In The Good Soldier the narrative tone is set entirely by Ford’s unreliable first-person speaker, John Dowell. The perspective of the novel is told from John's viewpoint for its entire progression. His biased view of events colors the reader's view of all of its happenings and presents them with a limited set of facts. This, combined with the novel's nonlinear structure, can often feel frustrating for the reader, especially because the novel's attitude towards the things it's describing seems to shift and change depending on the mood of the narrator.
The book opens in a gloomy, cynical mode, mirroring John’s disillusionment with relationships and society. This cynicism is evident in his reflections on his marriage and the Ashburnhams' relationships: before the reader learns anything else, they know that this is “the saddest story” the narrator has “ever heard.” His use of exaggerated language amplifies this tone of discontentment. It highlights his skepticism and disenchantment, while also making his assertions seem more suspicious and incomplete.
John frequently employs irony and sarcasm, particularly in descriptions of character interactions. This use of bitter and critical language adds an edgy quality to the narrative. At the beginning of the novel, this makes it seem as if every character is necessarily bad and has unpleasant motivations, especially Edward Ashburnham and Florence. However, by the end it seems to reflect more on the narrator himself than it does on the other characters.
As the narrative progresses, the tone shifts to one of consistent tension and misery. This shift is particularly noticeable as the secrets and complexities of the characters' affairs and betrayals are revealed. When Edward moves on from his affair with Florence and begins to divert his affections elsewhere the tone becomes almost incredulous, as if John himself is skeptical of the events he’s describing. John often seems troubled toward the end of the novel, as the reader begins to see his internal battle between fury with his wife and priorities outside his own marriage coming to the fore.
These are lightened and interspersed with moments of longing and nostalgia, made possible by the novel’s nonlinear structure. John occasionally looks back on earlier times—which he perceives as happier or simpler—before the full extent of the deceptions and betrayals became clear to him. The novel concludes with a tone of resignation and of making the best of a bad situation. While John remains embittered, there is a sense of tacit acceptance in his narrative voice. This acceptance is not content or hopeful, however. It’s a weary acknowledgment of the painful reality that marriage is difficult and relationships are complicated and imperfect.
