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The Good Soldier · Character

Colonel Powys

A military friend of Edward's, part of the social circle in India.

minor

Also known as a Powys, Colonel, old Colonel Powys

First appearance: part i i

Colonel Powys's tie to Edward Ashburnham is one of the pressures that moves The Good Soldier—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Colonel Powys initiates the marriage arrangement between Edward and Leonora by writing to Colonel Ashburnham, seeking a match to ease his financial burdens.
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With Edward Ashburnham (professional): Colonel Powys is Edward's military superior and a figure of authority in his regiment. With Leonora Ashburnham (social): A respectful acquaintance, with Colonel Powys offering…

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The fuller portrait of Colonel Powys sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Colonel Powys in part i i

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Colonel Powys sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

MLMiss LuptonMPMrs. PowysEAEdward Ashburn…LALeonora Ashbur…JDJohn DowellCPColonel Powys

Relationship types

  • Professional
  • Social
  • Other

Character groups

  • Peripheral and background figures
  • Central tragic figures
  • Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the narrator's…

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Colonel Powys in part i i

In the story

Colonel Powys appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Colonel Powys unlock in the free preview.

See Colonel Powys in part i i