🌹The Rose & Skull ☠️

Response 2C

Topics: ❧ Create a graphic or drawing that shows the structure of the first chapter and the novel. You can do this however you want, but you may want to use arrows or colours to show how the first chapter connects with later chapters. Make sure to write a brief explanatory paragraph (minimum 50 words) beneath your graph or drawing. ❧ Briefly identify an image, reference, or aspect in the first chapter and then explain in more detail how it expands in meaning in the rest of the book. Make sure to find a new angle or idea to explore. For instance, who is Pascal and where does he come in later? What is Vigot’s role or function in the novel? Is there a pattern to the way Fowler fixes on details, distances himself from American politics and culture, identifies Phuong with images, uses the poetry of Baudelaire, differentiates the French from the Americans, or generalizes about death, love, or meaning?

Graphic

The graphic above shows the general sequence of events in the Quiet American. The blue arrow follows the events as they occur in the book while the red arrow follows the events in chronological order. Thus, demonstrating the story's structure as it takes you from present to past events through Fowler. By starting at the end, readers have greater clarity as to the direction of the narrative, allowing them to have a better understanding of the story as the events unfold.

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The narrative of The Quiet American follows Fowler’s train of thought as he recalls his meeting with Pyle, and the events leading up to a following his murder. The story jumps between the past and the present, revealing more about his experiences with Pyle. The way the chapters are split into sections reveals how Fowler’s train of thought works and blends the end of the story to the beginning seamlessly. (Part I: Chapter I is my own summary from reading the first chapter; the remainder of the book was paraphrased from the following source.The Quiet American: Plot Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-quiet-american/summary/)

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Updated Scenario

In a modern scenario for The Quiet American, Pyle’s character is influenced by extremist propaganda he finds on social media, relating to his book counterpart, whose views are informed by writer York Harding. His lack of nuance conflicts with the moderate Fowler, whose diverse media consumption lends to neutrality. Eventually Pyle is involved in a destructive demonstration, pushing Fowler to abandon his neutrality, similar to how it’s forced to end after learning of Pyle’s involvement in the explosions harming civilians in Vietnam. These parallel stories demonstrate that one sided media consumption lends to biased and extreme views.

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Image, Reference, or Aspect

Rue the Exile. The rue Catinat acts as a symbolic representation of Fowler’s exile throughout the book. In it are all aspects of Fowler’s life in Vietnam. The familiarity of the street symbolizes his adaptation to the exciting life he has in Saigon. The descriptions of the rue Catinat are  juxtaposed by the unpleasant return to his wife and London that he imagines. In this sense the rue Catinat symbolizes Fowler’s freedom from his old life.  It also symbolizes the failure of his relationship with Phuong.

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Vigot, the French officer at the Surete, who investigates Pyle's murder, is used as the foil to expose Fowler’s involvement in Pyle’s death. Vigot is persistent in interrogating Fowler, even though he says his report is all tied up and he has attributed the murder to the Communists. In Part Three, Vigot hints at Fowler being involved in Pyle's death, thereby piquing the reader's curiosity. In his final interview with Fowler, he confronts Fowler with the fact that he had lied about seeing Pyle on the night of his death, leaving Fowler disturbed. This conversation leads to Fowler's confession about his involvement in Pyle's death.

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The drawing represents the development of the character of Thomas Fowler from his visit to Phat Diem in the first chapter, which was his first encounter with the reality of war in Vietnam. Then, we see him frightened and mad, taking his first steps into going against the British and Americans, when later in Place Garnier we see the shift on Fowler taking a clear stand of opposition.  

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Vigot serves to uncover the mystery of Pyle’s death. Vigot conducts his duties by interrogating Fowler to gain evidence. He does not display any political bias regarding the fact that Pyle was American. Even when Vigot suspects that Fowler was involved, he does not act on his suspicions, as he needs proper evidence to make an arrest. Vigot serves to build suspense in the novel. His interrogation leads the audience to speculate as to what the significance of Pyle’s character is. Vigot doesn’t seem to take sides, which helps the reader to approach the story from an unbiased perspective.

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Vigot’s role in Greene’s novel The Quiet American is to be the conscience of Fowler. It is explained in the first chapter that Vigot symbolizes the “belie[f] in the conscience, the sense of guilt, a criminal should be confronted with his crime, for he may break down and betray himself” (Greene, 1995, p. 324). Throughout the novel Vigot’s words bring the reader back to the present reality where Pyle has already been assassinated. Which shows that Fowler is constantly confronted with his guilt and remorse for Pyle’s death. This guilt, with the help of Vigot, will haunt Fowler for the rest of his life.

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Fowler is reacquainted with Phuong once he kills the man who took her away. She readies his opium which kept him company while she was gone, and he smokes away the last of his care and worry. He ungrudgingly goes to the police station to be questioned and leaves Pyle’s dead body in the freezer. The phoenix is a metaphor for the hopelessness those in and around the war experience, as Fowler himself arrived in Vietnam with morals and boundaries, which were abandoned by the end as he became attached and involved.

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Immediately, in The Quiet American, Fowler contemplates the name of Phuong which means Phoenix, “but nothing nowadays… rises from the ashes”.  Yet, fire and smoke will set the understanding and development of his character throughout the book.  It is the colonial crop of opium that is set ablaze to “calm his nerves” and ease his thoughts of death.  Nevertheless, it is fire and smoke that accentuates the harrowing moments at the tower, in the bomber, and at the explosion in the square.  Through the deadly fire and smoke, his resolve to help the people of Vietnam rises from the ashes.

