Mar 25, 2004 11:42 PM
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(Updated Mar 25, 2004 11:42 PM)
?You and your like are trying to make a war with the help of people who just aren?t interested?They don?t want our white skins around telling them what they want? (94). This quote from Graham Greene?s The Quiet American, illustrates Fowler?s view of the Americans as he speaks disapprovingly to Pyle.
During and after the Vietnam War there was and is much criticism in the air concerning the United States involvement in the war. Graham Greene?s novel can be considered one of the many that has supported the view that America should not have been involved in a war that did not affect them directly, but because of their ignorance and naivete, involved themselves anyway.
Graham Greene uses Pyle as a representative of the ignorant leaders of America. From the moment Pyle is first thrown into the scene of the war, he is oddly determined to help banish communism. Throughout the novel, Greene portrays Pyle as a man who strives to make things better by doing what is ?right.? This perspective is not only used in aspects of the war, but also with his personal life, dealing with Fowler and Phuong.
Pyle is driven by York Harding?s novel and his concept of a ?Third Force?. Although he has many plans to help in the war, he never actually fights in the war. This notion can be easily compared to the American leaders. The leaders and their ambition to become the hero in a war - in which they were not invited into in the first place ? with their plans and efforts, never have to actually fight or even see what is going on in the war.
Greene uses Fowler to represent Britain. Fowler is always viewed looking at Pyle through wiser and more knowledgeable eyes. Many times throughout the novel, Pyle finds himself lost in Fowler?s words, not understanding their meaning. Like America, Pyle is young and boastful, trying to be humble, while desiring heroism. Throughout the novel, Fowler is humble and neutral. He does not choose sides. At one point, Mr. Heng says to him, ?Mr. Fowler, you are English. You are neutral. You have been fair to all of us? (129). He does, however, finally choose a side.
After witnessing a bombing in the square in which many children and women were murdered, he scolds Pyle for the Third Force?s recklessness and thoughtlessness. Pyle, though, is lost in the tragedy. ?He was seeing a real war for the first time? (162). After this episode, Fowler starts to realize that Pyle?s involvement in the war and creation of the Third Force needs to be stopped.
Not only does Greene use symbolism through Pyle and Fowler, he uses Phuong to represent Vietnam. She is somewhat of a problem between the two men and she moves quietly through the story very much like Vietnam itself, allowing herself to be alternately loved or used by Westerners who can't help but project their own attitudes onto her, yet keeping herself intact. Pyle?s American view of the Vietnamese Phuong is: ?I want to protect her? (132). As he is asking Fowler for advice on Phuong, Fowler declines saying that he is biased because he wants to keep her.
Pyle responds by saying, ?Oh, but I know you?re straight, absolutely straight, and we both have her interests at heart? (59). Once again, the reader can see Pyle?s naivete. His innocence, as well as ignorance, has driven him to get involved somewhere that he was not invited. Many times, Fowler admits that he wants to keep Phuong and continue using her. He finds some comfort and love in her. He has been with her for so long, that he doesn?t want to return home. He knows that he can?t get the satisfaction that he gets from Phuong at home with his wife.
Greene lets Fowler?s selfishness show through his greediness with Phuong. When he loses Phuong is when he decides that Pyle needs to be stopped, politically and romantically. ?As Fowler loses Phuong to Pyle and Pyle's group begins a terror campaign, Fowler finally abandons his neutrality and chooses sides, a choice made all the more ambiguous because of his romantic rivalry with Pyle'' (BrothersJudd.com).
