|
Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 40 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
|
 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Greene, Graham
Pinkie. When talked about in the third person, he is called "the Boy." When addressed directly by another character, the name "Pinkie" is used.
By Colleoni's men. He thinks that Colleoni's men killed Spicer when they were both jumped, but he does not know that Spicer managed to get away.
Roman Catholics. Pinkie's friends call him "Roman", and several references are made to the Catholic church's beliefs during the book.
Hale. Hale seems to know that he is doomed from the very beginning. The consequences of Hale's death haunt Pinkie for the rest of the book.
Ida. Pinkie tries to keep Rose from telling what she knows to Ida, and Ida's determination to prove him guilty keeps him worried throughout the story.
He doesn't drink. At the beginning of the story he is also celibate, doesn't smoke, and is much younger than his friends.
"Dr. Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe. The line Prewitt quotes when Pinkie goes to see him is: "Why, this is Hell, nor are we out of it."
A bottle of vitriol. This substance later causes his demise, when it gets in his eyes and temporarily blinds him.
Dallow. Pinkie knows that Dallow would never say anything to the police or to Ida, and considers him to be the most loyal out of his three companions.
Make a suicide pact. Pinkie hopes that Rose will kill herself, leaving a note, and he will escape unscathed without having to worry about her telling what she knows to Ida or the police.
His name isn't given. Search the entire book and you won't find a name for him. He is simply called the whiskey priest. Padre Jose was another priest who renounced his vows and took a wife to please the government. Juan was a young religious boy who was executed for his beliefs in similar ways to the whiskey priest. And Mr. Tench is just a crooked dentist.
Treason. The Mexican state of Tabasco has outlawed religion and even destroyed many churches.
Concepcion. This is where he keeps his stash of wine and also where the book starts.
Brigitta. Five years prior to the story, the priest gets drunk and hooks up with Maria. Coral is just a nice girl he meets during his period as a fugitive.
Morse Code. The series of long and short taps described by Coral is Morse Code.
"La Martir Eterna" (Latin). The whiskey priest left this book at the dentist's house. The fact that it is written in Latin and that it is a religious book led Mr. Tench to hide it in his oven.
Gideon. The whiskey priest disliked the Gideon Bible because he felt that it was too earthly and our focus should be in the heavens.
25 centavos. The fine was five pesos, which the Lieutenant unknowingly gave to the whiskey priest after his release.
First Indochina War ('46-'54). The First Indochina War was between France and Vietnam. France wanted to regain its former colony. France controlled the South, but the communists of the Vietminh controlled the North. Indochina was the French colony including today's Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh was a communist. He was the leader of the Vietminh party, and became president and prime minister. He was still active during the second Indochina War against the USA.
He was dead. Pyle is already dead in the first chapter, but a large part of the story tells what happened before. This technique is called starting "in media res": starting in the middle of the story.
restaurant. It's the place where Fowler meets Wilkins. He uses this for his alibi. The Continental is a hotel, and The House of Five Hundred Girls a brothel.
He was drowned in mud. He has a wound in the chest, but Vigot says that didn't cause his death. Fowler is the one who identifies the corpse.
Quatre Cent Vingt-et-un. It's a game where you have to throw a one, a two and a four in as few attempts as possible. It gives an idea of the everyday atmosphere far away from the front.
Fowler was married. Miss Hei wants her sister to marry and have children. Fowler is a bad candidate because he's married to Helen, and she doesn't want to divorce.
Phat Diem. There is an attack by the followers of General Thé. Pyle is involved in this, but pretends that he only came to Phat Diem to see Fowler.
Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity. Buddhism is the biggest religion in Vietnam. Confucianism is influence from China, Christianity from the West.
democracy. The newspapers blame the attack on the communists in the North, but it was really the Third Force. Greene lived in Vietnam for several years, and criticized the role of the Americans. Some people accused him of being anti-American.
Fowler. Helen writes that she doesn't want to divorce for religious reasons. Pyle and Fowler have a discussion about religion. Fowler denies that God exists.
Pyle saves Fowler. Fowler panics when he hears a man, jumps off the tower, and breaks his leg. Pyle helps him to get away. In spite of this Fowler will later become an accomplice in the murder of Pyle.
Granger. Bill Granger is an American journalist. Fowler himself also sees a prostitute when Phuong has left him, but he doesn't enjoy it. This makes him see that he still loves Phuong.
|
Fun Trivia | 
Quizzes | 
Games
| 
People | 
Services | 
Help | 
Me
