In the sentence "这位有名无实的超级英雄被他所对抗的各路神通广大的反面角色所衬托的黯然失色," what is the function/meaning of "所衬托的"?

Question

I understand that the overall meaning is "the titular superhero has been overshadowed by the myriad of powerful villains he has fought against," but I don't see the purpose off adding that "所衬托的," and trying to translate that/see its function here in the sentence is driving me crazy.

I know that the meaning of 衬托 is to set off or serve as a foil to. This makes me think that it serves to modify the "fought against" or "对抗" part of the sentence, but I just am not sure, and do not know how to integrate 衬托 into the English translation specifically.

Answer 1

This sentence has a lot of problems

1. 所 in 所衬托的 is not needed

2. 的/dé/ in 衬托的 should be replaced with 得/dé/

(another case of 的/dé/, 得/dé/, 地/dé/ confusion)

3. 衬托(to set off) is the wrong choice of word for " contrast". It should be 对比 (compare/ contrast)

这位有名无实的超级英雄

[被]他所对抗的各路神通广大的反面角色[对比得]黯然失色

[be]......[contrasted] pale in comparsion

Something that was being 衬托 (set off) is always shown in a positive way

• in this case, the so-call superhero is overshadowed by his powerful enemies = 被比较下来 (been compared down)

Also, 反派角色 is better than 反面角色 here

Answer 2

Sympathy for superheroes!

I agree with Tang Ho, 友 should be 反 and you don't want 所衬托, just 衬托.

As for 的 or 得 or 地， Becky asked about this somewhere here (I'm useless at finding old threads). Someone answered:

Prior to the 1950s, many Chinese writers made no distinction between 的、地 or 得

That may have led to the contentious 的。

这位有名无实的超级英雄
This insubstantial superhero
被他的所对抗的各路神通广大的反面角色衬托得黯然失色。
was eclipsed by all of his opponents, each of whom possessed superior powers.