It's Just the Norm

   A norm, AKA a socially and culturally accepted way of acting, living, and doing that is shared by all members of a majority assume one another share. So what are some examples of social norms you may ask? Well let me list a few off the top of my head for you! Leaving a 15% for your waiter at a restaurant, saying please and thank you, brushing your teeth and showering daily, men paying for women on dates, going to the back of the line, marriage, and many many more. All of these norms are assumed to be universal in the American culture and people expect one another to act this way or live by these norms on a daily basis. But norms can sometimes lead to false perceptions! For example, just because someone drives a Mercedes-Benz (a norm for most rich people), does not always mean they are rich! False perceptions like this are shown in "Being There" as well! Take a look at the video below to learn more about social norms and how they effect our world!

     It is the false perception of Chance that lead people to believe he is a character that he really is not. Being an illiterate gardener, Chance is not diplomat. Yet, after his caretaker passes away, he inherits his fortune, and becomes a famous social figure. He unknowingly deceives everyone around him into believing he is someone he is not, which is what fascinates me so much as the reader! For example, when talking about Chance, “The President’s brows knitted and he said icily: “I assume that Mr. Chauncey Gardiner, like all the rest of us, was born of certain parents, grew up in certain places, made certain connections, and like the rest of us contributed, through his taxes, to the wealth of this nation” (Kozinski 98). Due to the norm of this time period, people of diplomacy where very privileged individuals who fit the social norm of this class. So without even knowing any history of Chance, the President assumes that Chance fits the normal of his class.

     This language of interpretation device clearly illustrates the conflict between reality and perception and reinforces the main theme of the novel. Due to the failure to differentiate between reality (Chance's real identity) and perception (what the President and others perceive him to be), the true identity of Chance is unable to be grasped by other characters as well as Chance himself.

    Can you imagine living a life like Chance? Not only do others not know who Chance really is, but I don't think Chance even knows his true identity. It is examples like this that people fail to differentiate between reality and perception and lose sight of true identity! Chance, because of this, is like a lost puppy.