Nov 16, 2009

The Houseguest | Social Concerns

As in Neighbors (1980; see separate entry) Berger's The Houseguest presents a "comedy of bad manners," in this case to provide ironic and satirical commentary on American values and moral confusion in the 1980s. After first establishing himself as a model of the helpful and considerate guest, Chuck Burgoyne, the "houseguest" of the novel, proceeds to violate every unspoken taboo of the host/guest relationship while staying with the Graves family at their summer home on an island off the New England coast. Although the Graveses are by no means flawless or even particularly...