Rhetorical Analysis of The Truman Show

What I aim to do with this rhetorical analysis is bring forth to the reader a deeply immersive look at the rhetorical concepts present in the film The Truman Show. It is important for a viewer to fully understand the underlying messages and subtle undertones in between the lines, so to speak. The Truman Show is one man’s life being played out in a closed environment for the entertainment of the outside world. Most important to note, Truman Burbank has no clue that his whole life has been little more than just a television program produced on a grand scale to produce the image of reality in a dome. The Truman Show blends ethos, logos, and pathos together in a symphony of self-discovery and power over an adversary, whether physical or spiritual. It is one man’s journey from unknowing and subconscious subterfuge to self-awareness and vindication.
There are certain arguments and concepts presented in The Truman Show that demand attentive analysis and explanation: free will or the illusion therein, a significant god complex, and opposition as an intangible antagonist. Truman is a man imprisoned in his own life. As can be seen throughout the film, there several invisible boundaries that must never be crossed. A specific example is given when a young toddleresque Truman is climbing the rocks at the beach. If allowed to cross the top and to the other side, he would have found a very different environment that, contextually, would not fit in the beach area. It is a representation of one living without true purpose. He lives simply for the amusement of others globally. He lives out mostly real-world occurrences, but like most T.V. shows they render little to no crippling outcomes, save for the “death” of his father. Without any pain or misfortune, there’s no conflict. We define the heights of our highs by the depths of our lows. Conquering issues and rectifying mistakes made in the past gives the self worth and dignity we hunger for as humans. Truman has the odd feeling