Paved in Innocence: The Quiet American
Of all the conflicts that the United States engaged in during the late 20th century, none invoked the ire of its citizens more than Vietnam. Even now it is somewhat of a taboo, something that if spoken about wrongly, could incur the wrath of those around you. Yet Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American is centered around just that, as well as early U.S. involvement during the prologue to American troops being sent into the Vietnam. The novel primarily focuses around two characters: Thomas Fowler, a seasoned and cynical British war reporter and Alden Pyle, a seemingly naive American Aide Officer. Although Pyle of Graham Greene's The Quiet American has the best of motives and is blissfully innocent while carrying out U.S. policies in Vietnam, he brings about destruction and corruption. First Pyle becomes involved in a complex lover's triangle, between him, Fowler, and Fowler's Vietnamese lover Phuong. After much strife, some strangeness is created between Fowler and Pyle it becomes clear that their relationship is becoming unstable. Finally it becomes clear that Pyle is also entangled with U.S. policies around the encroaching war.
The relationship between Pyle, Fowler and Phuong at the start of the novel is somewhat subdued. Although Pyle seems to be attracted to Phuong, she at first takes no action, especially when he first meets her, and asks her to dance, as Fowler observes: "... later I saw them dancing in silence at the other end of the room, Pyle holding her so far away from him that you expected him at any moment to sever contact." (The Quiet American, 41) Although Pyle did ask Phuong to dance, it is apparent that he is very uncertain about women, as Fowler points out to Phuong's sister as Pyle is dancing with Phuong: "'I should say that's as...
More North American
essays:
"The Great Gatsby".
... the American Dream and the collapse of it, represented mostly in Gatsby. The second duty I will carry out is to find the elements in the novel that ... are superficial, purposeless, immature, empty and lonely because they are corrupted by the East Egg. They have no desires, their talks ...
Of Mice and Men - Injustice Essay
... end for him once he leaves. In all the instances above, injustice was carried out. Lennie, Crooks, Curley's wife and Candy all suffered different examples of ... somewhere in the world. There are many cases of injustice present in the novel "Of Mice and Men". Most of which were just on a casual scale, ...
"The Quiet American", by Graham Greene: Fowler and Pyle, comparative synopsis.
... the novel "The Quiet American", authored by Graham Greene, a conflict of identity is seen to occur within the narrator and protagonist, Fowler. Due to the complexity of his character, Fowler as ...
The Symbolic Relationship Between Finny's Fall in the book "A Seperate Peace" by John Knowles, and the World Trade Center.
... of war and a feeling of unrest. They also show that the hatred felt toward a person or group, will only have an unthinkable result in the end. It is the protagonist that initiates, and carries out, the ...
Historical Critism of the "Power and Glory" by Graham Green - a story that depicts a catholic priest who struggles with life's problems.
... of Graham Greene", Volume 1: 1904-1939". New York: Viking, 1989. Schloesser, S.J. "Altogether Adverse." The American Press ...
Love: an illusion in American Novel
... Gatsby never loses sight of his dream and often reaches out to the green light at the end of Daisy's dock Five years ... love. Edith Wharton 's Age of Innocence is a Victorian novel that ultimately portrays the rigid requirements and demands of New ...
'He contemplated the wildness about him, the wildness within'. What does Cormac McCarthy reveal about his views of the relationship between man and the land in 'All The Pretty Horses'?
... in the nostalgic, mythic remembrance of the Old West and American cowboys laments the loss of these ideals. The novel depicts John Gradys attempt to resurrect a dying relationship ...
Edna's Character in " The Awakening", a novel by Kate Chopin
... Edna never adhered to the societies definition, even at the beginning of the novel. For example, the other ladies at Grand Isle 'all declared that Mr. ... the reader '...Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman. The mother-woman seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle'. Edna tries on one occasion ...