Ford Madox Ford’s The Good Soldier is a classic novel of Edwardian England told mainly in flashback. It tells the story of two couples who, despite their traditional roles and genteel lifestyle, become morally bankrupt due to their own mistakes, lies, and secrets. Through their interactions, we come to understand the shallow nature of their existence, as well as the decadence, neglect, and sorrow that often accompanies upper-class life.
The novel, which was first published in 1915, centres around the characters of John Dowell and his wife Florence, and Edward Ashburnham and his wife Leonora. The novel skilfully reveals the conflicting desires, needs, and delusions of the characters, as their untrustworthy lives slowly unravel due to the other’s dishonesty and manipulation.
We come to understand who John and Florence are through John's narration. Initially, John is depicted as a loving husband and a gentlemanly man who, despite his military postings in India, is naïve and unaware of the scandalous goings-on between his wife and Edward. In fact, he is oblivious to the fact that Florence and Edward’s interactions extend beyond ordinary friendship. His trust is not entirely without basis as Edward has been a good friend to him for many years.
Florence, too, is presented much differently than we come to understand her true nature. As an upper-class Edwardian woman, she plays the role of the perfect wife and mother while keeping her true intentions hidden. Her good looks, money, and power give her the ability to manipulate her husbands’ emotions and draw a curtain over her not-so-secret affair with Edward.
Edward’s infidelity is less hidden, as he continues to commit adultery throughout the story. Despite his good manners and well-to-do lifestyle, Edward displays a lack of control when it comes to his relationships with women. He is presented as a tragic figure, constantly trying to gain control of his life and his own passions, but always falling short.
Leonora is a manipulative and selfish character who is aware of Edward's indiscretions, but chooses to ignore them for her own benefit. She constantly puts Edward down for his misdemeanours and is unconcerned with his feelings as she pursues a life of luxury and pleasure.
As the story progresses, secrets and lies become more and more apparent. All of the characters are implicated in a tangled web of deceit which eventually leads to tragedy. Ultimately, The Good Soldier is a complex exploration of the human capacity for deception and decadence, as well as the pain of deceit and betrayal.
Through his novel, Ford Madox Ford offers a compelling critique of society, as well as of the decay of moral and ethical values in Edwardian England. The Good Soldier offers a vivid illustration of the moral and social decay of the upper classes and its ramifications for those involved. It is an intriguing and intriguingly sad story that shows the consequences of love lost and the power of lies.
