War is the centerpiece in the novel. It revolves around John, the protagonist. This book is based on the Vietnam War, therefore it is filled with allusions to drugs and anti-Americanism. Wars change people, and it changed John. He somehow manages to overcome this and becomes a "Good Soldier". However while he is fighting the Viet Cong, his wife is at home having an affair. When John becomes aware of this he becomes enraged, but never acts upon his anger. He does not want to add to an already unsteady household, so he remains silent...a "Good Soldier".
Florence eventually kills herself, which ends the "war". The British come into World War I due to the Germans invading Belgium. Sometimes we all need to look inside our hearts and become "good soldiers". The only war John was fighting was Asperger's syndrome.
