Vietnamese Culture In Graham Greene's The Quiet American
In “the quiet American”, the author portrays Vietnam in the era when the colonization and the imperialism dominated. To be specific, through using a female character, Phuong, who is consistently hesitating between old British journalist and young CIA American agent, the author indirectly reveals Vietnam’s attitude and situation during 1950s. Moreover, Greene introduces cynical aged British man, Fowler, and employs symbolism to refer United Kingdom. From 1889 to 1954, Vietnam was occupied and controlled by France. Therefore, European culture saturates Vietnamese society. The novel specifically explore the relationship between Vietnam and Europe through portraying conflicts and concession between Fowler and Phuong. Through reading “the quiet American”, the readers can simultaneously obtain a joy of reading and knowledge of history- specially the countries’ attitude to other one.
First of all, in the viewpoint of Fowler, Phuong is delineated as an unenlightened person who lacks knowledge at social, political and economic issues. Hence, Fowler who has adopted the paternalistic attitude justify imperialism by emphasizing the stupidity of Vietnamese. For instance, Fowler’s description of Phuong as absenting the “gift of expression (III, 328)” reflects the British’s disdainful view on subjugated
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Therefore, normally people feel learning history is a strict, boring and tedious work. However, people must gain access to the laboratory of human experience. It is because the view of history shapes the way people view the resent, and therefore it dictates what answers we offer for existing problems. I believe Graham Greene, the author of “the quiet American” essentially accomplish both quality and excitement of the history to grab the attention of the readers. Through reflecting facts inside interesting nonfictional story, the author encourage people to attain knowledge regarding the colonization of Vietnam in
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