The Good Soldier By Edith Wharton Analysis

Edith Wharton and Ford Madox Ford are two very unique authors with their own personal styles of writing. Many people would not think to connect these two authors because their styles of writing are completely different. For example, Wharton writes in a more chronological and cohesive order while Ford writes through a circular plot line as though he is trying to entangle his own thoughts. Although these authors have different stylistic methods they are known for, there is a common theme of coincidence and chance within their novels: The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford and The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. Theses similar themes deal with the uncontrollable developments of events within the complex story of a person 's life, and these novels

Ford and Wharton also use the theme of coincidence to illustrate a different perspective on their characters. Most of the characters in The Good Soldier and The House of Mirth are characters from the upper class and most of these characters are deemed to have appalling and deplorable characteristics. However, when Ford and Wharton each add their different points of view to the story then it sheds light to these characters in a different form. For example, Wharton uses a third person omniscient point of view where she illustrates a variety of the characters personal feelings and thoughts on the main character Lily Bart. Through this point of view the reader begins to realize that not all of Lily Bart 's circumstances are due to her own accord because coincidence and fate plays a big role in her outcome. The coincidences and events occurring by unexplainable chance that Lily Bart undergoes at times causes the reader to question whether or not Lily Bart had a choice to become the woman she did become. Similarly, Ford illustrates that John Dowell is shaped to be the man he is because undergoes a variety of helpless and coincidental events, but Ford illustrates this through a first person point of view through Dowell. Thus, Dowell allows us to understand how influential these unfortunate events actually are to his mentality. Both of these authors have use the theme of coincidence, and it affects the novels because it creates a way for the reader to defend these characters actions and emotions. It allows the reader to connect to these different characters by giving the reader an excuse to understand that these characters, and it causes the reader to gain sympathy for these characters because the reader begins to realize that these characters cannot help but to be as deplorable as they are because of the harsh uncontrollable events they underwent. Ultimately, the theme of coincidence creates a grand connection between the reader and the characters which is influential to