The Quiet American

Paper Summary:

The paper introduces and analyzes the topic of criminal justice in the novel "The Quiet American" by Graham Greene. Specifically, the paper discusses the ending of the novel and the character of Fowler and his overall importance in the novel, while answering some specific questions. The paper analyzes the character of Fowler and concludes that Fowler is a complex man who could hardly be called endearing. The paper illustrates how he is somewhat pathetic by the end of the novel. The paper reveals that Fowler is a loser in today's terms and points out that the book ends on a sad, lonely note to highlight this.

From the Paper:

"Perhaps what is most surprising is that Fowler has a conscience. He proves throughout the book that he cannot lie to himself, even though he is quite good at lying to others. He knows the truth about himself, even if the rest of the characters do not. He knows that ultimately, he is not as good a man as Pyle is, and that he will not be the best man for Phuong. At times, he seems to be sleepwalking through his own life - just going through the motions each day, and nothing really matters to him. He is a war correspondent who hates war. Greene writes, "I thought again, as I had thought when I saw the dead child at Phat Diem, I hate war" (Greene 195). He is a selfish man who wants a woman all to himself, but ultimately knows that is the wrong choice, and a human with very human failings. He is a convoluted character, sometimes charming and sometimes offensive, but always interesting."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Greene, Graham. The Quiet American. New York: Random House, 1992.

More papers on The Quiet American:

• Film Review # 70907 : "The Quiet American"
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• Comparison Essay # 127416 : "The Quiet American" and "The Overcoat"
• Analytical Essay # 59078 : "Graham Greene's "The Quiet American"

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