Essay Questions

How does Madox Ford position the characters Edward and Florence to develop the theme of unfaithfulness and betrayal in marriage relationships?

Edward is married to Leonora for many years. However, Edward is having several affairs with other women because of his high craving for sex. His unfaithfulness is disclosed when he has an affair with the lover of the Duke and with the spouse of the military man. The reader further learns about Edward’s extramarital affairs when he starts to befriend Florence, John Dowell’s wife. John and his wife are very close friends to Leonora’s family and it turns out to be ironic that Florence and Edward are having an affair behind her back. Florence has also had secret sex affairs with Jimmy behind the knowledge of John. She later commits suicide after realizing that John has known her extramarital affairs.

What tactics does Leonora use to punish Edward for his unfaithfulness?

Leonora realizes that Edward is going overboard with his sexual longings when he seduces his niece Nancy. John is planning to marry Nancy but realizes that Edward is also eying her making him postpone the idea of marrying her. Leonora starts by telling Nancy on the unfaithfulness of Edward and the number of women he has had affairs with before. The two women decide to punish Edward for his sins. Nancy writes him a letter telling him that she is not interested in him because she already knows is immorality. Upon realizing that his extramarital affairs are known, Edward kills himself. Leonora remarries and moves on with her new life.

What is the metaphor surrounding the relationship between John and Florence?

The reader notes that John and Florence have been in a relationship for over nine years but they have never had sex. Their marriage is metaphoric because it represents awful loneliness in relationships. Ironically, Florence is secretively having sexual intercourse with Jimmy and Edward but denies her husband his conjugal rights. When he realizes that his wife has been cheating on him, she commits suicide.