The Quiet American: What does this quote mean?

[vashappenin]

"Was I so different from Pyle, I wondered? Must I too have my foot thrust in the mess of life before I saw the pain?"
OK so it suggests that both Fowler and Pyle share a common trait. But I'm not sure what exactly it is referring to! Is it to do with how they both don't realise the damage they've created until it has taken place or something??What causes Fowler to say this in the first place? Was he so different from Pyle in what?? :S
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance!

[Bad Student]

What page is it on?

[michak]

"Was I so different from Pyle, I wondered? Must I too have my foot thrust in the mess of life before I saw the pain?"
OK so it suggests that both Fowler and Pyle share a common trait. But I'm not sure what exactly it is referring to! Is it to do with how they both don't realise the damage they've created until it has taken place or something??What causes Fowler to say this in the first place? Was he so different from Pyle in what?? :S
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance!

I read the quiet american I agree with your thoughts. I think its trying to say how naive people really are when it comes to things such as war, and we don't understand the consequences of our actions until they occur. Can even say that people like him and pyle dont believe such consequences would ever happen to them.
I like your question much but i think you are delving too much into the book and looking it at an angle like a text response essay. You dnt need to know this book much in depth, just the main conflicts that occur, a few like 5 quotes, how fowler/pyle/phoung relate and handle these conflicts and how you can use the conflicts in the book as a springboard to connect with the wider world.

[vashappenin]

I read the quiet american I agree with your thoughts. I think its trying to say how naive people really are when it comes to things such as war, and we don't understand the consequences of our actions until they occur. Can even say that people like him and pyle dont believe such consequences would ever happen to them.
I like your question much but i think you are delving too much into the book and looking it at an angle like a text response essay. You dnt need to know this book much in depth, just the main conflicts that occur, a few like 5 quotes, how fowler/pyle/phoung relate and handle these conflicts and how you can use the conflicts in the book as a springboard to connect with the wider world.

Oh no haha I'm actually asking because we were assigned some questions and this was relating to their similarities and all but I'm not sure WHAT exactly causes Fowler to say this; Is it because he finally realises the damage that has occurred from inviting Pyle to eat out with him, and now that Pyle's dead he realises the consequences of his actions? WHAT event causes Fowler to think they are similar basically

Sorry I should've included that in the OP haha

[michak]

Oh no haha I'm actually asking because we were assigned some questions and this was relating to their similarities and all but I'm not sure WHAT exactly causes Fowler to say this; Is it because he finally realises the damage that has occurred from inviting Pyle to eat out with him, and now that Pyle's dead he realises the consequences of his actions? WHAT event causes Fowler to think they are similar basically

Sorry I should've included that in the OP haha

haha thats ok
When exactly does he say this again? cant remember then ill be able to help more 

[vashappenin]

What page is it on?

When exactly does he say this again? cant remember then ill be able to help more 

Oops sorry! Well in my book it's on p177, but incase your books are different, it's basically the last paragraph of before chapter 3 in part 4

[michak]

Oops sorry! Well in my book it's on p177, but incase your books are different, it's basically the last paragraph of before chapter 3 in part 4

Ummm dont have my book anymore ....
what happens in part 4?

[vashappenin]

So in this part Fowler invites pyle to meet him for dinner after the plans he made with Monsieur Heng/Chou, where they told Fowler they'd talk to Pyle. So fowler does just that  and then gives hom the choice of cancelling after feeling apprehensive of what'll happen to Pyle. But obvs Pyle sticks to the plan.
So the time comes and Fowler is at the Voux MOulin (their planned place to eat), and he books a table for one, knowing Pyle won't return because he's going to ve killed on the way as arranged by Heng/ Chou
Then Grange, comes along (he's having a party/drinking sesh with a group of Vietnamese men) and talks to Fowler about his son back in england having polio. Although Granger hates Fowler (and he admits it), he opens up to  him b/c he speaks english and all. He tells Fowler that he cant go back to england to see his son as he needs to cover for another reporter. Fowlee offers to take his place but he cant as his accent is different to Granger, who's american. Granger thanks Fowler for his sympathy. Its after this that he says the quote i mentiones in the OP


Oh and please excuse any mistakes/grammatical errors. I'm on my phone atm!

[michak]

So in this part Fowler invites pyle to meet him for dinner after the plans he made with Monsieur Heng/Chou, where they told Fowler they'd talk to Pyle. So fowler does just that  and then gives hom the choice of cancelling after feeling apprehensive of what'll happen to Pyle. But obvs Pyle sticks to the plan.
So the time comes and Fowler is at the Voux MOulin (their planned place to eat), and he books a table for one, knowing Pyle won't return because he's going to ve killed on the way as arranged by Heng/ Chou
Then Grange, comes along (he's having a party/drinking sesh with a group of Vietnamese men) and talks to Fowler about his son back in england having polio. Although Granger hates Fowler (and he admits it), he opens up to  him b/c he speaks english and all. He tells Fowler that he cant go back to england to see his son as he needs to cover for another reporter. Fowlee offers to take his place but he cant as his accent is different to Granger, who's american. Granger thanks Fowler for his sympathy. Its after this that he says the quote i mentiones in the OP


Oh and please excuse any mistakes/grammatical errors. I'm on my phone atm!

Thanks.
I still believe what I said in my first post.
at the start fowler is critising pyle about his idealistic and 'school boy dreams" that he has of war. he makes fun of the fact that pyle thinks he knows all about war becomes he has read books of others interpretation. Fowler being older and supposedly wiser believes he does know war an the consequences of it as he has experienced it. but in the end he is just like pyle because he is helping to kill another.
Fowler then questions whether he too had 'school boy dreams" that were misguided and whether he or anyone can really understand war.

The quote also relates to the conflcit that occurs throughout the book of this notion between the young and the old. on the one hand there is pyle who is full of dreams and ideas about how to change the world but based on what he has read in books and not his oqn experiences, compared to fowler his is the ageing man with experience and knowledge behind him. in the end fowler is questioning whether there is really any difference between both, as in the end they are both at fault.

Hope that makes somewhat sense and it helps
Post here if you have any other questions about the the quiet american

[vashappenin]

Ok thanks! That cleared it up somewhat