Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Ugly American, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Failure of the American Foreign Service
Communism vs. Capitalism
Grassroots Development
Self-Interested Philanthropy
Racism and Cultural Insensitivity
Summary
Analysis
Colonel Edwin Hillandale likes dancing, drinking, playing jazz music (earning him his nickname) and “any kind of people.” In 1952, Hillandale goes to Manila to serve as a liaison officer, and he instantly falls in love with the Philippines. He learns the language, studies the culture, and celebrates with its people, soon earning a reputation as one of the Philippines’ most beloved foreigners. By 1953, Hillandale becomes Magsaysay’s “unofficial advisor” and helps Magsaysay when he runs for president.
As an American, Hillandale earns the respect of the Filipino people by embracing their culture, rather than seeing it as inferior to American culture. Hillandale becomes so popular that he serves as an advisor to a prominent Filipino politician, suggesting that friendliness and openness are powerful tools for American diplomats.
Themes
Hillandale travels to a province of firmly entrenched Communists who oppose Magsaysay as a politician, since he sides with the Americans. The villagers are skeptical of Hillandale, but he charms them with his music, easy demeanor, command of their language, and humility. He asks for a meal and explains that he himself is nearly as poor as they are, since everything in America costs so much that he can only live in a tiny house. The Filipino people warm to Hillandale and come to believe that Americans are not all “rich and bloated snobs” as the Communists claim, since an American colonel is humble and sincere. That year, 95 percent of the province votes for Magsaysay.
Hillandale counters the Communist perception of Americans by simply being friendly, humble, and treating the local people as equal to himself. This again suggests that friendliness and humility are powerful tools for diplomats, since they can heal people’s poor perception of American culture, and thus their opinion of Western Capitalism as well.
Themes
