The Quiet American Group

Question:

stephi
stephi
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Does Pyle really understand the consequences of his actions in the book The Quiet American?

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Posted by stephi on Monday August 6, 2007 at 1:10 AM and tagged with characters, naivete, pyle, the quiet american.

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  1. bmadnick Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    No, he doesn't. The author makes Pyle so innocent and naive that some people feel it isn't realistic. One of Greene's most memorable metaphors in the book is when he describes innocence as "a dumb leper who has lost his bell, wandering the world, meaning no harm." Pyle's innocence and naivete do more harm than he can imagine. Working undercover for the CIA, he feels that whatever he's doing is justified because it's for the greater good of mankind. His idealistic political views of what the U.S. must do to stop Communism in Southeast Asia allow him to justify the killing of innocent civilians.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/quiet-american-qn

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    Posted by bmadnick on Monday August 6, 2007 at 8:47 AM

  2. ishubert
    ishubert Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The short answer is: No he doesn't. Greene does his best to make Pyle as naive as possible as he stumbles around Vietnam seemingly creating havoc wherever he goes.

    However, the reader's knowledge of Pyle comes from Fowler, who is himself a "flawed" character. This begs the question: Can we trust Fowler's assessment of Pyle? Much of this great book is based on the mistrust and cultural misunderstanding between the Americans and the Vietnamese. In the end, it is tough to determine whether or not Pyle's innocence is genuine or a clever disguise.

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    Posted by ishubert on Thursday September 13, 2007 at 4:50 PM