War not only causes suffering to civilians, but it also causes many decent people to killers. The Quiet American shows this through the character of Alden Pyle. Pyle in the book is shown as a decent man who Fowler describes as “… a good chap in his way. Serious. Not one of those noisy bastards at the Continental. A Quiet American”. Yet it is disclosed that Pyle is an American Spy, sent to instigate a ‘Third Force’ to stop the communism. The story reveals how Pyle was responsible for the Bombing of the Pavilion. The destruction left “A woman…on the ground with what was left of her baby in her lap.” And Fowler notices a “legless torso at the edge of the garden…twitched, like a chicken which has lost its head”. Yet Pyle still believes that the bomb was still justifiable. “There was meant to be a parade…”. This shows how misled Pyle is. He is a good man, who thinks he can take over Vietnam, for Vietnam’s sake. Pyle is “…Impregnably armored by his good intentions and his ignorance.”
There are then also cases of when decent people are forced to commit atrocities, and then left to face the guilt. These were often the soldiers who are fighting the war. “We fight your wars for you, yet it is us who are left with the guilt.” This states clearly how it is the soldiers who do the killings and the atrocities because they are forced to. As Captain Trouin describes his first napalm bombing, “…The first time I dropped napalm I thought, this is the village where I was born. That is where… The baker is running away from the flames…I felt worse than them.” Not only are the soldiers forced to live with their guilt, but often civilians are forced to commit murder for what they believe. An example of this is Fowler. Fowler is forced to help the communists in their murder of Pyle. He tells himself that it is “for Vietnam…to stop him from committing more killings” . Yet Fowler is still plagued by doubt and guilt that he did it to win Phuong back. The guilt and doubt that those who’s committed regrettable acts will forever be ingrained into them, never knowing whether their actions were justifiable.
War often destroys the materialistic live of many. However, it also often causes friction between friends and relationships, as different sides are taken. The story of the Quiet American centers on the relationship between Fowler and Phuong. It shows how the conflict at the time forced them to break apart. As the conflict heightens, people like Phuong are forced to look for stability in relationships. She had been with Fowler for 2 years, though it is unclear whether she truly loved him, it is shown that she cares for him. Yet, as the war rages on, and situations arises, Phuong is forced to leave Fowler for Pyle for security. This puts added strains onto the friendship developing between Fowler and Pyle that finally leads to the death of him by Fowler. The Quiet American shows these scenarios to highlight how during war, relationships often don’t stand a chance and are ultimately severed..
The Quiet American accentuates the dangers of war, and the harm and threats it brings. The novel vividly describes the horrors and destruction that war brings to a society that often only wants peace. It also underlines the effect war has on decent people in leading them to believe in their ideals so blindly that they become killers. While also forcing other decent people to commit atrocities and leaving them with the guilt. However, the Quiet American puts heavy emphasis on the severing of ties and relationship during wartime as is the case between Pyle, Fowler and Phuong. The book serves very well in highlighting how war affects the people and society.
