The Ugly American

by

Eugene Burdick and William J. Lederer

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The Ugly American: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
In 1952, Father Finian receives an assignment to move from his home in New England to Burma, where he will oversee the Catholic mission. Father Finian is a large and able man and a respected scholar, especially on Communism. He eagerly anticipates his role in Burma. Father Finian meets a Communist once while serving as a navy chaplain during World War II—a young American marine spitefully tells Finian that he is a Communist and that there is no God watching over them, they must take care of themselves. Despite the young man’s anger, Finian thinks he looked “older, wiser, infinitely tougher than any man,” and Finian realizes no logic could possibly change the young Communist’s mind.
Father Finian’s story explores the characteristics of Communist ideology, establishing it as a true threat to free and democratic life while also proposing a method for combating it. Finian’s sense that no words or logic could change the young Communist’s mind suggests that people become zealots for their ideology. This implies that Communism cannot be fought through simple reason or argument, and an alternative course of action will need to be taken.
Themes
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
After the incident, Finian starts reading Communist literature and listening to Communist speeches. He realizes that Communism, though secular, works exactly like religion and inspires the same blind devotion, even justifying violence like a religious crusade. In spite of all of his reading, Finian always thinks that Communism is evil, the “face of the devil,” and must be fought. During his long journey to Burma, Finian spends all his time studying Burmese culture and anthropology and forming his “plan of attack.”
Like Krupitzyn, Finian demonstrates his professionalism and responsibility by committing himself to learn as much about his target country as possible. Finian’s belief that Communism functions like a religion suggests that it is more than a mere economic system, and so it poses a far more tangible threat than other political movements.
Themes
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Finian arrives in Burma and meets with the Archbishop in a town called Mokthu. The Archbishop warns him that the Communists have attacked or destroyed all of their churches in the rural areas, but Finian resolves that he will spend three months alone in the hills despite the danger. The next day he drives into the countryside, resolved to find one Burmese Catholic, learn the language, and adapt himself to the food, even though it will likely require enduring several weeks of dysentery until his body adjusts.
Finian voluntarily suffers, facing both risk and illness to adapt himself to Burma and do the work at hand. This contrasts him from most American diplomats in the book and demonstrates that he is wholly committed to helping the Burmese people. Finian’s plan to integrate himself into the culture and society demonstrates effective grassroots practices.
Themes
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Grassroots Development Theme Icon
Five weeks later, Finian understands the language. Though dysentery leaves him feverish and 40 pounds lighter, he can now digest the food and begin to recover. He finds a dependable Burmese Catholic named U Tien, as well as a handful of good non-Catholic, but anti-Communist men. Finian spends several weeks privately testing U Tien’s resolve as a Catholic and an anti-Communist. When he is satisfied, U Tien introduces Finian to the other men and they begin their work. Eight Burmese men, including U Tien, gather before Father Finian as the priest leans against a tree to support his weakened body.
Once again, Finian’s suffering demonstrates his commitment to his goal of helping the Burmese people. His decision to work alongside Burmese people rather than other Americans suggests that the most effective way for someone to work in another culture is to ally themselves with local people, rather than depend on a contingent of foreigners.
Themes
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Grassroots Development Theme Icon
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Father Finian tells the men that although the Catholic Church does not normally involve itself in politics, Communism is unique. They must fight it together, but Father Finian will not lead them. They will decide what to do as a group, and Finian will follow their will. As he explains this, he notices that the Burmese men stand taller and stronger, and thinks that it might be the first time a white man has asked them to make their own decisions. The Burmese men discuss together and decide that their goal is not for all people to be Catholics but simply for all people to worship freely, which they cannot do under Communism. Father Finian agrees that this is a good goal.
Finian actively decides that although he organized their group, he will not lead it, since he is not Burmese. The Burmese men’s positive reaction to this decision suggests that making their own decisions gives them confidence and a greater overall sense of agency. However, Finian’s sense that no white man has ever deferred to them speaks to one of the book’s overarching messages, which is that white people do not often treat non-white people from other nations as their equals.
Themes
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Grassroots Development Theme Icon
Racism and Cultural Insensitivity Theme Icon
Quotes
