Empathy In The Truman Show

Mahir Dheendsa

Mr. Glen

HZT03/14-15

Oct 07 2014

An Analysis of the Ways of Knowing Demonstrated by Truman Burbank In the film entitled The Truman Show, one can identify many of the ways of knowing that Truman will use in order to uncover the hidden truth, which is that he is living in a strict, controlled and fabricated world. One prominent source of knowing is empathy. The use of empathy was demonstrated by Sylvia an actor who was an extra on the show, however contrary to director’s plans; she began to like Truman as he liked her. The audience could then witness the empathy that took play, as Sylvia revealed to Truman that he is living inside a shaped mockery of the real world and televised on live television. It is clear that Sylvia felt

His sense perception allowed him to gain knowledge towards the truth. This is demonstrated towards the end when Truman takes the boat to the outskirts of the enclosure. He uses his senses by touching and feeling the wall that enclosed his life from the outer world. He thought the world around him, the sky, and the clouds to be real, and upon touching the walls he came to realize that the “infinite” universe was rather finite. He discovered his whole life was a lie, because he spent his dwelling inside a fabricated society. Sense perception was the final stage of knowing for Truman as now the gap between his question and truth laid between the space between his hands and walls.

The Truman Show is a prime depiction of the process through which an individual can gain knowledge. This concept is well depicted through the role of Truman, who continuously uses many forms of knowing to gain understanding of his hidden truth. Truman particularly gains knowledge through empathy, sense perception, logic and moral belief. The film highlights that an individual may perceive something to be real and constantly believe its existence, however the lack of knowledge doesn’t make the surrounding truth any less