5. Just before John Dowell comes to visit the Ashburnhams, Leonora Ashburnham bursts into Nancy Rufford's room and insists that Nancy do which of the following:

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does John Dowell continually excuse Captain Edward Ashburnham from the reader's judgment?

2. Do you agree with John Dowell when he says that Captain Edward Ashburnham does not feel remorse?

3. Given Captain Edward Ashburnham's adulterous history, why does Leonora Ashburnham send Edward and Nancy to a concert together?

4. Why do you suppose Leonora Ashburnham never turned to her family for advice on her marriage?

5. In Part 3, Chapter 4, John Dowell describes many unfortunate circumstances that contributed to the downfall of the Ashburnham marriage. With John's sympathetic portrait of the Ashburnhams in mind, do you think unfortunate circumstances are to blame for the destruction of the Ashburnham marriage or are the Ashburnhams themselves to blame for its downfall?

6. Of all the characters presented thus far in the book, who is the most right-minded?

7. Do you think the Ashburnhams have ever consummated their marriage?

8. In Part 4, Chapter 5, John Dowell claims that he is jealous of Leonora Ashburnham. What reason does John have for being jealous of Leonora?

9. If Leonora has been so patient and accommodating of Captain Edward Ashburnham's actions, why is Leonora unable to forgive Edward for giving money to the woman accused of murdering a baby?

10. Does Leonora Ashburnham approve of the affair between Captain Edward Ashburnham and Maisie Maidan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the role religion plays in The Good Soldier. In the essay discus the history of Catholicism and Protestantism, how the characters' religions affect their relationships, and, lastly, whether John's Protestantism causes any unfair biases in his narration. After thoroughly discussing the aforementioned topics, asses the novel's overall message about religion.