Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden by E. L. Doctorow
"Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden" by E. L. Doctorow presents a poignant narrative centered around the discovery of a young boy's body by a groundskeeper in a post-September 11 America. The story unfolds through the perspective of FBI special agent Brian W. Molloy, who becomes embroiled in a complex investigation that exposes the intersections of environmental neglect, immigration issues, and the political climate of the time. As Molloy delves deeper, he uncovers that the boy, Roberto Guzman, succumbed to an incurable disease linked to pollution from a powerful energy company, Utilicon.
The narrative explores themes of power, responsibility, and the often-overlooked plight of marginalized communities. As Molloy confronts systemic pressures to overlook the case, he faces moral dilemmas that challenge his professional integrity. The involvement of powerful individuals, including the daughter of Utilicon's chairman, adds layers of intrigue and highlights the lengths to which some will go to suppress uncomfortable truths. Ultimately, Molloy’s decision to expose the situation leads to his resignation, underscoring the personal sacrifices made in the pursuit of justice. This story serves as a reflection on the struggles for accountability in a world grappling with fear and its consequences.
Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden by E. L. Doctorow
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition
First published: 2004 (collected in Sweet Land Stories, 2004)
Type of work: Short story
The Work
The narrator of “Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden” is Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent Brian W. Molloy. The morning after a White House concert, a sixty-year-old groundskeeper discovers the shrouded body of a young boy. Hysteria in the post-September 11 world leads to his detention as a terrorist, until his daughter (a lawyer at the Treasury Department) files a missing person report. Probably no further investigation would have been conducted, but the Washington, D.C., police and the Post receive letters informing them about the boy.
As Molloy investigates, he quickly encounters officials who want the case ignored. Using his own time and money, Molloy follows a lead to Utilicon, a Southwestern power company headquartered in Beauregard, Texas. There he learns that the boy, Roberto Guzman, died of an incurable disease caused by environmental pollution from Utilicon. Roberto’s father, a gardener at Utilicon, has been detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and is scheduled for deportation.
Clearly someone wants to draw public attention to the dangerous pollution, and Molloy quickly discovers that Christina Stevens (daughter of Utilicon’s chairman) and her boyfriend, a Marine assigned to the White House, are responsible for placing Roberto’s body in the Rose Garden. As a result, Christina has been confined to a private mental hospital and fed a diet of tranquilizers.
Realizing that he is essentially powerless, Molloy nonetheless calls the government official and quietly informs him that unless the Guzmans are allowed to return to their home, the story will quickly be distributed to the media. This action marks the end of his career; so, as the story ends, Molloy has just written his letter of resignation.
Bibliography
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Kakutani, Michiko. “Do Facts and Fiction Mix?” The New York Times Book Review, January 27, 1980, pp. 2-3, 28-29.
Levine, Paul. E. L. Doctorow. London: Methuen, 1985.
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Weber, Richard. “E. L. Doctorow: Myth Maker.” The New York Times Magazine, October 20, 1985, 25-26, 42-43, 74-77.