Literary Analysis #1

THE GOOD SOLDIER-Ford Maxx Ford

1. The Good Soldier by Ford Maxx Ford was written in World War I. This book is not in        chronological order, and it’s in 4 parts. It takes place in many places at first in the following places: Country Side of French, Nauheim, and Nauheim Spa. The meeting of John and Florence Dowell and Edward and Leonora Ashburnham in a German health spa is the center of a train of lies, deceptions, adulterous love triangles, and deaths. John Dowell, a memorably "unreliable" narrator, calls it "the saddest story I have ever heard". Heart disease is the major problem that both Flourence and Edward play. They both fake the "heart" condition in service of his/her serial "affairs" Florence fabricates her heart trouble before her marriage is ever consummated, using it to turn Dowell into a cardiac nurse and keep him out of her bedroom. Edward Ashburnham fakes his illness to escape his military post and take his latest love object to Germany. When the focus shifts to Edward, Leonora, and their ward Nancy Rufford, The Good Soldier becomes a tragedy of emotional sadism. It all turns out that there are two tragic flaws, but I’m not going to ruin it for you unless you read it! ;)

 2. Theme:

The Difference between Appearance and Reality

The distinction between appearance and reality is one of the most important themes of the novel. No one in The Good Soldier is really who he seems to be, or who Dowell thinks him to be. Edward is not an honest, trustworthy "good soldier"; Florence is not a demure and faithful wife; and Leonora is not an upright, "normal" woman devoid of passion or emotion. The villain would be Florence and Edward meanwhile Edward and Leonara are good.

3. Tone: 

Confused, naive, and angry; the narrator's tone changes throughout the novel as he tells the story and reflects back on the events which have occurred; above all, he seems to be earnestly searching for meaning and simplicity, though he is utterly lost.

4. Literary Techniques/Devices:

Florence's suicide which foreshadows the suicide of Edward Ashburnham; the actions of the Hurlbirds foreshadows tragedy for Dowell and Florence.

Ford creates imagery of umbra and shadow elsewhere in the novel: “inevitably they pass away as the shadows across sundials.”

Ford alliterates “the flames still fluttered.” Nancy’s passion prevails while “introspection”; about desire and love pervade her. Nancy considered marriage as a

“Sacrament”; and the burning logs once represented an “indestructible mode of life.” Now the world Nancy is absorbed in becomes embroiled in doubt and uncertainty. 

Ford exploits repetition in: “love was a flame,” and “a man who was burning with inward flame”; to reiterate fire signifying Passion. The tone shifts after the passage, passion is extinguished by “the whole collections of rules:”; “the fire had sunk to nothing…a mere glow amongst white ashes.”