The threads that bind two stories about meticulously crafted fakeworlds.
Despite having little initial interest, and feeling lukewarm after the first few episodes, I decided to marathon Westworld. This impulse was born from a “what’s the fuss all about?” reflex, and once the finale was available to stream, I had to watch it all. Even with a deep love of character study, meditations on humanity, and examinations of what it means to be “alive,” I felt no real connection to the series. It was filled with multiple outstanding performances, but I had to file it alongside other things that I don’t have enthusiasm for, like The Sopranos or Titanic. It’s a good show that didn’t connect. I walked away from the viewing with something though, and that’s a deeper appreciation of 1998’s The TrumanShow.
There’s a scene towards the end of the Westworld season finale where Teddy and Dolores share a heartbreaking moment. They sit at the water’s edge, the moon hanging heavily behind them. It’s a tender exchange that’s also brimming with melodrama, and as our view expands, it’s revealed that there’s an audience present for something we assumed was for our eyes only. Patrons in fancy dress watch the two hosts spew their love and devotion, and it’s clear what puppets they truly are. This tableau instantly transported me to Seahaven, fictional setting of The Truman Show, and, ironically, another fabricated world lorded over by EdHarris.
A quick mental scan over the previous 10 hours of television left me somewhat confident there weren’t other threads connecting the two properties that I’d simply missed. Truman and WW share themes, but their crescendos ask different questions of the viewer. They’re both about make-believe worlds that manipulate inhabitants for entertainment, but Truman is not just about control, it’s about gaslighting.
For those unfamiliar with the term, Wikipedia has a succinct and relevant definition: a form of psychological abuse in which a victim is manipulated into doubting their own memory, perception, and sanity. There are shades of it in WW, particularly in Thandie Newton’s Maeve, but, much to my surprise, it’s the whole plot of The TrumanShow.
Truman is adopted as a baby and immediately put on TV. There is a sense that the world – and Ed Harris – own him, and therefore he’s undeserving of agency. The tagline of the show (and his life) is printed on shirts worn by crew: Love Him Protect Him. The way they protect him, and show their love, is through deceit. Truman’s father is taken from him in a violent boating accident, the intended goal to keep him afraid of the water, and unable to leave the island. Truman is tricked into marrying his wife, his mother repeatedly uses guilt to keep him grounded, and the world is tilted on its side to keep him in place. But when he points it out, he’s told he’scrazy.
Sitting on the hood of his car, lamenting his life, Truman confides in his “best friend” Marlon that it feels as though the world revolves around him. “Are you sure that’s not wishful thinking?” Marlon replies. Truman is right, the world quite literally revolves around him, and when he pushes past the absurdity and ego of it, he’s told it’s hisfault.
Truman’s relationship with his wife Meryl is built on gaslighting. She repeatedly dismisses his concerns and observations, telling him he’s “not well,” and “needs help.” She often positions herself as the victim in their exchanges, accusing Truman of blaming her for a sudden traffic jam forming just as he attempts to leave theisland.
Newspaper headlines scream that Seahaven is the best place to live, and why go anywhere else? Every object in Truman’s life informs him that his gut instinct is wrong. Posters on the travel agency wall warn of danger from lightning storms, terrorism, illness – danger if you leave. Truman is kept scared and repeatedly dismissed by the world around him, and all to keep him from creating his ownlife.
Westworld circles similar ideas (except the hosts are often viewed as too unimportant to even bother lying to), but somehow The Truman Show feels more socially relevant. Interestingly, both toy with the concept that a life half-lived isn’t worth living – the end of one’s current existence preferable to staying put – and that’s something both execute perfectly.
FAQs
In The Truman Show (1998), an entire fictional town of people gaslight Truman from the moment he's born. While gaslighting is scary, it exists in many genres.
How is Truman manipulated in The Truman Show? ›
In the Truman Show, the theme of audience manipulation is demonstrated through the use of sound. Non-diegetic sound is used when Truman is too scared to go on the boat that will take him to Harbor Island. Heavy repetitive beats are used in the background to showcase Truman's fear of the ocean.
What is The Truman Show largely a metaphor for concerning us the viewers? ›
1 Finding Freedom from Fantasy
The Truman Show offers a grand metaphor for contemporary American culture. Its message is that we are immersed in a media landscape of lifelike fantasies that serves the interests of those in power.
What is the deeper meaning of The Truman Show? ›
Though the theme of the movie may come across as comedic, the underlying message tells us a lot about the ways in which we accept our own mundane realities, never truly understanding how easily we can break free from them.
What lesson does The Truman Show teach us? ›
Question everything: Truman's quest began when he started to question what he had previously taken for granted. Too often we go through life making assumptions about ourselves and others that greatly limit our possibilities. We assume that we can't find a better job or succeed in business.
Did Jim Carrey improvise in The Truman Show? ›
The Trumania bit, where Truman draws on the mirror with soap and acts strange, was completely improvised by Jim Carrey.
Why does Truman's wife cross her fingers? ›
While looking at his wedding photos, Truman realizes that Meryl has her fingers crossed as they kiss, indicating that she never had real feelings for him. This incident exposes Truman's closest friends and family's fake nature and contributes to his decision to leave, as he truly has nothing worth staying for.
