Quest of the Spirit: From Suffering to Acceptance

64. Anti-War: Graham Greene's The Quiet American!

          "Do you think they know they are fighting for democracy? . . . They want enough rice . . . They don't want to be shot at . . .They want one day to be much the same as another . . . They don't want our white skins around telling them what they want." This passage from Graham Greene's The Quiet American (Viking Press 1955) expresses the author's aversion over western involvement in  Vietnam in the mid-twentieth century (118-119). The novel traces the existential quest of British correspondent Thomas Fowler, his criticism of  French and  U. S. imperialism, his relationship with a young Vietnamese woman named Phuong, and his subsequent friendship with American employee of the Economic Aid Mission Alden Pyle.  In the story, Greene uses foreshadowing, imagery,irony and flashbacks to create a tone of loss and betrayal. Fowler is a overweight, middle-aged journalist in love with Phuong, yet cannot marry her because he already has a wife who refuses to grant him a divorce on religious grounds (154). Pyle, much younger, as is Phuong, falls in love with her, and the two men vie for her affection. Early in the narrative, Greene explains that  the name Phuong means phoenix, yet goes onto say that nowadays, "nothing rises from the ashes" (3-4). In essence, there exists no hope for her, her lovers, or the conditions in Vietnam. The name itself foreshadows the tragic circumstance which the characters must undergo. The Vietnamese are helpless pawns of a military system that invades and exploits them in the  guise of preserving democracy and freedom. In the opening image, Fowler expresses his "aggravating view on what the U. S. was doing for the world' (5).   As the story commences, Phuong and Fowler are awaiting Pyle's return  when the Police Chief Vigot comes for Fowler, takes him to the Surete (9),  and informs him  that Pyle had been found dead. Fowler soon realizes that his conflict with Pyle over Phuong makes him a suspect (10-11).When questioned, Fowler describes Pyle as "a quiet American," which ironically Vigot says about  Fowler during his interrogation (12).   

       Greene initially uses the flashback to provide  Fowler's characterization of Pyle.  At this juncture, Fowler recalls his first meeting  with Pyle whom he describes as one eager "to do good" for people, countries, continents, and the world, one "absorbed already in the dilemmas of democracy and the responsibilities of the West" (13).  Fowler also thinks how Pyle's death would be to Phuong (14).The protagonist gives the  investigating officer his alibi (14) and learns that Pyle was found "in the water under the bridge at Dakow (15). In his position as an agent ,  Pyle had been responsible for over fifty deaths (17). Fowler tell Phuong about Pyle's death , and that night wonders if he was Pyle's only friend (19). The main character recalls that Pyle was quiet, serious, and never criticized anyone (20). Greene describes the 1950's problems associated with the war against Communist Vietcong, which foreshadows the subsequent U. S. escalation there (22). Fowler doubts the ability of the French army to win the war, and mentions General The who fought the French and the Communists (23).  Because of his relationship with Phuong, Fowler's home is in Vietnam (24).  Despite his antipathy toward Pyle, Fowler blames his rival's death on western imperialism and the propaganda that he should jump right in and "win the East for democracy" when in reality the youth  had no idea of the complexities of world affairs nor their exploitation of his talent  "They killed him because he was too innocent to live," Fowler realizes (32). The anti-hero hears to a rumor that the Communists have defeated them at Phat Diem, a rumor which he says will never reach the western press (37). 

            Greene uses the imagery of death and destruction to enhance the tone of loss an betrayal. With the dead lying all around him and bombs destroying  every protective structure, Fowler feels his life is meaningless, and wonders why America was there in the first place. The writer realizes that these were real people, "not just grey drained cadavers"(62). Fowler and a French Lieutenant with his company come upon the bodies of a young woman and a child of around six years who was wearing a "holy medal around his neck." Fowler thinks to himself that the religious charm failed to work, and that he hated war! (63). The protagonist says, "Innocence always call mutely for protection, when we would be so much wiser to guard ourselves against it; innocence is like a dumb leper who has lost his bell, wandering the world, meaning no harm"  (40). Greene's leper simile , in this case, reflects Fowler's  existential loss and alienation. For the journalist, death is the only absolute certainty in a world that makes him doubt the presence of God or anything other than one's daily existence. He must, in essence, superimpose a set of values which he finds applicable to his own circumstances and thus create a meaning from a seemingly chaotic universe. Greene's hero "fears the nightmare of a future of boredom and indifference" (50). Struggling against near-zero conditions, high winds, shell bombardment, lack of shelter and electricity, he feels insignificant and that all life is expendable (64-66). In essence, Greene's employment of war imagery parallels that of Zola, Tolstoy,Cobb, Dos Passos, and Remarque.

