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 Hillandale walks the streets of Haidho, where MacWhite has borrowed him for two months from Manila—though MacWhite himself is still in Vietnam. Hillandale notices that there are a lot of pawn shops and thinks he sees people selling opium, meaning that the city is suffering economically. He also notices a lot of astrologers, and notes that some practitioners’ signs indicate that they have Ph.D.’s in the practice. This excites Hillandale, since he himself is an astrology enthusiast and even studied it in the Philippines.
Hillandale observes crime and drug-dealing and sees it as a sign that the Sarkhanese are suffering, rather than taking it as evidence that they are morally inferior to Americans. Hillandale thus demonstrates his own goodwill toward the Sarkhanese people, since he does not jump to negative (and racist) conclusions as many of his negative peers do.
Themes
Hillandale returns to the American Embassy and starts reading biographies of Sarkhanese politicians. A protocol officer informs Hillandale that he has a formal dinner to attend tomorrow night with the new Filipino Ambassador—an old friend of Hillandale’s, Don Philippe—and several American and Sarkhanese dignitaries. Hillandale asks the officer for a guest list.
Hillandale’s commitment to understand Sarkhanese history and politics, even though he will only be there a short time, demonstrates that he is far more professional and committed than most other American diplomats and takes his role as an American representative seriously.
Themes
At the dinner, Hillandale and the other guests enjoy an hour of hors d’oeuvres before Don Philippe pulls him aside. His chef is missing an ingredient and Don Philippe asks if Hillandale can buy him 30 minutes with his palm reading trick. Hillandale agrees, so Don Philippe tells his other guests that Hillandale is a distinguished palm reader and testifies to his abilities. The Sarkhanese Prime Minister and his advisors clearly appreciate the skill. George Swift laughs and whispers to his wife that it’s a “vaudeville” stunt. He volunteers to have his palm read first.
George Swift’s mockery of Hillandale’s palm reading suggests that he judges Sarkhanese culture and its emphasis on astrology, rather than simply observing it, as Hillandale does. However, the Sarkhanese Prime Minister’s appreciation for Hillandale’s palm reading suggests that Swift makes a grave error in dismissing and mocking it, since it is obviously important to his diplomatic counterparts.
Themes
Hillandale gazes at Swift’s palm and starts telling him specific details from throughout Swift’s life. Swift is visibly shocked. Hillandale finishes Swift’s palm reading, including the fact that he beats his wife, stating that he chooses not to read his future as well. The Sarkhanese Prime Minister asks to go next, but would prefer to have his palm read in private. Don Philippe shows Hillandale and the Prime Minister to his study. The two men emerge, arms linked together, half an hour later. The Prime Minister appears “awe[d]” by Hillandale. After that, the chef serves an excellent dinner, and Don Philippe makes a mental note to repay Hillandale someday.
The Sarkhanese Prime Minister’s obvious respect for Hillandale’s palm reading ability demonstrates that Hillandale’s astrological knowledge gives him a diplomatic advantage with the Sarkhanese. This suggests that, far from the “vaudeville” act that Swift considers astrology to be, such cultural knowledge can be an important and useful tool for any diplomat.
Themes
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When MacWhite returns to Haidho three days later, George Swift meets him. Swift has a black eye, which Hillandale gave him, and he angrily announces that he’s written a letter of reprimand for Hillandale. MacWhite meets with Hillandale, and Hillandale explains that astrology is extremely important to the Sarkhanese, and no officials make major decisions without consulting an astrologist first. However, during the dinner, rather than understand what an opportunity reading the Prime Minister’s palm is, Swift angrily tries to mock Hillandale for it—Hillandale researched everyone at the dinner beforehand and told Swift things about himself that were humiliating, but true.
Even though Hillandale admits that his palm reading is a stunt, enabled by his thorough investigations of everyone he works with, Hillandale still recognizes astrology as an important piece of Sarkhanese culture and makes no judgment of it. Swift’s disregard for astrology and anger at Hillandale for embarrassing him suggests that, like Sears, Swift puts his own ego ahead of his diplomatic duties, making him a poor representative of the United States.
Themes
When Hillandale reads the Sarkhanese Prime Minister’s palm, he tells the man very specific things about his life—that Hillandale learned through prior investigation—which convinces the man that Hillandale possesses a true astrological gift. When Hillandale tells the Prime Minister that the Minister currently has two friends struggling for power beneath him, the Prime Minister asks Hillandale which of the two men he should have killed. Hillandale doesn’t know what MacWhite would desire, so he tells the Prime Minister not to kill either of them yet. As Hillandale relays the story to MacWhite, MacWhite realizes that Hillandale manipulated national events.
Hillandale’s palm reading not only pleases the Sarkhanese Prime Minister, but gives Hillandale an opportunity to advise the Prime Minister on significant national events. This demonstrates that Hillandale’s cultural awareness not only makes him more endearing to the Sarkhanese dignitaries, but provides him with unique diplomatic advantages. Despite Swift’s dismissal of astrology, this suggests that such cultural sensitivity is paramount for effective diplomats.
Themes
After dinner, the Sarkhanese Prime Minister asks Hillandale if he’ll read the King’s palm and “cast his horoscope.” Hillandale recognizes that he could use the meeting to sway Sarkhan’s military strategy to appear pro-American and anti-Communist, which would win America a “great propaganda victory.” However, according to tradition, the engagement must be arranged by the American protocol officer, George Swift, and the Sarkhanese protocol officer, Prince Moyang. George Swift must initiate the meeting tomorrow morning. Swift promises to do so, and Hillandale retires for the night, planning how he will execute the King’s palm reading.
Again, despite Swift’s dismissal of something like astrology, which does not suit his Western mindset, Hillandale’s respect for Eastern cultural practices grants him an unprecedented diplomatic opportunity. Hillandale’s use of astrology to affect Sarkhanese military maneuvers and provide an American “propaganda victory” demonstrates the complexities of diplomatic work and suggests that nothing in a culture should be overlooked or ruled out based on cultural or racial prejudice.
Themes
Swift fails to initiate the meeting the following morning, choosing instead to go liquor shopping at the commissary all morning. Too late, he tells his secretary to call Prince Moyang. She does, deeply offending the Sarkhanese by breaking protocol, and the opportunity is lost. Hillandale confronts Swift later that day but Swift blows him off, not realizing the great error he’s made. Hillandale punches him in the eye.
Swift’s indifference to Sarkhanese culture and protocol suggests that something an American may regard as a minor issue may actually be incredibly significant—or offensive—to people of another culture. Swift belittles Sarkhanese culture, treating it as inferior to his own, demonstrating how such racial and cultural prejudice can destroy diplomatic efforts.
Themes
When Hillandale finishes his story and leaves, MacWhite calls George Swift in. He chastises Swift for his stupidity and tells him it’s not his job to judge the Sarkhanese’s beliefs, only to understand them. Swift is shocked that he is being punished rather than Hillandale. MacWhite tells Swift that he is transferring him out of Sarkhan.
MacWhite’s rebuke of Swift parallels Hillandale’s own practice of observing and understanding a culture without judging it based on his own American cultural background.
Themes
