Introduction
In the movie “The Truman Show,” Truman Burbank lives a seemingly perfect life in the fictional town of Seahaven. However, he begins questioning his reality and journeys to discover the truth. Many argue that Truman’s journey follows the structure of the Hero’s Journey, a narrative pattern commonly found in myths and epic tales. While the Hero’s Journey elements are present in “The Truman Show,” it can be argued that Truman’s journey deviates from the traditional pattern.
Hero’s Journey Elements in The Truman Show
Call to Adventure
One of the key elements of the Hero’s Journey is the call to adventure, which catalyzes the hero’s journey. In “The Truman Show,” Truman’s call to adventure is triggered by increasingly strange events. He notices inconsistencies in his surroundings and encounters people who subtly try to reveal the truth to him. For example, his wife, Meryl, slips up and mentions “actors” during a conversation. This prompts Truman to question his reality and sets him on a path of self-discovery.
Truman’s journey also includes the mentor archetype, a wise and experienced figure who guides the hero on their journey. In “The Truman Show,” Truman’s best friend Marlon fills this role. Throughout the movie, Marlon tries to dissuade Truman from uncovering the truth and encourages him to stay within the confines of Seahaven.
Despite Marlon’s efforts to protect Truman, he eventually becomes an ally in Truman’s quest for freedom. In a pivotal scene, Marlon reveals that Truman’s life is a reality show, urging him to accept his reality and stay within the show’s boundaries (Wolf). This interaction serves as a turning point for Truman, pushing him further toward his goal of escaping Seahaven.
Challenges and Obstacles
Furthermore, Truman encounters numerous challenges and obstacles, another common element of the Hero’s Journey. In his attempt to escape, Truman faces resistance from the show’s producers and crew members. They manipulate the environment and people around him to prevent him from discovering the truth. For instance, they create a false storm to deter Truman from leaving Seahaven by boat. These challenges test Truman’s determination and resilience, pushing him closer to his ultimate goal of freedom.
Differences from Traditional Hero’s Journey in The Truman Show
Character Ordinality
However, it can be argued that Truman’s journey significantly deviates from the traditional Hero’s Journey. Firstly, Truman is not a chosen hero. He is an ordinary man living an ordinary life who stumbles upon the truth (Gall). Unlike mythical heroes destined for greatness, Truman’s journey is one of personal discovery and breaking free from the constraints of his artificial world. The traditional Hero’s Journey also often involves a physical journey or quest.
Internal Journey
In “The Truman Show,” Truman’s journey is primarily internal. He seeks to understand his reality, confront his fears, and ultimately break free from the confines of Seahaven. While there are moments where Truman physically moves through different locations within Seahaven, such as his attempts to escape by boat or by foot, these are not the central focus of his journey. Instead, the emphasis is on Truman’s emotional and psychological growth.
Ethics of The Truman Show
In “The Truman Show,” the central premise is that Truman Burbank is unknowingly living on a massive television set, where every moment is broadcast to millions of viewers. This concept serves as a critique of reality television, which often relies on voyeurism and the exploitation of individuals for entertainment purposes. The movie highlights the unethical nature of reality television by portraying the extreme measures taken to control Truman’s life.
From the moment he was born, every aspect of Truman’s existence is meticulously planned and manipulated by the show’s creator, Christof. This manipulation includes controlling the people in Truman’s life, orchestrating events, and even creating artificial weather conditions (Conlan).
This portrayal of surveillance and manipulation raises questions about the ethics of reality television. It suggests that these shows are not simply harmless entertainment but a means for those in power to exert control over individuals for profit. Truman’s realization of this manipulation and subsequent rebellion against it can be seen as a metaphorical critique of the power dynamics behind reality television.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while “The Truman Show” contains elements of the Hero’s Journey, Truman’s journey deviates significantly from the traditional narrative structure. Truman’s call to adventure, mentor, challenges, and ultimate goal of freedom align with the Hero’s Journey archetype. However, his status as an ordinary man stumbling upon the truth, emphasizing internal growth rather than a physical quest and criticizing reality television set “The Truman Show” apart from the traditional Hero’s Journey. Overall, the movie presents a unique take on the narrative structure while exploring themes of personal discovery and societal critique.
Works Cited
Conlan, Seán. The Truman Show – Film Commentary: Deepen Your Knowledge and Understanding of This Film. C&N media PUBLICATIONS, 2021.
Gall, Robert S. “Of God, Humanity, and the World: Reflections on “The Truman Show”.” Journal of Religion & Film 23.1 (2019): 48.
Wolf, Werner. “Traditional and Non-traditional Uses of Film Music, and Musical Metalepsis in The Truman Show.” Music, Narrative and the Moving Image. Brill, 2019. 29-46.
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