4.2 Experience Vs. Naivety/Immaturity
4.2 Experience vs. Naivety/Immaturity
Pyle is young; he is in his early twenties. Pyle respects Fowler and looks up to him as a friend. As an ambitious individual, he believes that he can make a difference in the world - starting in a country he knows little about.
The young American is naive, but determined. Focused only on one side, he does not have much foresight regarding the consequences of his actions. His ignorant goal is to Americanize the country of Vietnam and enforce his own American values upon them.
“Was that a grenade?' he asked with excitement and hope. Most likely the exhaust of a car, I said, and was suddenly sorry for his disappointment. One forgets so quickly one's own youth: once I was interested myself in what for want of a better term they called news.” …show more content…
(Greene, 1955, p.9).
Pyle's excitement over the action and adventure of war reveals his youth and lack or experience regarding the devastation of war. Fowler Represents Europe. He is very cynical and skeptical about the war. Europe and Fowler both represent the experience and wisdom that age provides. Fowler is older and has more life experience regarding war and relationships; Europe is also experienced in terms of Colonization. Europeans recognize what could potentially happen if the Americans took over Vietnam. When Fowler says that he cannot marry Phuong, he also refers to the impossibility for Europe to commit itself to Vietnam with the same intensity of the Americans. When he states that Pyle can offer Phuong more money, he is making reference to the great economic power of the United States of America. Fowler himself comes from an older generation who sees things with a more realistic approach than the naive, over-ambitious Americans. Wonderfully ignorant Fowler, on
the other hand, does not live an innocent lifestyle. He is worldly and his innocence has long been replaced by life experiences. Instead of excitement, hope and eagerness, Fowler is realistic, cynical and tired His worldly experience is demonstrated through his sexual relationship with Phuong and his opium addiction. At one point, Fowler says to Pyle: “I don’t care that for her interests. You can have her interests. I only want her body. I want her in bed with me. I’d rather ruin her and sleep with her than, than . . . look after her damned interests.” (Greene, 1950, p.51). This is part of his view of Phuong - the same girl who Pyle views as a lovely, delicate flower.
Pyle is young; he is in his early twenties. Pyle respects Fowler and looks up to him as a friend. As an ambitious individual, he believes that he can make a difference in the world - starting in a country he knows little about.
The young American is naive, but determined. Focused only on one side, he does not have much foresight regarding the consequences of his actions. His ignorant goal is to Americanize the country of Vietnam and enforce his own American values upon them.
“Was that a grenade?' he asked with excitement and hope. Most likely the exhaust of a car, I said, and was suddenly sorry for his disappointment. One forgets so quickly one's own youth: once I was interested myself in what for want of a better term they called news.” …show more content…
(Greene, 1955, p.9).
Pyle's excitement over the action and adventure of war reveals his youth and lack or experience regarding the devastation of war. Fowler Represents Europe. He is very cynical and skeptical about the war. Europe and Fowler both represent the experience and wisdom that age provides. Fowler is older and has more life experience regarding war and relationships; Europe is also experienced in terms of Colonization. Europeans recognize what could potentially happen if the Americans took over Vietnam. When Fowler says that he cannot marry Phuong, he also refers to the impossibility for Europe to commit itself to Vietnam with the same intensity of the Americans. When he states that Pyle can offer Phuong more money, he is making reference to the great economic power of the United States of America. Fowler himself comes from an older generation who sees things with a more realistic approach than the naive, over-ambitious Americans. Wonderfully ignorant Fowler, on
the other hand, does not live an innocent lifestyle. He is worldly and his innocence has long been replaced by life experiences. Instead of excitement, hope and eagerness, Fowler is realistic, cynical and tired His worldly experience is demonstrated through his sexual relationship with Phuong and his opium addiction. At one point, Fowler says to Pyle: “I don’t care that for her interests. You can have her interests. I only want her body. I want her in bed with me. I’d rather ruin her and sleep with her than, than . . . look after her damned interests.” (Greene, 1950, p.51). This is part of his view of Phuong - the same girl who Pyle views as a lovely, delicate flower.