The Quiet American

Graham Greene’s The Quiet American is a political novel describing the closing years of the Indochina war between the French and Vietnam. The characters involved are not so much perceived as individuals as representatives of their nations. Thomas Fowler, the British reporter, is initially unbiased to the war effort, but through firsthand accounts to the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, is driven to take sides against his “love” rival, Pyle. Pyle is portrayed as an idealistic, young Harvard educated American working for the O.S.S. aiding anti-Communist forces. In between the two lies Phuong, a young Vietnamese girl whom Pyle is intent on stealing from Fowler, although in a most civilized fashion. She epitomizes the “uncivilized” Vietnamese, readily preparing Fowler’s opium pipes and fulfilling his sexual requests, as well as lack of understanding with regards to skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty.
Clearly Greene’s message regarding American support for ...