Advantages: Interesting look at Vietnam, complexity of morals and ideals Disadvantages: Unlikeable characters, a bit slow at times
with the ending and moves between different periods of time.
The protagonist is an English reporter, Fowler, who is world-weary and doesn't seem to believe in anything. He is separated from his religious wife who won't give him a divorce and lives with a young Vietnamese girl, Phuong. Fowler is portrayed as jealous and selfish for most of the novel.
Phuong remains an enigma throughout the novel and never seems to have a voice of her own. Both Fowler and Pyle have their own idealized versions of her but we are never sure what her true character is. Most of her decisions are made by her elder sister who wants to marry her off to a foreigner. Phuong accquiesces to the needs and wants of the men who claim to love her. All she appears to want is protection and financial security.
Pyle is the "Quiet American" of the title and is young and idealistic. He ...