               Greene intensifies the relationship between Fowler and Pyle to reinforce the tone of loss and betrayal. After traveling alone in dangerous terrain, Pyle reaches Fowler's location, and proposes to Phuong; she,however, declines. As a result,  the protagonist  writes his wife Helen for a divorce so that he marry Phuong, after living with her for two years ((95-100). Nevertheless, Fowler admires Pyle for his courage in facing him face-to-face and asking for Phuong's hand; this  event denotes the beginning of a closer relationship between the two men. Fowler helps Pyle when his car fails to start  (113) and climbs over a wall first to ensure his safety in a tower occupied by two Vietnamese (117).  As they hide in the tower, the rivals spy  two enemy soldiers, but Fowler tells Pyle not to shoot them because "It's not my war. We've no business here. It's their country" (136). Just as they leave the tower, the Vietcong bomb it, and Fowler's leg is injured. Pyle then lifts Fowler to his feet and helps him to walk (140). The two men hide in the rice fields full of water, and as shots cut down rice plants above their heads, they sink into the mud and water (142). Wounded and in agony, Fowler prays "to die or faint," but Pyle rescues him (146).

                 Greene extends the theme of loneliness and isolation in his characterization of Fowler. The main character next learns that Pyle is distributing U. S.-made bombs in bicycle molds (186). Events in the journalist's life go from bad to worse when Phuong leaves him and he despairs (194), when he takes a surprise bombing attack with a pilot ( 197), and when that same pilot assures him that "we can't win" (201). Greene compares  Fowler's impotence with a prostitute to western impotence in Indochina (202). Ironically, the newspaper assigns the protagonist another year in Vietnam, after losing Phuong  to Pyle (206). The anti-hero is now alone and suffering (208). Pyle detonates a large bomb where Phuong normally eats, but she had been warned in advance. Pyle then tells Fowler that a parade scheduled at the site has been cancelled, and that the victims died through his ignorance. Pyle sees the blood of his victims for the first time, and his horror of their  deaths constitutes the first evidence of his coming of age (214-215). As Greene says through Fowler, "Innocence is a kind of insanity" (216). This statement reflects the author's view of  Western ignorance regarding governments' imperialistic practices. As Greene says, "A two-hundred pound bomb does not discriminate. How many dead colonels justify a child's or a trishaw driver's death when you are building a national democratic front? " (216)

               Greene uses the final portion of the narrative to reflect Fowler's tragic coming of age. In an attempt to stop Pyle from bombing other locations, Fowler now goes against his principle of non-involvement and visits Mon. Heng for assistance (228). Heng suggests that the protagonist invite him to dinner, and Heng  and his associates will see Pyle on the way by the Dakow Bridge to persuade him to halt the killings (229). As Heng says, a person "must take sides-- if one if to remain human" (230).  Greene's appeal in this case applies to all individuals who wish to stop merciless killing and exploitation in the name of democracy or any other form of government. Pyle visits Fowler the evening of his death (238). As Pyle leaves Thomas Fowler's flat, the journalist goes to the cinema and then to the Vieux Moulin to eat (240). Fowler hopes that Heng will not kill Pyle (241) and regrets violating his principle of non-involvement (242). At the Vieux, Fowler talks to Granger, who to him represents the embodiment    of all that Fowler hates about the United States. Fowler compares Granger to the Statue of Liberty, "ill-designed" and "meaningless" (243). Fowler learns that Granger's son has polio, and sympathizes , asking himself if he, the British journalist, is really any different from Pyle, "to have my foot thrust in the mess of life before I saw the pain" (245). Fowler, then, goes to his flat, sees Phuong, who relates a beheading scene from the French Revolution! A telegram from Fowler's wife grants him a divorce, yet ironically, despite Phuong's rejoicing, Fowler cannot efface  from his mind the  image of  Pyle, now dead. Sadly,  with Pyle's death, everything in Fowler has died as well. 

*For more anti-war novels, please se Chapters 1, 61, 70, 121, 125,  126, 127, 135, 137, and 148.

                                                                               Works Cited

Greene, Graham. The Quiet American. New York: The Viking Press, 1964.