ORIENTALIMS IN GRAHAM GREENE’S THE QUIET AMERICAN
ORIENTALIMS IN GRAHAM GREENE’S THE QUIET AMERICAN

Summary/Abstract: According to the modern Western perspective, the world is divided into two parts - not only geographically, but also culturally, economically, politically, and even linguistically. These two distinct spheres are commonly referred to as the East and the West. In relation to this dichotomy, Edward Said introduced the concept of Orientalism. Said conceptualizes the differences between East and West not merely as a matter of geography, but primarily as a contrast in worldviews between the people of both regions. Moreover, he emphasizes the West’s desire to dominate the East, reflecting an inherent imbalance of power. This leads to a fundamentally unequal relationship between the two. The study’s objective is to explore the theme of East-West relations in The Quiet American, a novel by twentieth-century British author Graham Greene. Greene’s work portrays the dynamics of love, personal relationships, war, and colonialism, ultimately revealing the nature of interactions between the East and the West. What emerges from this narrative is a critique of the constructed image of the East by the West— an image that Edward Said defines as Orientalism. Graham Greene’s The Quiet American is a memorable literary work that intertwines the themes of East-West relations, contemporary political conflicts, and Orientalism, offering a nuanced depiction of cultural and imperial entanglements.

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