Graham Greene - timely, religious, melodramatic, even "seedy"" (Graham

Greene, A Collection of Critical Essays, back cover). Although this may

not be entirely true in Greene*s other work, it is certainly true in his

novel, The Quiet American. The Quiet American is judged as one of

Greene*s "entertainments" that include comedies, spy fiction, and

thrillers that take place in foreign countries (Introduction). According

to World Literature Critics editor, James P. Draper, The Quiet American

is set in South Vietnam and anticipates U.S. involvement in the Vietnam

conflict. The novel*s protagonist, Alden Pyle, who is ignorant of

Oriental culture, is depicted as a symbol of American arrogance (1537).

Written in 1955, The Quiet American is a tale of a young American who is

now dead because of his personal involvement in the French-Vietminh war.

A British reporter, Fowler, tells the story from his point of view.

Fowler and Pyle were both in love with the same woman, Phuong. Phuong

first started off as Fowler*s girlfriend, but when she realized he could

Fowler for Pyle and Fowler could have been trying to get her back by

materials for plastic bombs to the "third force," Fowler discourages him,

personal involvement. While not getting involved himself, Fowler keeps a

keen eye on Pyle. However, when Fowler finds Pyle selling material for

Some topics in this essay:
Fowler Pyle, Quiet American, British Greene, Pyle Fowler, Phoung Chinese, Pyle Greene, Phuong Phuong, Essays Greene*s, personal involvement, Alden Pyle, Matter Greene, fowler pyle, personal involvement war, quiet american, involvement war, pyle fowler, graham greene, getting involved, fowler opposition, fowler opposition towards, british greene, opposition towards, graham greene collection, greene collection critical, opposition towards personal,