soldier ends up dead, while the assistant chaplain survives. Billy seems to survive events, while others die (the plane crash). Perhaps, though, the brave soldier, Derby, got the better end of the stick. Is it better to live with the constant mental torment caused from seeing tragedy to such an extent, or is it better to die, and not have to experience crippling depression and reoccurring nightmares of war horrors?
This is an interesting insight that made me think. I never quite noticed it before, and I agree now that these two characters can be considered foil characters to each other.
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