Chauncey Gardiner and the Audacity of Hope

Kate Phillips — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:18:56 +0000

(A tale of two political figures – one fictional as well as accidental, one real and very intentional.) As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. This week I re-watched the brilliantly constructed satire, “Being There.” (A 1979 film directed by Hal Ashby, adapted from the 1971 novel written by Jerzy Kosiński.) Peter Sellers plays a simple-minded gardner with no social or intellectual skills, being essentially raised by television sets and the plants he tended. When forced into new situations such as befriending a billionaire and meeting the president, he is mistaken for a genius of sorts. “Chance the Gardner” becomes “Chauncey Gardiner,” his simple sentences interpreted as deep metaphors about the state of the nation. Here are some lines from the “meeting the president” scene: President “Bobby”: Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives? [Long pause] Chance the Gardner: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. President “Bobby”: In the garden. Chance the Gardner: Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again. President “Bobby”: Spring, and summer. Chance the Gardener: Yes. President “Bobby”: Then fall and… winter. Chance the Gardener: Yes. Benjamin Rand: I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we’re upset by the seasons of our economy. Chance the Gardener: Yes! There will be growth in the spring! Benjamin Rand: Hmm! Chance the Gardener: Hmm! President “Bobby” Hmm. Well, Mr. Gardner, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I’ve heard in a very, very long time. [Benjamin Rand applauds] The metaphors remind of my own “Autumn Contemplations”…

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Chauncey Gardiner and the Audacity of Hope