Chapter 1 Summary

Being There by Jerzy Kosinski is an allegorical tale about a man named Chance whose experience of the world is limited to his work as a gardener and what he has seen on television. Over the course of seven days, Chance leaves his employer and navigates his way through high society. His encounters with businessmen, world leaders, and the media are colored by his observations of life as seen in his former garden and on television.

It is Sunday and Chance is watering the garden. As he works, Chance considers the similarities and differences between people and plants. Both need to be cared for in order to live, survive disease, and die peacefully. However, plants are different in that they cannot think or know themselves. Plants cannot recognize themselves in a mirror, nor can they intend to do anything. Plants cannot help growing...