The world of imagination is created in the reflection of personal ideals. They exclude the ugly truths of reality and instead, promote the formation of fantasies that complements an individual’s sense of comfort and safety. Yet, even though illusions seem to be the pinnacle definition of perfection, in actuality, it is flawed in many ways, as represented in the film Pleasantville. The director, Gary Ross, illustrates that individuals who are unsatisfied with reality will seek comfort in the illusions of society that pertain to their personal ideals. However, upon pursuing idealistic visions, individuals will discover, through experiencing different situations and gaining new perspectives, the flaws that exist within their “utopian” world; hence, provoking the urge to conduct change. With newly gained perceptions, individuals will develop a heightened sense of morality that empowers them to combat adversity in life instead of falling victim to deceptive illusions.  

When faced with adversity, the desire to seek comfort and safety is a compelling thought that provokes individuals to allow themselves to be pulled into illusions that reflect their personal ideals; thus, willingly choosing to be blinded from the truth that forms reality. Illusions can be a safe haven to those who suffer from hardships in life, providing an environment where one can feel accepted and comfortable, making it more inviting than the prospect of living within reality. This is represented by David, the main character in Pleasantville, as he demonstrates his ever-growing obsessions over the TV show Pleasantville. David, also known as Bud, is faced with the reality of loneliness and segregation as a result of his passive nature and detached family. Upon this fact, he consumes himself in the show “Pleasantville”: a TV program that plays the life of a “perfect” family. He uses this show to resort himself to the harsh realities of life, one being his rough relationship with his parents and sister. When his mom begins talking on the phone with his dad, regarding child custody, David raises the volume of the TV in an attempt to blind himself from facing the reality that his parents are divorced, a fact that adversely represents his ideals. Through the TV show, Pleasantville, David can find comfort, belonging, and most importantly, happiness: feelings that he is unable to encounter in his real-life. It is part of human nature to constantly seek solutions to issues that threaten one’s feelings of comfort, safety, and belonging. When an individual realizes the power and comfortability in engrossing oneself within an illusion, they will waste no time in embracing the fake reality and allow ideals to conquer and suppress that of reality. 

When an individual consumes themselves within their ideals, they fall under the impression that they also consume themselves within a world of perfection; though it must be of understanding that the existence of perfection is impossible. The hardships, diversity, and conflict present in the real world are what make reality worth living: it is unpredictable and full of uncertainties. To live in an idealistic society means to also be stripped of the aspects of reality that give life a meaning, and instead, live a monotone life blind to the endless possibilities present in reality. These flaws in idealism were soon recognized by Bud as he lived in Pleasantville, supposedly his idealistic view of the world. Through the constant influence of his sister, Jennifer, Bud came to realize that the people in Pleasantville were happier and better off with knowledge of the outside world; the dark and light parts. He begins to give enlightenment to the citizens, slowly converting his idealistic society to reality, ironically going against his past wishes. When people in the diner ask Bud about what is outside of Pleasantville, he explains that “there are some places that the road doesn’t go in a circle. There are some places the road keeps going.” Through this quote, he expresses his newfound understanding of the imperfections in his Utopia and his acceptance of the uncertainty that composes reality. Only with the loss of reality does one truly understand its significance. As realized by Bud, the emotions, conflicts, and most importantly, the uncertainty that exists, in reality, is what makes it more superior and luring compared to idealistic visions. Even though it is a common belief that idealism is societal perfection, through the detachment from aspects of reality, individuals will come to see the beauty in truth and, more easily, find a sense of peace and compliance towards real-world issues. 

By finding acceptance towards reality, an individual can empower themselves to fight for change, directly facing the adversities and barriers in life. They learn to use one’s abilities, physically and mentally, to take action and seek change within the real-world. By the end of the movie, Bud showcases his will to tackle the realities of life by advising his mom about the issues with his dad and her boyfriend through the phrase, “There is no right house, There is no right car.” Here he addresses his mom’s illusion towards a perfect life explaining that perfection does not exist even within the world of our imaginations. Bud, or David, further expresses this idea by following the phrase with, “It’s not supposed to be anything,” supporting his point in finding acceptance in reality in whatever it may possess. Through Bud’s experience in Pleasantville, he learned the beauty of embracing reality even though it consists of danger, conflict and great adversity. By conveying the message to his mom, he faces the reality of his torn-up family instead of ignoring and walking away from the issue. Not only is his development in morality proven, but also the fact that he is now no longer dependent upon seeking the comforts of illusions and is abled in taking action and solving real-life issues. Once an individual learns to embrace the reality they live in, despite its bitter truth, it becomes easier to push oneself to undertake action in combating the struggles and adversities of reality. 

Overall, the character, Bud, in “Pleasantville”, has been used to showcase that individuals, who live in tough situations, will pursue idealistic visions and create illusions for themselves in the attempt to create a blockade that blinds them from experiencing reality. In an idealistic society, they remain blind to all the ugly truths, but through a detachment from aspects that create the real-world, an urge to, once again, endorse themselves in truth will develop; hence, allowing the individual, Bud, to find acceptance with the reality he coincides with. By embracing adversity, it becomes possible for an individual to face the truths and take action in conquering adversity and the struggles life presents with. Adhering oneself to imaginations is not a solution to solve any problem as idealism is also flawed and does minimal in impacting real-world situations. The only way to reach idealistic visions is not through the creation of illusions but through the work and effort an individual makes towards accepting and combating the adversities that make up the truth.

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