An Uncomfortable Truth Is Better Than a Comfortable Lie Essay Example
An Uncomfortable Truth Is Better Than a Comfortable Lie Essay Example

An Uncomfortable Truth Is Better Than a Comfortable Lie Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1263 words)
  • Published: September 19, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Some people say that an uncomfortable truth is better than a comfortable lie. People do not want to live a life that is false, phony or somehow an illusion. This concept is explored in Peter Weir's 1998 film The Truman Show and Arthur Miller's classic play Death of a Salesman. The Truman Show explores one man's struggle to uncover the truth about the world he lives in. In Death of a Salesman, the responder witnesses the unfolding of one man's struggle as he comes to terms with an uncomfortable truth (one which he has avoided through fantasy & delusion for years).

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Both of Hess texts raise an important question; can the truth really set a person free? In Death of a Salesman, the insecure W

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ily Loan is chasing a comfortable lie rather than facing the uncomfortable truth. He convinces himself that he is successful, well- like and attractive. He constantly exaggerates his success: "l averaged one hundred and seventy a week in the year of 1928. " He is under the impression that one must be attractive and well-liked in order to be successful, and that he and his sons are destined for greatness.

When this lie is shattered, however, it becomes too much for Wily to bear. This is presented in the scene where he tries to get a raise and get taken off the road'. This is a significant turning point in Willis life as his hopes are dashed and he begins to doubt his future as a salesman; "And there was a question in my mind as to whether selling had a future for me.

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" This is the beginning of the end for Wily, as he becomes even more depressed and emotionally unstable.

The responder is able to see how Wily is delusion about the life off salesman and disappointed with the loss of camaraderie in his work. Willis experience of reality ND illusion reflects the context within which the text was created, American during the late sass. This was a time when people were longing for order ; control after having survived the Great Depression, World War One and World War Two. To escape the fear of uncertainty about the stability of their lives, people formed romantic and idealized views on life.

The American Dream was the belief that anyone could be successful and achieve financial prosperity through hard work. Wily Loan was a victim of this comfortable life, because no matter how hard he worked he was still unable to be successful. Willis demise is his refusal to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth; that neither he nor his sons will be successful. Linda and Happy also believe that the Loan family is on the brink of success. This is highlighted when Linda says in the final scene, "One last payment and we were free and clear. Unlike the rest of the family, however, Biff recognizes that he and his family and constantly deceiving themselves. This is particularly evident when he is trying to open Happy eyes to the uncomfortable truth about Willis demise, and he says, "The man don't know who we are!... We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house. Wily entirely indulges in this comfortable life that he and his sons are successful

through his vivid fantasies, and ultimately through his suicide. Potentially Wily would have been happier had he not avoided the uncomfortable truth in his life.

The breakdown in relationship between Biff and Wily also shows that the uncomfortable truth is better t Han a comfortable life. By holding on to the comfortable lie and not telling Linda about the other woman, Wily caused great pain for Biff who ultimately lost respect for his father. Arthur Miller uses flashbacks from Willis mind to convey the blurring of reality and illusion. Through flashbacks to Willis past, the responder is able to understand the premise of Willis instability. The Truman Show follows the story of one man's struggle to uncover the truth about the world he lives in.

Truman is unaware that he is living a false reality and that everyone is his world is Just acting. The world of the Truman Show reflects the context within which it was created; America during the late sass. This was a time when the American people were fearful of war (weapons of mass destruction ; nuclear testing), rapidly advancing technology (space exploration) and the formidable intro that governments exercised over their citizens. To escape from their fears, people formed romantic views of times gone by.

The world that has been created for Truman in Shaven reflects the idealized views of the American Dream, such as a housewife, vintage clothing and furniture and a well-paid desk Job. Christofis says at the beginning of the film that "we accept the reality of the world in which we are presented. " Truman initially accepts the reality of the world he lives in, but

oaf term further investigation, discovers that he has been living a false reality. When Truman escapes from this false reality, the audience is forced to return to their reality and confront their fears, Just as Truman overcame his.

In this case, an uncomfortable truth is better than a comfortable life because Truman is able to be set free from his false reality after he discovers the truth. The director's use of characterization conveys that Truman is living a false reality. Trauma's marriage is a lie, his Job is a life, and his best friend Maroon deceives him when he says, "The last thing that I would ever do is life to you. " There are contrasting features between The Truman Show and Death of a Salesman. Both Truman and Wily Loan are still searching for satisfaction in their lives.

The world of Shaven has been created as "perfect" and Truman should be happy with everything he has been given, yet he still endeavors to know what lies beyond the world he inhibits. Wily Loan believes that he is attractive, well liked and successful, but also holds the notion that there must be more to life than being a salesman. An uncomfortable truth is better than living a comfortable life for Truman, because uncovering the truth provides him with the ambition to be set free from his false laity.

However in Death of a Salesman, facing up to the uncomfortable truth became too much for Wily to bear and ultimately lead to his suicide. In this respect, it could be argued that he would have been better to keep chasing the comfortable life. The context of

the world within which each text was created relates to the e message of reality and illusion that each text exhibits. People who lived in America during the late sass chased the comfortable life of the American Dream to help them escape from their fears about the uncertainty and instability of their own lives.

Therefore they looked towards romanticizes ideals of life so they would not have to confront their fears. People in the context of The Truman Show believed in a comfortable life so they would not have to face up to their own reality. In conclusion, an uncomfortable truth is better than a comfortable life because the truth has the ability to set a person free. Truman was set free from the illusion of his false reality when he learned the truth. Although the revelation of truth ultimately lead to Willis suicide, he was able to be set free from the bonds of illusion that had kept him prisoner for many years.

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