ipl-logo

Communism In Graham Greene's The Quiet American

1110 Words5 Pages

During the 1950’s, Americans lived in terror of communism in the Soviet Union. As China and later Korea became communist, the fear worsened and America began to feel it was their responsibility to stop it from spreading further. In an attempt to contain communism, Americans were willing to sacrifice the people of a foreign country without risking that of their own. This dilemma was represented in Graham Greene’s The Quiet American as two opposing characters, Fowler and Pyle, bickered over whether or not America had the right to get involved in Vietnam. Fowler represented the National perspective and Pyle represented the American perspective. According to Graham Greene’s The Quiet American, Fowler’s perspective was more justified as intervention …show more content…

Despite this, Pyle claimed it could have only done harm. He explained his point of view in opposed to Fowler by stating, “[Fowler] talk[s] as if the whole country were peasant. What about the educated, are they going to be happy?”(Greene 87) Although democracy could offer more freedom of choice and politics, the complexity of the system was insufficient and incompatible with the Nationalistic Vietnamese, which made it an undesirable choice for this country. Despite this, Pyle persisted on forcing it into their country because he could only see how the alternative, communism, was evil and lacked freedom, a conclusion made from negative experiences with poor leaders, not the system itself. The lack of freedom found in communism brought a simple government allowing for change to be made in Vietnam more easily; which provided a safer lifestyle and more food for the people much sooner than democracy would have. By intervening, America only got in the way of Vietnam achieving the lifestyle they wanted. Yet Pyle still believed they killed so many Vietnamese people for the better of their country, which was completely untrue as Fowler explained “you’ve got National Democracy all over your right shoe. Go home and tell Phuong all about your heroic deed”(Greene 154). Fowler accepted how killing people would not have saved them from a life of war, but instead caused one, while Pyle continued to reiterate that the result of the unwanted democracy justified the deaths of Vietnamese people. Most of which were willing to sacrifice to no end for their independence, which was proven by the United States state department who proposed “That the United States - as a great democracy - cannot and must not try to retard this development but rather act in harmony with it.” (“Far Eastern Desk”) By intervening in Vietnam, America was merely

Show More
Related

Was Us Involvement In Vietnam Justified Dbq Analysis

700 Words | 3 Pages

Furthermore, United States’ support in Vietnam was initially supposed to be limited to training support (source A). As even United States president, Lyndon Johnson, was aware of the potential escalation of the war in Vietnam if American military forces were to involve themselves in the Vietnamese conflict. President Johnsons statement that “… we could get tied down in a third world war” (source A) substantiates the idea that America feared the worldwide consequence of American support in Vietnam (Source A). Contrary to this however,

Read More

Summary Of The Vietnam War By Howard Zinn

848 Words | 4 Pages

Many students were taught in their U.S. History class in high school that United States went to war with Vietnam because they wanted to prevent the Vietnam from becoming communists, and if Vietnam were to fall it could result in the whole region of Indochina to become communists (domino theory). In Howard Zinn’s essay gives a different perspective to its readers and he raises questions in minds of his reader such as, “what was the real reason for U.S to invade Vietnam and how come a wealthiest and a powerful country lose war, so miserably against a third world country?” According to Howard Zinn the hidden reason for U.S. entering and supporting French in the Vietnam War was because “Communist had control over all of Southeast Asia, which

Read More

Post World War 2 Dbq Analysis

1152 Words | 5 Pages

In addition to general exhaustion from war, the American people wanted to focus on domestic equality before moving forward with global equality and democracy. Anti-Vietnam War protests were not necessarily unwarranted, as the anti-democracy Tet Offensive of North Vietnam resulted in the deaths of thousands of American soldiers, with the vast majority of states reporting over 100 war casualties in 1968 alone. (Document E) Economically, the Vietnam War was challenging to manage, as the department of defense budget once again rose to today’s equivalent of 450 billion dollars, adding to an already quickly growing, massive national debt. (Document G)

Read More

Cold War Dbq Essay

976 Words | 4 Pages

President Truman reflected on the importance of the United Nations and military involvement by stating, “… I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures…” (Document B). However, during this particular time period, America remained one of the only nations actively fighting against communism. Most European countries were subjected to financial duress caused by World War II, thus placing the burden squarely on America’s shoulders. This inexplicable lack of support not only made America relatively weaker, but also allowed communism to spread throughout areas in which they people were not even willing to fight for themselves.

Read More

Cold War Dbq Analysis

643 Words | 3 Pages

In the wake of World War II, the American morale was ravaged by fears of communist pervading American values and security. This was deepened by the Eisenhower administration’s inability to address and placate American concerns towards the expansion of communism, the apparently immutable precipice of nuclear war, and the displacement of democracy. The Cold War served as distinguishing feature in the American ethos and served as a defining moment in American

Read More

1950 Dbq Analysis

669 Words | 3 Pages

In the 1950’s the cold war had begun. The fear of retaliation from communists was at large. Some Americans believed that communists were amongst them plotting. This lead to a dark time in history when American opportunity became limited for many. Most rights were limited, normal life was disrupted, and the most necessary human right may have been taken.