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The way Fowler describes Phuong shows he wants her for selfish reasons. When speaking to Pyle about his love for the woman, Fowler explains on page 51 he’d ‘rather ruin and sleep with her than look after her interests’. The letter from his wife shows he falls in love, or becomes obsessed with a woman easily, and it’s not fair to Phuong. In the first chapter, Fowler speaks of her rather degradingly and sexualizes her ethnicity. Pyle showed immense respect for women and looking back at the first chapter shows Fowler as the selfish man he is in this book.

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"she was a certain hour of the night and the promise of rest." (1.1.3) is how Fowler visualizes Phuong in the first chapter. Initially, Fowler believes the only way to rest is to "get death over" (2.3.95) and is the reason he left England. However, Phuong's simplicity and innocents change Fowler, so that is it Phuong's warmth that gives Fowler peace. Though Fowler knows this, he still contemplates death as he is" only afraid of losing Phuong" to Pyle. To Fowler, Phuong is the innocent that rises from the ashes of the surrounding war to bring him the promise of rest

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The use of opium in the first chapter, symbolizes many aspects throughout the novel. Opium’s addictiveness is corrosive and harmful to a person, this is indicated when Thomas destroys his marriage with his wife to offer security for Phuong. In this sense, the opium’s addictiveness is comparable to how Thomas feels towards Phuong. His helplessness, towards Phuong and opium resulted in self sabotage. Moreover, Thomas’ use of opium contrasts Pyle’s non-use. It shows the difference between the two characters by highlighting Thomas’ realism and Pyle’s Idealism and innocence which is then extended towards their views on politics.

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One image in The Quiet American is the opium pipe which is introduced in chapter 1, part 1. When Fowler asks Phuong to bring him his pipe and asks if Pyle, her new love smokes, and she replies with no. Since she believes the superstition that whomever’s lover smokes from the pipe, will always return. The idea of believing of love coming back from smoking the opium pipe plays a large part in the relationships the three have with one another. It sets the tone between the characters for the rest of the novel and already introduces the tension between them.

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In the first chapter Phuong makes Fowler a pipe after they had waited for Pyle to show but he didn’t. Phuong makes Fowler a pipe in the first chapter because of the stress that he is feeling about Pyle not showing when he said he would. The pipe is mentioned again in chapter 1 of part 2. Fowler was feeling stressed after Pyle tried to get Phuong to marry him. In both cases Pyle is the reason for the pipe being made. It has meaning in the rest of the book because it shows how Fowler sometimes relies on Phuong and his pipe as a de-stressor after conflict with Pyle.

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For Fowler, death is "the only absolute value" and "far more than certain than God"(36). His great fear of aging, loneliness, and death make him come east where dying is unavoidable (96). He wants to end life in war's time rather than "living ten years alone with no companion and a nursing home at the end of it" (96). This fear shapes his love for Phuong, as written in the letter to his wife that losing Phuong would be the beginning of death(72). It also impacts his decision of getting involved after he witnesses many people dying for Pyle's idea of democracy.

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Pyle is naïve and believes York’s theories can solve any political issues that plague Asia. However, Fowler understand the people. Life’s answers are not solved in a book. Life’s answers come when a life is lived and not read from the pages of a novel.

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This piece uses different objects to represent different important aspects of symbolism in the novel. The silhouette of the man and women waiting represent Phuong and Fowler with the cigarettes above them representing the opium which was said to create an internal bond. the blood and river represent where Pyle was killed. The bed represents Fowler's and Phuongs love, yet it is stained with evil text. The soldier behind the silhouettes in picture number 3 show the love triangle that caused everything to burn.

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Triangle

My drawing represents in 1955 Fowler and Phong fell in love, but Pyle seems to be more in love with her then Fowler. The love triangle shows that even though Phong is with Fowler, Pyle doesn’t hesitate to tell Phong about his feelings to her. Today in year 2020, the love triangle shows Phong as a stereotypical type of character as she always moves around with relationships to find which one will be the best for her future. Phong thinks to herself who will financially be right for me, Fowler or Pyle. (91 words). 

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An aspect of the book that is meaningful throughout the whole story is the relationship between Fowler, Pyle, and Phuong; otherwise known as a love triangle. However, the emotions that they have for each other are different. While Pyle views Phuong as love at first sight, Fowler views Phuong as his lifeline knowing that a life without her is meaningless. Unlike both Fowler and Pyle, Phuong is only after one thing, security. this love triangle swaps around until it ends just how it started, Pyle gone and Fowler together with Phuong.

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The love triangle between Pyle, Fowler and Phuong in The Quiet American gives the reader a unique insight into societies patriarchal past. Prior to the 21stcentury, men dominated society, and, in many ways, women were considered second class citizens. The image labelled 1900’s depicts Phuong emptying her cup into both Pyle and Fowler’s, representing how in the past women were expected to put men first, while neglecting themselves. The second drawing labelled 2000’s shows Phuong with a full cup while Fowler and Pyle’s remain emptier, describing a modern perspective of women’s importance in society and relationships.

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