Essay 1: The Allegory of The Matrix

David Strack

Professor Luke Vasileiou
English 101 
March 31, 2011

                                                The Allegory of the Matrix

            “What is Real”? This is the question Morpheus asked Neo and a question we sometimes ask ourselves. According to Morpheus real is electrical signal interpreted by the brain. The film Matrix has an intriguing theme which stimulus one's curiosity. This theme challenges us to reflect on what we perceive as reality. Over two thousand years ago Socrates asked the same question in the Allegory of the Cave.

            In the Matrix artificial intelligence has dominated over mankind forcing the humans to live in a computer generated reality. The electrical current produced from brain activity is the source of power harvested for the machines. The plot revolves around the savior figure Neo who was destined to defeat the machines and rescue mankind. Neo is assisted by Morpheus, whose task it is to seek out the one (Neo). After consulting the Oracle Neo learns he wasn’t to be the chosen “one”. His fate is determined by his drive to do something nobody has done before. To leave the Matrix, defeat the agent and rescue Morpheus. Another character that impacted the story was Cypher a man also unplugged but struggling with reality to be reconnected to the pod. In the pod Neo lived as Tom Anderson a computer programmer until he was unplugged from the generated reality. While living in this reality he had a feeling there was something wrong with the world. Seeking to know what the matrix is he is awoken from his life in the pod and faced with reality. 

            In the Allegory of the cave the people suffered from living in the prison house of sight. Their reality was limited to the shadows cast on the wall. One person was motivated to look beyond the shadows and into the light. He discovered the enlightenment of reality.  When he left the cave it took some time to adjust to the real world.  Reality was difficult for him to accept. The man suffered from sharp aches and was aggravated by the light. At first he saw reflections then the actual objects. Once having this experience he was inspired to share it with his fellow cave dwellers.

As the reality of the people in the matrix was computer generated the reality for the cave prisoners were the shadows on the wall. In both situations the two struggled in their in search of reality. Neo had the feeling there was something wrong with the world he was experiencing. And the cave dweller also knew there had to be something more then the what’s inside the cave. They both took risk to understand the truth even though it required sacrifice. Their desire was to rescue those were living in a fake reality. However the people in the cave refuse to change their perception of reality.  They were secure in there own world and didn’t want to change it. This situation parallels the Matrix in regard to the character Cypher. Having experienced reality Cypher cant cope with the struggles that exist. So he would rather return to the computer generated world because its safer for him. The cave people and cyphers character represent a society that is reluctant to change.

The Matrix and the Allegory of the Cave present us with a message. the message doesn't need to be decoded because its all around us. Is what we believe and learn actual real. can we expand our minds beyond whats on tv and what we hear.  a reality which involves of work, paying taxes and buying items they really don't need. Some realize there is more to life and strive to reach for it. Others are comfortable in the pod or in the cave. Not aware of the true reality these people lived in a false world believing it was reality. If your up to the task ask yourself again, what is real? 

http://homepage.mac.com/kdavies/matrix/litref.html

http://matrixmythology.com/