In the short story, “In Search of Marvin Gardens” the author John McPhee relates a story with
qualities common to many narratives. A protagonist narrator is facing his antagonistic foil in a man versus
man conflict. It is not an original idea. However, what makes this narrative truly original and effective is the
story–telling style McPhee uses. He goes far beyond simply describing the events deep into the mind of the
narrator, while bringing the reader along for the ride. Inevitably, this prompts the question, how does John
McPhee’s storytelling style in “In Search of Marvin Gardens” enhance the reading experience so
successfully?
McPhee’s story chronicles the narrator as he plays in a very unique game of Monopoly. He is, in fact,
competing in the World Championship of Monopoly. In his quest for victory, the narrator ventures along a
winding path of the game’s history, in a literal and figurative search for a place known as Marvin Gardens.
The search is literal in that Marvin Gardens proves to be the decisive property needed for victory in the best
of seven championship series. Additionally, the search also represents a figurative trek through the game’s
past into the present. In both cases, the narrator inherently guides the reader’s perspectives.
To adequately critique McPhee’s writing “In Search of Marvin Gardens”, the method of narrative
criticism would likely best serve the purpose. By using this method the focus is put on the most crucial
elements of the story. In McPhee’s style, the most notable elements include the settings and the characters,
most especially the narrator. Also, to a slightly lesser extent, the events, the temporal and causal relations,
and the narrative’s theme must be evaluated. In considering the audience of “In Search of Marvin Gardens”
less attention is required. Regardless of a reader’s background, not much prior knowledge or experience is
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needed to take something away from the narrative. In actuality, the most important prerequisite for
obtaining an understanding of McPhee’s story is knowledge of the classic board game: Monopoly.
The main focus of “In Search of Marvin Gardens” lies in the contrast between the story’s three
distinct settings. These settings are not definite locations where major action in the story transpires. Rather,
these settings represent different facets of the same place. Moreover, they allow the reader to more
completely understand the mind of the narrator as he plays. The three settings represent Monopoly past,
Monopoly present, and the narrator in the present. The narrator’s present is the major setting where actual
plot driving events take place. This particular setting represents the current part of the world that the
narrator is specifically living in, interacting with, and influencing. As it pertains to the story, this setting
encompasses the narrator as he plays in the Monopoly World Championships.
Monopoly past and present are two settings that are more integrally shared by the reader. To the
reader as well as the narrator, Monopoly present represents the larger world in which they live. It is the part
of the world over which they have little real influence. In contrast, Monopoly past represents the wandering
mind of the individual. It represents the part of the mind that is free to consider more than just the
superficial and immediate nature of things. In McPhee’s work, the narrator delves into the history of the
board game. These two settings are the same geographical location, but significantly different times. More
specifically, these two settings represent New Jersey’s Atlantic City, the real life inspiration for the
properties found in Monopoly. These settings contrast the growing city of the 1930s with the declining slum
that has come to define the modern city. In this contrast, we begin to see the emergence of an appearance
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versus reality theme, which continues throughout the course of the story. The different settings also allow
the author to quickly and fluid switch between time periods, making them seem almost as if they are one.
The characters in the story also have a similar type unity. In the Monopoly game, the author is pitted
against his rival, foil, and friend in the final championship match. In this contest, we find that the opponent
also assumes characteristics of many other minor characters. Most of these individuals are but memories of
the 1930s high-class lifestyle that defined what it means to monopolize. These include the likes of Dwight
Bell, William Coffin, and Anthony J. Drexel Biddle. These people exuded a cutthroat desire for victory and
monetary success that is rivaled only by that of the narrator’s opponent. All of these characters are very
static and do not show a distinct change in nature. In fact, this lack of change is largely what defines them.
Their purpose in revealing their motives serves mainly to further develop the narrator himself, and add
another dimension of complexity to the story.
The narrator is the single most important character in the story. He is the sole mediator of the
narrative’s events, and in most cases, is fairly impartial. To a certain extent, however, the narrator is an
intrusive presence in the story. He is very quick to make his opinions known largely because he is so
integrally involved with the events of the story and has emotional ties to the outcome of these events. The
narrator does reveal an objective opinion when it comes to describing events and histories that take place in
the Atlantic City realm. Despite this, it is important for the reader to develop his own views of the
happenings that the narrator relates. McPhee’s ability to add this dimension to “In Search of Marvin
Gardens” serves to improve the fundamental reading experience.
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In order to consider some of the other factors in McPhee’s work, the actual events of the story must
be addressed. In the Atlantic City setting, no Monopoly World Championship events take place. The real
events of the story take place in the active present, where the narrator is battling for a Monopoly victory,
while searching through history and himself, for the elusive property Marvin Gardens. A certain amount of
irony is illustrated here, as this is the only Monopoly property not found within the Atlantic City limits. In
the end, this search proves to be the narrator’s Achilles heel, and he ends up loosing the match
consequently. He does, however, eventually discover the location of this elusive place to be south of the city.
It is also important to note that most of the relationships taking place in this story do not follow a set
temporal plan. In fact, jumping quality of the narrative allows for the real depth of the story to be revealed.
A story simply about a championship Monopoly game would not be nearly as interesting or entertaining as
McPhee’s version. The story line does not rely much on causal relations either. The events flow in a logical
sequence, but are not coincidentally dependent on them. This sequence serves as yet another way to
enhance the reading experience.
In McPhee’s “In Search of Marvin Gardens” the overriding theme seems to lie in an appearance versus
reality direction. The author has made it clear that the business practices used in the game of Monopoly are
not, simply put, valid in real life. What the monopolizing powers of the past had worked so hard to obtain,
has become nearly worthless as a result. There is much more to consider than a simple deed. Additionally,
the reader is forced to consider the possibility that other people’s lives would be greatly influenced by
decisions made with such little thought. Basically, the narrator questions, what is the value of a property on
the game board? Compared to a dollar value, these properties are fundamentally priceless. In life, these
properties are not just something to posses, but also, something to experience. They become something that
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is part of a person in as much as the game of Monopoly is part of the narrator. And in that way, the narrator
becomes more like the individual. Through narrator’s ability to become like the reader, McPhee is able to
masterfully bring the reader into the story. In “In Search of Marvin Gardens” it is essentially what makes
McPhee’s narrator/reader relationship so great, and what makes it seem almost as if you are sitting at the
table playing for World Championship of Monopoly.
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