ng on his own thinking and tells Chance that Mr. Rand has two of them, meaning two wheelchairs. Chance then asks the guy if they have any televisions. He means do any of the elevators have televisions, but the servant thinks he is making a joke about the wheel chair having a television. The servant starts laughing at Chance's question because it isn't everyday that you hear someone asking if a wheelchair has a television on it.
             From this scene, the servant views Chance as a humorous person. He thinks he is a joker, a comedian, if you like. This has significance in a later scene when the two take the elevator again. They are going up when the servant starts laughing. He is remembering what Chance said earlier. So the servant has constructed Chance as being a humorous fellow from their elevator conversations.
             Another example of figure-ground is when Chance receives a telephone call from a newspaper reporter. Eve is there crying because Ben is so ill. A servant tells Chance about the call, but Chance delays in answering it because he has never had a telephone call before. It is not in his realm of experience. He does not know how to answer the telephone. Eve thinks Chance does not want to leave her to answer the telephone because she is so distressed; that he is staying with her out of compassion for her. To this end, she constructs Chance as being a caring, compassionate human being. That she is more important to him than a newspaper reporter.
             Context: The totality of what's happening. All the pieces coming together. We use words and actions to bring stuff together, to make things whole and understandable.
             Chance's metaphors about Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter built him into an intelligent, insightful, important personage. Mr. Rand was duped, the Press, Mrs. Rand, the president, and all of the president's advisors also bought this erroneous depiction of Chance. His colorful views of the seasons and ga...