Finian asks the other men why Communism has taken hold in Burma. The men discuss the question animatedly. One man, Toki, seems filled with a restless energy. They determine that Communism spreads in Burma because the people think that the Communists will take care of them. More importantly, the Burmese people believe the Communists will fight the white Westerners who have exploited them in the past. Even so, the Finian’s Burmese friends believe Communism is evil and will only seek its own power. Finian thanks the men for coming and states that tomorrow, if they wish, they will start reading Communist literature to truly understand Communism’s ideas and methods.
The Burmese men’s recognition that Communism seems the best way to fight white people suggests that Western colonialism and exploitation builds a festering resentment toward all white people. Compared to exploitative white Capitalists, an ideology that promises to protect the poor and fight the evil white Westerners must seem compelling to poor Burmese people. This ultimately suggests that Capitalism’s abuses set the stage for the rise of Communism.
Themes
The Failure of the American Foreign Service Theme Icon
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Grassroots Development Theme Icon
Racism and Cultural Insensitivity Theme Icon
Father Finian and his friends meet for the next several days, compiling everything they know about Communism in Burma. Together, they realize that the Communists wield power in every village, have informants in every Western organization, are militaristic in some areas and subtle in others. They continue meeting for weeks, debating about how to best combat Communism, which denies people the freedom to live and believe as they choose. The decide that they must persuade the Burmese people gently, without force, using language that is easy to understand.
The nine friends’ discussion on Communism’s local influence suggests that it succeeds because it is adaptive. The Communists employ force or mercy, espionage or propaganda as each situation calls for. Finian and his friends’ decision to persuade gently and subtly suggests that they intend to fight Communism by changing hearts and minds, which will hopefully be more effective than fighting with violence or force.
Themes
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Grassroots Development Theme Icon
The nine men begin publishing and anonymously distributing a small paper called the Communist Farmer, in which they print actual articles by Mao, Lenin, Stalin, and Marx raging against the stupidity of peasants and justifying the slaughter of farmers, or else report news about the Soviet Union’s agricultural struggles. The local Communist Party quickly realizes what the magazine is doing, but they struggle to combat it, since all of the articles are actual words by leading Communist thinkers. The more the Communists try to suppress the paper, the more the Burmese people prize them. The Burmese begin to see the Communists as “buffoons.”
Mao, Lenin, Stalin, and Marx are all key Communist intellectuals who shaped the ideology. The nine friends’ strategy cleverly exposes the underbelly of Communism, which goes against the grain of the grand promises it makes to poor peasants. Likewise, by publishing news about the Soviet Union’s own struggles, the nine friends demonstrate that Communism does not necessarily bring prosperity, since the Soviet Union is thoroughly Communist itself.
Themes
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Self-Interested Philanthropy Theme Icon
The local Communists grow so desperate that they bring in a Russian strategist named Vladimir Vinich to regain control of their region. Vinich recognizes that the best practice is to keep foreigners as invisible as possible, so he operates his plans through the Burmese Communist Party. However, Toki infiltrates the Communist Party and makes a secret recording of Vinich criticizing the Burmese people and admitting that Russia will not actually send tractors or food to Burma, and that they intend to let many people starve. For weeks, the Communist Farmer advertises that an important Communist message will be broadcast on the radio at 2 p.m. on June 10. With the entire region listening in, they broadcast Vinich’s damning recorded conversation.
Vinich’s belief that foreign diplomats should remain unseen and discrete again contrasts with the American diplomats who are loud and presumptuous. Vinich’s damning words indicate that the Communists are more interested in gathering power for themselves than for actually helping poor Burmese people, revealing Communism’s true intentions. Thus, Finian and his friends’ method of fighting Communism suggests that simply exposing its true intentions is a powerful and valuable tactic.
Themes
The Failure of the American Foreign Service Theme Icon
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Self-Interested Philanthropy Theme Icon
Quotes
The following day, the nine friends meet together again. Toki seems at peace. He announces confidently that they must execute the same plan all over Burma, and even in neighboring Sarkhan. Toki gives Father Finian a look of “friendship and equality” and Finian feels happy. He makes plans to go to Sarkhan, and writes in his journal that “when Americans do what is right and necessary, they are also doing what is effective.”
Toki’s look of “friendship and equality” suggests that, by following the lead of the Burmese men rather than taking the lead himself, Finian treats the Burmese as his equals. This contrasts the Burmese’s former interactions with white people, where white people acted domineering and exploited the Burmese for their own gain.
Themes
Communism vs. Capitalism Theme Icon
Grassroots Development Theme Icon
Racism and Cultural Insensitivity Theme Icon