What is the theme in Being There by Jerzy Kosinski?

The theme of television versus reality is evident throughout the novel. To Chance, reality and television are interchangeable. By watching TV, he creates other worlds and actually becomes part of them. According to Chance, people are made real by the mere fact that someone is watching them. When the Old Man dies, Chance's reality is profoundly altered in many ways. Not only will he have to leave his home and deal with the world outside, he will also finally be exposed to other people, people that have never seen him before.