The Truman Show

Reality, God and The Truman Show

In pairs, discuss questions below and jot down your answers on the reverse side.

1.    What is the symbolism of the names Truman Burbank and Christof?

Truman can be seen as ‘true man’ while Christof can be related to the ‘creator’ implying that Christof is playing God and Truman represents man.

2.     Compare and contrast Christof with God.

·      He is a ‘creator’

·      He sits in a place where he cannot be seen by the people in the bubble that he has created

·      He controls everything that goes on in the bubble

·      He is doing this for everyone else’s entertainment not for Truman’s benefit (contrast)

·      He wanted to sacrifice Truman’s life than let him leave the bubble (contrast)

3.    Describe the relationship between Truman and Christof.

Truman and Christof’s relationship is strained. It’s not as though Truman is angry with Christof, just confused and almost tired of the games. Christof doesn’t even see Truman as a real person though which makes the relationship even more complicated. For most of the movie Truman doesn’t even know who Christof is.

4.    The movie opens with the following statement from Christof: "We’ve become bored with watching actors give us phony emotions. We’re tired of pyrotechnics and special effects. While the world he (Truman) inhabits is, in some respects, counterfeit, there is nothing fake about Truman himself. No scripts, no cue cards. It isn’t always Shakespeare, but it’s genuine. It’s a life." What is that Christof means when he states that “there is nothing fake about Truman himself.”?

Truman is not an actor and therefore whatever he does is what he would do in everyday life just like any other normal person so that there is nothing ‘fake’ about him. Fake would be described in this situation as being told what to say and how to act even if it is not what would normally happen.

5.    Thoreau famously stated that “men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Is this the case with Truman towards the beginning of the film? Do you share Thoreau’s view?

I wouldn’t see it as quiet desperation at the start but there was an itch in Truman to explore. He knew there was more out there that he needed to see and do but gradually the desperation to get out built up throughout the film.

6.    Throughout the film, there are shameless advertisements and product placements presented as part of Truman’s life. Is it moral to use Truman’s life as a means to monetary gain?

No I don’t think that’s moral at all. Although he has no idea what is happening, it’s pinpointing that even large companies and people around the world are ok with him being completely oblivious to situation he is in. The fact that companies would use him as a means to gain money is not moral at all.

7.    During an interview, Christof states the following: "I have given Truman the chance to lead a normal life. The world, the place you live in, is the sick place. Seahaven is the way the world should be." Is Christof correct? What, if any, would be the benefits of living in Seahaven as opposed to the real world?

He has created Seahaven as means to show ‘what the world should be’. Yet there is no spontaneity and adventure in the world Truman lives in. Many people dream of a world that lives in peace but it’s like Christof wants to ignore that living a normal life includes the many ups and downs. It contains emotions and tragedy and incredible events. It contains different types of people with their own agenda and it contains the unknown.

8.    When speaking of Truman, Christof states: "He could leave at any time. If this were anything more than a vague ambition, if he was absolutely determined to discover the truth, there is no way we could prevent him." Truman eventually does discover the true nature of his reality despite the strong efforts of Christof and the network. What does Truman’s triumph have to say about the free-will/determinism debate?

It shows that Truman faced his fear in order to leave, showing his determination and desperation and how it can overcome any obstacles.

9.    As Truman begins to piece together the falsity of the world that surrounds him, his view of Seahaven is radically altered. He starts to question and analyse all that he encounters. Can you think of a parallel in your own life that has changed the way you process the world?

There is no specific event but as I’ve grown and developed my ideas and ways I look at things have changed considerably to when I was younger. I think the people I’ve been with have impacted the way I think and I’ve started to discover that you do get the choice in life to do what you want and to feel happy or to feel sorry for yourself. You can either give everything you have to life or you can shy away from it. I do see the fake people in life but without them how would we know what real is? I’m a big believer in that things happen for a reason but I do know to a certain extent you have to put in the work so you can be given the better opportunities and chase what you want.

10. Consider yourself in Truman’s position. If presented with the choice to remain in Seahaven, a place where you have been promised that “you have nothing to fear”, or to enter into another world that you know little or nothing about, which would you choose?

Honestly, it would be tempting to stay in a world where I was safe, but seeing the restlessness in Truman highlights what I think I would feel like after several years there and I would feel the itch to travel and wanting of knowledge. I do think I would try to leave Seahaven.

11.  When Truman finally exits Seahaven, what do you think it is that he expects to find on the other side of the door?

I think he doesn’t have any idea what to expect other than something more real than where he has been.