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Being There
Jerzy Kosinski
In 1970 Jerzy Kosinski released/published the novel “Being There”. The plot is about Chance, who becomes very popular through his appearance in several media (TV-shows, newspapers).
Chance has lived in a house of an old man since he was a little child. He has no parents – his mother died after he was born and no one would tell him who his father is. Now, in his 30-40’s (at the age of between 30 and 40) he still has not left that house once, because the old man thinks that Chance’s mind is as damaged as his mother’s. The owner of the house has not allowed the orphan to go out, even when he has reached adulthood.
Chance’s function is to take care of the garden: “I have worked in the garden in the back of the house all my life.”(p.14) Then the old man dies. Since Chance has had no contact to any people, no one knows about his existence: “I did not know any of the other people working in the house.”(p.16) He has no birth certification, no other documents, neither has he paid any taxes, nor has he visited any doctor.
The lawyer, who manages the estate of the deceased, does not believe him that the orphan lived in his client’s house, since there are no proofs. Chance can’t convince him: “But, you have me. I am here. What more proof do you need?”(p.18) The next day he has to abandon/desert the house forever. Although he walks the streets the first time, he is not surprised by the cars and the masses of people, because he has seen these scenes already on TV.
Everything resembles what he has seen in films, news-reports and other TV-programs. His knowledge , however, does not suffice to prevent an accident. Despite his information, he has no experiences and soon is struck by a limousine. The owner of the car takes the injured man to her house. In the limousine she introduces herself: “I am Mrs. Benjamin Rand.
I am called EE by my friends, from my Christian names, Elizabeth Eve.”(p.26) As he has seen on TV Chance, too, tells his name. He knows that normally people have two names. Therefore he adds that he is a gardener. EE misunderstands Chance’s pronunciation and calls him Chauncey Gardiner.
In the course of the drive he loses consciousness because of his swelling leg.
After the inspection the doctor declares that there is no damage to the bones, but Chance has to stay in bed to recover. At dinner he becomes acquainted with Mr. Rand, a famous businessman. They soon form a friendship, because Mr. Rand likes the way Chance speaks about his garden.
While Chance is speaking about his experiences in his former activity, the businessman interprets it as a speech about economy. The old and ill man asks him not to leave immediately – to stay longer in his house. The following day the President of the United States pays a visit to Mr. Rand. Chauncey is allowed to take part in the discussion about the bad season on Wall Street: “In a garden growth has its seasons. There are spring and summer, but there are also fall and winter.
”(p.45) Also the President is impressed by Chance’s speech and his optimism, which is the reason why he mentions his name in a public statement. That’s how the reporters get interested in Chance. The same evening he appears in a TV-show and the next day every newspaper mentions ‘his’ name – he is called (known as) Chauncey Gardiner. From this day on everybody is interested to see him. Together with EE he joins a party of the high society, where he talks a few words with several politicians from several countries around the world.
They are all pleased to meet him, since they admire his way of thinking, especially the Russian ambassador, who leaves the event with an overall positive impression about Mr. Gardiner. In the report to his government he emphasizes that he reads the literature of Russian writers and that he would certainly help to battle the depression in Russia, too. At the departure from the party Chance confesses to the reporters, that he does not read any newspapers. The journalists are astonished that he does not try to keep it secret (hide/suppress it) like most politicians do. For that reason they have a high regard for his confession: “…for what is probably the most honest admission to come from a public figure in recent years.
Few men in public life have had the courage not to read newspapers. None have had the guts to admit it.”(p.80) At another party the ex-gardener is introduced to EE’s friends. Later an elderly man flirts with him, but Chance does not understand what the man wants from him, why he is smiling and staring at him. Although he does not comprehend what he is saying he nodes or answer his question with ‘yes’.
When the man asks him whether he wants to go upstairs and do it, Chance is confused/perplexed. He does not know what the person wants him to do upstairs. Since he is not sure if he is able to do what the man wants, he prefers to watch: “I would like to watch.”(p.90) They take an elevator and enter a bedroom. The man immediately hurries to undress himself and lie down on the bed.
Chance does not know why the man makes jerky movements nor does he figure he out why the naked man uses his shoe to press it against his hardened organ. He finds an explanation for these occurrences – “The man was certainly ill.”(p.92) – and goes back to the fete, where EE is searching him among the guests. She worries that he was ‘kidnapped’ by some woman. He puts her mind at rest: “I wasn’t with a woman.
I was with a man… He got sick. I stayed with him for a while.”(p.93) Mrs. Rand is fascinated by him: “Thank God there are still men like you around to give aid and comfort.”(p.
93)
Chance attracts EE unintentionally. Even though she is married, she confesses him her love and wants to make love with him. However, Chance has never seen on TV what happens in such a situation and as a result prefers to stay passive, so as not to do anything wrong. First EE is frustrated, because she thinks that he does not get pleasure from her. In addition she does not understand his desire to watch, but later she declares that she feels free with him.
The President and the Russian ambassador need more information about Chauncey Gardiner for their speeches, but their investigations do not supply them with his history: “I did consult our standard sources, Mr.
President, but they don’t seem to contain anything on Mr. Chauncey Gardiner.”(p.81) When further research fails, they fear that he could be a spy, but they can’t find any proofs. Even his pronunciation does not give any information about any region where he might have grown-up: “As if he had never existed. (p.
104) …He hasn’t been able to find a single thing. He’s checked twice, and not a single thing. He’s checked twice and not one agency could help him… The man does not seem to have existed until he moved into Rand’s house three days ago!(p.108-109)” Soon eight other states put him on their spying priorities lists.
A group of gentlemen need a candidate, because their former head had to resign his post, since certain incidents in his past incriminated him (cause to look him guilty). They might have found the perfect candidate without any past.
The author puts a sudden end to his novel without revealing to the reader if Chauncey Gardiner runs for that position or not.
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