The Truman Show: Bridges

The Truman Show: Bridges

Moral Argument

• Water serves as a bridge in the battle between Christof and Truman at sea:
• Christof v. Truman
• Truman v. Truman
• Nature v. Truman

This bridge highlights a moral compass that defines Christof’s actions over nearly killing Truman at sea. This turning point defines what is more important to Christof: the success of his television production rather than the safety and well-being of Truman.

- The director uses specific setting and props to subtly remind Truman of the fears that were fabricated internally within him when he was younger:

- ie. sinking boat: at the front of the bridge provides the television producers satisfaction with preventing Truman from traveling due to his fear of water

- Water is symbolic of Truman's most obvious weakness which is established by his guilt for his father's “death”. Using Truman’s weakness, the director develops three main bridges within the arena of the story world which all serve as barriers between Truman and the truth.

-Truman had to face many mental bridges to find the truth at the end of the story.

-figuring out that his everyday life is a loop

-getting away from the camera long enough to make an escape

Symbol Web

Bridges

• Offer a way for people to conquer an impassable obstacle.
• Transition points between two places.
• Symbolizes Confinement
• Uncrossable
• Water, dogs, and unfinished bridges
• Few ways off the island.
• far as reader know the ocean and this bridge connecting the island to the mainland is the only way off
• False hope.
• Bridge leads no where but Truman still attempts to use it as his way out

Character Web

Story Movement

• Bridges serve as a barrier to Truman’s pursuit of exploration and ambition.
• Despite bridges being safe, Truman’s abiding fear of water prevents his traversal of Seahaven’s biggest and most functional bridge.
• Once Truman’s determination to leave Seahaven outweighs his enduring trepidation, Truman forces himself and his wife Meryl over the bridge into the unknown.
• The unfinished bridge in Seahaven often visited by Truman and Marlon is constantly under construction with no progress being made throughout the film.
• The unfinished bridge contributes to the spiral story movement, as the unfinished bridge is revisited and creates a winding sequence of events with recurring points addressed.

-bridges serve as a Buffer between Seahaven and the real world

-Truman on Bridges

Truman’s father died at sea, thus making Truman afraid of water. Therefore, he’s afraid to cross over bridges. This keeps Truman away from the one thing that can get him free.

Truman’s father meeting him on the bridge after all of these years seems to ground Truman and make him not want to leave

Meryl on Bridges

Meryl (Truman’s Wife) is a fake ally opponent that tries to keep Truman off bridges. She’s in on the show and wants to keep Truman in Seahaven at all costs.

Wants to inhibit Truman from learning what is beyond the bridges and suppresses his interest

Character Web Continued

Marlin on Bridges

Marlin (Truman’s Best Friend) is a fake ally opponent that indirectly keeps truman off bridges by convincing him not to travel and whatnot. The scene where the two friends are drinking beers on the edge of a broken bridge symbolizes Truman’s curiosity to get out and see the world while everything he knows is telling him not to.

Extras on far side of bridge

Most obvious opponents in this situation. They do all they can to keep Truman oppressed in Seahaven and have extremely unrealistic justification as to why they are doing so. Probably the most revealing to Truman that something is not right in his life.

Truman grows weary however due to an officer telling him to have a nice day when they turn him around, but call him by his first name as he leaves

Story Structure

• Weir uses bridges throughout the film of “The Truman Show” to identify both the weakness and need of Truman who participates in a social experiment of unknowingly starring in his own tv show.
• weakness of Truman: an obvious anxiety and sense of guilt inspired by the presence of water
• Water as a bridge between different man made structures
• bridges analyze a deeper need in Truman’s life: as he searches for truth and control of his life
• Stairway to the sky serves as transition between self revelation and new equilibrium

Story World

• bridges are man-made and give Truman a false sense of hope.
• another way that he is manipulated by man
• Needs to cross over this bridge in order to achieve happiness and fulfil his desire
• has encounters with bridges to re instill a fear in him
• emotional bridge between the characters and Truman.
• They want the best from him and everything that Truman does in the story world evoke emotion for the viewers.