Analysis Of The Book ' The Quiet American Phuong Acts ' By Graham Greene

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The Indochinese war revolved around the end of French colonialism in Vietnam and the start of Ho Chi Minh’s communist reign. By the end of the war Vietnam was split into two parts the North, communist, side and the South, democratic, side. The French fought to maintain their power over Vietnam while the United States fought against communism there. In Graham Greene’s book The Quiet American Phuong acts as a symbol of Vietnam, while other characters like Pyle represents the United States and Fowler, Britain. Greene characterized each of these characters as means of portraying their part in the war. While Phuong acts as a character seemingly unimportant she is a great representation of her country during the Indochinese war. Greene has created an indifferent, reserved, and unassertive character that symbolizes Vietnam’s own self at the time of war.
Phuong simply listens to other characters directions without taking any particular stand. In the beginning of the novel she has an established life with Fowler. While he cannot give Phuong everything she wants, specifically marriage, Phuong settles for Fowler because he is her best option for security and a potential future. When Pyle comes into Fowler and Phuong’s life she leaves Fowler for him due to her sister’s wishes since Fowler cannot marry her. Phuong had left Fowler’s house because her sister wanted her to, not of her own freewill. This is clear after considering Phuong’s sister’s first conversation with Pyle. “It sounds as though you were examining Mr. Pyle’s marriageability” (34). Also after Fowler speaks with Pyle once Phuong has moved out he discovers that Phuong’s sister found out about his nearing return to England. As she does for her sister Phuong listens to Fowler witho...

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...to her or her life she easily moves from Fowler to Pyle depending on who can give her the better life.
The Indochina war caused a spark especially in terms of the cold war. Conflict between the super powers, Soviet Union and the United States, rose. Vietnam became a point of dispute throughout the world. Several countries wanted to stake a claim of some kind on Vietnam. The resemblance between Phuong’s uncaring nature and the domineering presence of the other character greatly resembles that which happened to Vietnam during the war. Pyle and fowler both want Phuong to be taken care of, but each in their own way. Much like France wants to maintain control over Vietnam and the United States want to make it democratic. The country was easily overtaken by the other powers of the world be its own naivety, lack of its own powerful free will, and reservations of opinion.

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