Although ideas are intangible, they can create tangible and forceful conflict. Ideas can be any pattern of thought that our mind is concentrated on, whether this relates to left hemispheric analysis of information, or right hemispheric abstract thought, ideas underlie in all activity in our minds. Conflict can often be a result of a clash of political ideology. These ideological conflicts can be small scaled and result in political debates, or in contrast, they can result in colossal wars as we’ve seen in the past century.
This is as true in literature as much as life. Graham Greene proves this notion in his allegoric novel The Quiet American, as he draws upon political ideologies and represents these through the characters in the novel. Greene places the characters within the context of Indochina War, and presents relationships of the characters symbolically to represent the circumstances of the war. Alden Pyle’s idealism is motivated by interventionism in a Third World country’s affairs; this is a emblematic representation of what Greene himself had seen in his lifetime.
Greene uses the character Thomas Fowler to represent the ‘old colonialist’ wisdom that questions Pyle’s justification for the violence he causes. Fowler’s reluctance to become more deeply involved in the war creates inner conflict due his belief that Pyle is committing horrific wrongdoings. In addition, the differential in political ideas and beliefs between these two characters cause conflict that on a personal level, whereby Fowler organises for Pyle to be murdered, as well as a symbolic level, that is represented by America’s involvement, and Britain’s reluctance to be involved in the war.
The Term Paper on Post War Political Consensus
The post-war political consensus What was the nature of the post war political consensus? A political consensus is when there is a general agreement between the main political parties over policy, for example in a political consensus when a government changes most policies will remain the same. During the period between 1945-1970's there was said to be a political consensus in Britain, this is ...
In addition to ideas, interests are a key aspect that makes up an individual, and when the interests of an individuals or groups clash, conflict is often an outcome. Often when you share an interest with someone, it acts as a platform for a potential friendship to be built upon. However, similar or identical interest can in some cases create conflict also, whether the conflict arises from jealousy, fear, apprehension, or other emotions or thoughts, conflict has the potential to arise from this clash.
Greene proves the fact that this notion is as true in literature as much as life in The Quiet American, as the common love interest in Phuong between Fowler and Pyle turns a friendship into an immense conflict. Fowler’s very name can be interpreted as a metaphor to describe his actions in this conflict, ‘foul’, as he resorts to horrific measures in the novel, as a result of the clash of interest that he and Pyle shared. Fowler takes Phuong’s love for granted, whereas Pyle’s love for her can be interpreted to parallel his desire for an innocent, non-communist, democratic Indochina, which Pyle is passionate about.
Phuong stays with Fowler for security and protection, and leaves him for the same reason. Fowler’s fear of losing Phuong and jealousy of Pyle’s association with Phuong drives him into a last resort to end the conflict, which resulted in the murder of Pyle. Lastly, the expectations of an individual are a third aspect that can forcefully drive conflict to reach an insurmountable apex. William Shakespeare once said that ‘expectation is the root of all heartache’, in the context of conflict, it can be said that expectations result in empty-heartiness, and more so when expectations clash, which leads to conflict of all sorts.
In Greene’s The Quiet American, the expectations of both Pyle and Fowler clash, whereby one expectation cannot be fulfilled without the other being crushed, thus creating conflict. Pyle’s expectation that his actions are necessary to ‘fix’ Vietnam directly contrast with Fowler’s, as Pyle’s pure knowledge of York Harding’s philosophies, and not experience leads him into literally destroying Vietnam. This is in complete contrast to Fowler, as it is his firm expectation that America shouldn’t intervene, as his ‘old colonialist’ ideology does not justify Pyle’s methodology.
The Essay on Expository Conflict
Conflict permeates every aspect of our lives, it is inevitable and inescapable. But It is how we choose to conduct ourselves in these times of conflict that define who we are and how we are viewed in society. “Conflict builds character. Crisis defines it.” Those were the words of Senior Master Sergeant Steven V.Thulon, which demonstrates how conflict can change us. When individuals ...
Conflict has countless causes, whereby the type of conflict is determined by the aspects of groups or individuals, and to the extent in which these facets clash. The ideas, interests, and expectations that one holds are prominent aspects when determining the cause and type of a particular conflict. Graham Greene juxtaposes and links the ideas, interests and expectations of both Pyle and Fowler in The Quiet American to convey how these aspects of individuals create conflict.