Read More

Vietnam War Dbq Essay

1222 Words | 5 Pages

If countries were to unite with the understanding of the stance of freedom, they could take down the walls that build up communism. As is becoming obvious, the American goal was to assist and help countries in the need of freedom from the barriers and people that were held over them. President Truman emphasizes the importance of freedom during this time. It also stands for our everlasting promise the nation symbolized. In order to keep our promise the nation has to defend South Vietnam from the communist hands.

Read More

How Did Joseph Mccarthy Impact On American Culture

680 Words | 3 Pages

Joseph McCarthy, a former Wisconsin senator and anti-communist, once declared, “Our job as Americans and as Republicans is to dislodge the traitors from every place where they’ve been sent to do their traitorous work.” With this quote alone, one can see the numerous parallels between the ideals of McCarthy and modern government officials. Since McCarthy rose to power in the 1950s, Americans have distrusted neighbors, co-workers, and friends, believing they did not hold “American” beliefs and need to be deported. However, this is not the only way McCarthy and his views permeate modern American society and culture. Joseph McCarthy has had more impact on American society and culture than any other person in history, because Americans still have an intense fear of communist countries and their nuclear bombs, fear of other ideas and beliefs, and the amount of power and influence government workers can gain through accusations.

Read More

Pros And Cons Of The Vietnam War

992 Words | 4 Pages

The anti-war movement grew increasingly popular in American society, which led to America lost numerous supporters. Some advocates with peaceful wishes advocated the U.S could withdraw troops sent to fight in the Vietnam Wars for the reason that it would contribute to less human bloodshed and less property damage in the region. Early opposition to U.S. involvement in Vietnam drew its attention in the Geneva Conference of

Read More

Communism In William J. Burdick's The Ugly American

819 Words | 4 Pages

During the Cold War, the thought of the world being controlled by Communism was something that shook the American People. In the book, The Ugly American, written by William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick was a book that underlined this fear and also brought up problems that the American government faced in terms of their foreign policy. Using fictional characters and places to convey nonfictional scenarios, allows the book to coalesce information in both the world of literature and the world, to help readers interpret the problems and actions that the American government took during the era. Notably, the book starts off by introducing the center of the novel, an American Ambassador to a fictional country called Sarkhan, somewhere in

Read More

Fulbright's Essay On The Arrogance Of Power

728 Words | 3 Pages

In his essay Fulbright talks about how “we”, America, are out defending other nations and how “we” can’t seem to stay out of other nations business due to it feeling an honorable duty to them. Though Fulbright’s essay was not successful, his use of pathos is very effective. By way of his words, Fulbright is able to reach his audience by appealing to their emotional connection to America and its soldiers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to change the minds of congress, or America would have not gone to war again after reading this essay and exercising its content. Fulbright also tried to appeal to the happiness of Americans through a second approach.

Read More

Henry Gein A Psychopath

2322 Words | 10 Pages

Throughout the history of America, despite the vast leaps we have made that ultimately built up our society to what is it today, several things remain a constant, one of which being violence. Individuals who plague our society by preying on and seizing the lives of others have been around for such a long period of time. Going even father than that are those that suffer from such afflictions that cause them to have a predisposition to such violence, despite the steps they may take in an attempt to prevent it. Psychopaths are individuals that fall under this umbrella category. The research of psychopathy and its effects on the human brain have been the focus of many researchers in hopes of discovering the main cause of it, but even though psychopaths

Read More

Analysis Of The Global Cold War By Odd Arne Westad

806 Words | 4 Pages

America believed that if there was a country that was communist it shouldn’t be and that the American people should introduce them to Capitalism. This was an issue, because some countries were happy doing things the way they were, but they’ll “good” United States needed to swoop in and change that because they didn’t like it. This is how some of the third-world countries were forced into battles against their brothers. Nonetheless, the American people thought that what they believed in was right and that every other country should believe it and practice it as

Read More

The Change In Martin Luther's Understanding Of Grace

1090 Words | 5 Pages

Back in the fifteenth century to question the Catholic Church’s authority and correctness on the Gospel was to rebel against God. Yet, that is what Martin Luther did; he set out to challenge the belief of the Catholic Church at the time. He made a bold decision to declare the Church was wrong and was ostracized from the Church. After struggling with the idea of righteousness, he came to the belief that justification and salvation comes from God’s gift of grace, which alone must be accepted through faith. This is an essential issue for the Lutheran doctrine and higher education.

Read More

Communism In Graham Greene's The Quiet American

798 Words | 4 Pages

The Cold War began with a string of events most notably between the United States and Russia, this lead furthermore to the Red Scare as well as the belief that the Domino Theory would affect Asia starting with Vietnam. In Graham Greene’s novel The Quiet American, Fowler’s ability to easily empathize gives him a more justified perspective on the American conflict in Vietnam because he understands what the Vietnamese people want, as well as their nationalistic desires for independence. Pyle believes that the Vietnamese need democracy, but Fowler understands that when it really comes down to it, all they want is to live simple uninvolved independent lives, that if need be might include communism. When Fowler is explaining the cause of Pyle’s

Read More

More about Communism In Graham Greene's The Quiet American

Related Topics

Open Document