Motifs In The Truman Show, By Peter Weir

“One point seven billion were there for his birth. Two hundred and twenty countries tuned in for his first step. The world stood still for that stolen kiss…An entire human life recorded on an intricate network of hidden cameras.” Through his brilliant, dark comedy, The Truman Show, Peter Weir explores numerous facets of the human experience and issues of society, including the unrealism of reality TV and the American Dream. Telling the story of Truman Burbank who has unknowingly been the star of a world famous television show. Through symbolism, motifs and characterisation the morals of our society and media and the fundamentality four own ethics is questioned and explored.

Peter Weir, the director of The Truman Show, uses symbolism various

times throughout his film to explore the idea of freedom. Fiji symbolises Truman’s true desire for exploration of the world and it his wish to escape there. Sylvia is very significant in encouraging Truman’s desire to travel to Fiji as Truman believes Sylvia is living there after being whisked away from him for disobeying her role as an actress. Truman’s recreation of her face expresses his hidden desire for his freedom and even though she is no longer on set, the producers could not “erase the memory of her.” Although Christof controls many aspects of Truman’s life, the one thing he cannot control is Truman’s mind. It is the one thing free from Christof as there is no camera in Truman’s head. Truman truly believes that something is missing from his life and believes he will find it in Fiji, possibly with Sylvia. When looking through his wedding photographs, Truman realises that Meryl’s fingers are crossed during their vows, implicating that their marriage is not real for Meryl. The next morning, Truman implies that he knows what’s going on when he comments towards her, “I’ll cross my fingers for ya.” This is the first time that it is seen that there is an obvious change within Truman and that Christof’s carefully laid emotional weaponry may no longer work on him. In this moment Truman decides that he is going to fight back and figure out the truth and force his own freedom.
Weir uses motifs to clearly express the idea of commercialism through the form of eyes.

Throughout The Truman Show there are constantly eyes everywhere in the form of the viewers, the actors, the production team, Christof and of course, the cameras. Commercialism is pervasive in the film and Weir explores the falsity of commercials and the world portrayed by his use of motifs. Peter Weir’s use of eyes is used to convey the commercialism of Truman’s world and how his entire life is fake and he, himself is a puppet in Christof’s endeavour to sell products. The Truman Show is a world portrayed by commercialism, and their promise of that world, is false. Through Truman’s eyes we are shown his confusion when both Meryl and Marlon act like they are selling a product to him like they were reading from a script, when in reality they are and are also getting paid to do so to the audience of ‘The Truman Show’. The eyes of these viewers are regularly assaulted with product placement by Meryl and Marlon, made extremely evident when they face the camera straight on to sell their product. During his “TruTalk” interview, Christof explains that everything on The Truman Show is for sale and is completely funded by Meryl and Marlon’s product placement. Other objects, such as the advertising billboard that the twins, Don and Ron, push Truman into as an act of commercialism, are also used, which the camera eye zooms in

on.

Peter Weir uses characterisation to express the idea of the American Dream, the ideal that “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” Weir’s character Christof, is the “fiercely private jet paternal creator of ‘The Truman Show’ and is extremely driven in his attempt to keep Truman in Seahaven. Christof is sure that the world he created for Truman is far better than the outside world that has corrupted the American Dream. Christof shows viewers the depths to which our society has sunk in order to create the American Dream, shown through the manipulation of Truman by Christof. When Marlon comments: “Look at that sunset, Truman. It’s perfect… that’s the Big Guy. Quite a paintbrush he’s got,” he’s referring to Christof and his power to create his own version of the American Dream. However, Truman does not necessarily prescribe to Christof’s vision—partially because he never had the opportunity to experience anything else. Through Christof we are shown that not only is the American Dream unrealistic, but also that it cannot be forced onto someone. Truman is constantly made guilty for wanting to pursue his dreams, hence his need to seek support and comfort from his best friend, Marlon, often. However his words are tainted when they come from Christof through Marlon’s earpiece. This exposes the extremes people are willing to go in order to hold onto the American Dream, reinforcing its unattainability. Through Christof we are also shown how our reality has become blurred. We are obsessed with the lives of others and so enthralled in the idea of Seahaven that we do not realise how pervasive it is. It shows that our world, and the American Dream is extremely unrealistic. The only thing real about Seahaven is Truman, and through Christof, the viewers realise that the only thing realistic about the American Dream is ourselves. Weir uses Christof to expose the hollowness of pursuing the American Dream and that the concept of the idea is unreal as Christof’s beloved Seahaven Island.

The Truman Show is an ingenious film exploring the idea of freedom, commercialism and the American Dream. Through its symbolism of Fiji we are taught that dreams are meant to be pursued and that freedom is something to be fought for. Through the motifs conveying commercialism we learn that Truman’s whole life is a commercial and in turn, is fake and scripted. The unrealistic hope of the American Dream through the characterisation of Christof is explored. Viewers learn how the American Dream is not something that can be forced onto someone and that concept itself, is unrealistic. In the final words of Truman himself, “And in case I don’t see ya: Good afternoon, good evening, and good night.”