What are 2 main theme s in The Truman Show? ›
In the film The Truman Show, these are some of the main themes: The power of the media (for example television) Commercialism (believing in money as the most important thing in life)
Who is the villain in The Truman Show? ›
Christof is the main antagonist of the 1998 film The Truman Show.
What is the last line of The Truman Show? ›
After a moment of reflection, Truman says his catchphrase: "In case I don't see you... good afternoon, good evening, and good night", bows to his audience and exits.
The Truman Show is one of the best examples of dramatic irony, where the audience knows something the character doesn't. Truman not knowing his life is a TV show leaves the audience on the edge of their seat, wondering if Truman will discover the truth or not.
What does The Truman Show criticize? ›
Popular analysis of The Truman Show generally has focused on the comments the movie is making about our media culture and corporate influence in our lives. However, as the names of the lead characters (Truman, Christof) suggest, there is more to the movie than a critique of corporate media culture.
Why was The Truman Show so impactful? ›
'The Truman Show' predicted the rise of reality television, and that's what makes its concept feel so timeless now. Jim Carrey perfectly plays the role of Truman and he sells the “real” aspect of the show. The popularity of Truman Burbank as a character shows the power that the media has over people's lives.
What is the motto of The Truman Show? ›
The Pollyannaish motto on Truman's license plates says enough: "A nice place to live."
Did Jim Carrey get rejected? ›
Jennifer Coolidge, Jim Carrey, And 16 Other Actors Who Got Rejected From "SNL" But Still Ended Up Becoming Famous Anyway.
Is free guy a copy of Truman Show? ›
Free Guy is a modern version of The Truman Show with resemblances like the main character's carefree naivete, the world within a world, and forbidden outside love. If you enjoy the metaverse, then Free Guy is the movie for you.
What failures did Jim Carrey have? ›
Throughout much of his life, he struggled with depression. There has been speculation that his difficulties in childhood increased his vulnerability to experiencing major depression. In addition to having depression, Jim Carrey was also diagnosed with ADHD.
What was wrong with the wedding picture in The Truman Show? ›
When Truman notices Meryl's crossing her fingers in the wedding photo, the hand that is visible would be her right hand as she is standing on the right side of the photo looking at Truman who is on the left. The mistake is that Meryl's wedding ring is on the hand with the crossed fingers, which would be her right hand.
Who did Truman love? ›
Harry Truman always said he fell in love with Bess Wallace when they were children in Sunday school together. It was love at first sight, at least in Truman's probably oversimplified recollection in later life of what happened sometime during the 12 years they attended Sunday school.
What does Sylvia's PIN say in The Truman Show? ›
Outside of the show, Sylvia has become part of a “Free Truman” campaign that demands the end of the show and Truman's freedom. Sylvia helps Truman realize he is a pawn within a greedy corporation and wears a red sweater with a pin that says, “How's it going to end?”
Christof, the creator of the show, is, ultimately, the God of the world Truman lives in. He has created the world and manipulated it to serve his desires. He is also Truman's personal God, standing as an all-mighty figure that (literally) watches from above.
What happens to Truman after he leaves? ›
Harry Truman lived for nineteen years after leaving the White House in 1953. He and his wife Bess returned to Truman's hometown of Independence, Missouri, where Truman spent his post-presidential years guarding and constructing his legacy and place in history.
Why is Truman afraid of water? ›
Truman's weakness is his fear of water which stemmed from the of the death of his father when he was very young. It traumatized him even as an adult. This prevents him from ever leaving the island in which he lives on. Truman's need is to overcome his fear of water in order to reach his goal of freedom and adventure.
What does Christof say to Truman at the end? ›
Christof: Listen to me, Truman. There's no more truth out there than there is in the world I created for you. The same lies. The same deceit.
Did Truman love his wife? ›
One of the sweetest love stories in the annals of American history is that of our 33rd President, Harry S. Truman, and his wife of 53 years, Bess Truman. Their story began in Independence, Missouri, in 1890.
What personality type is Truman? ›
Famous ISTJs. Famous ISTJs include Queen Elizabeth II, Harry Truman, Warren Buffett, Queen Victoria, George H.W. Bush, and J.D. Rockefeller.
What kind of satire is The Truman Show? ›
The movie The Truman Show is an indirect satirical look at reality tv, making comments about the “controlled” reality these shows display, creating illogical scenarios, and mocks those who follow reality tv shows like a religion.
Who is unethical in The Truman Show? ›
Christof encouraged the cast members to prevent Truman from leaving the set in whatever way they saw fit. The cast threw nets on Truman and made him fearful for the shows benefit. However, Christof was the most inhumane to Truman when he tried to drown him while he was fleeing by boat.
Why is the wife crossing her fingers in The Truman Show? ›
While looking at his wedding photos, Truman realizes that Meryl has her fingers crossed as they kiss, indicating that she never had real feelings for him. This incident exposes Truman's closest friends and family's fake nature and contributes to his decision to leave, as he truly has nothing worth staying for.
Is The Truman Show Anti religion? ›
Given that Truman ultimately takes leave of Christof and his world, The Truman Show offers up an anti-theist view of the world, based in part on the paradoxical (some might even say incoherent) Western religious concept of God.
The movie exemplifies the emptiness of an American capitalist society and furthers the ideas about reality television that it is voyeuristic and perverse. Reality television, such as portrayed in The Truman Show, is ultimately the apotheosis of capitalist society.
