Seite 128 [128]
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ANIKÓ LUKÁCS the first one to reach the state of liminality, where he confronts himself and sets a major goal to not only overcome his own lies but also those of Nick and Honey, and then Martha’s as well, thus creating a communal, ritual cleansing. Get the Guests focuses on the initiation of Nick and Honey, in the context of a game that George calls The Story of his Second Book, and it is based on Nick’s earlier revelations. During Humiliate the Host, the young man, in an unexpected and unguarded moment, reveals to George the details of his seemingly idyllic marriage: “NICK: I married her because she was pregnant. [...] She wasn’t ... really. It was a hysterical pregnancy. She blew up, and then she went down. GEORGE: And while she was up, you married her. NICK: And then she went down.” George deliberately exploits Nick’s moment of weakness, in order to know more revealing details of the true circumstances of the couple’s marriage. GEORGE [...] you marry a woman because she’s all blown up ... while I, in my clumsy, old-fashioned way... NICK There was more to it than that! GEORGE Sure! ll bet she has money, too! NICK (Looks hurt. Then, determined, after a pause) Yes [...] You see... GEORGE There were other things. NICK Yes [...] We sort of grew up together, you know [...] And it was ... always taken for granted ... you know ... by our families, and by us, too, I guess. And ... so, we did. [...] I wouldn't say there was any ... particular passion between us, even at the beginning ... of our marriage, I mean." After finishing the first game, holding the secrets of Nick and Honey, George starts a new game, with the focus no longer on him (at least not in his former position as the victim) but on his guests. The story of George’s second book, which uses an ironically childish tone to intensify the cruelty and humiliation aimed at Nick and Honey, is an attempt to detract from the apparently perfect marriage of the younger couple, pointing out that behind the illusion of the “American Dream” lies an empty and loveless relationship. The discovery of truth (the story of George’s tale) destabilizes Nick’s status, gradually pushing him into the state of liminality (to its edge for the time being), where the man who appears to be the “wave of the future” will experience the ruthlessness of this state as it eliminates the lies, and the former self of complete confidence is replaced by a man fearfully trying to preserve that identity. Honey’s reaction — realizing Nick’s betrayal of exposing their secrets 13 Ibid., 93-94. * Ibid., 102-105. 15 Ibid., 68. + 126 +
