The Quiet American by Graham Greene (1955)
Innocence
The term “innocence” continues to appear in The Quiet American and we learn very quickly that Fowler has his own definition. “Innocence is like a dumb leper who has lost his bell, wandering around the world, meaning no harm.” Innocence is also dangerous according to Fowler. He considers Pyle to be the most dangerous man he knows. Fowler knows that Pyle is intelligent (a Harvard boy), and has good intentions at heart, but he is entirely ignorant with regard to the local politics. Continue reading
the self-hating hipster 