The Matrix – Character and Themes The Matrix – Character and Themes

Character AnalysisCharacter Analysis

NeoNeo

Anagram for One – Anagram for One – Latin for NewLatin for New

Anderson – Son of Anderson – Son of Man Man (in ancient Greek)(in ancient Greek)

Doubting Thomas – Doubting Thomas – refused to believe in a refused to believe in a resurrectionresurrection

Is Neo a Jesus figure ? Is Neo a Jesus figure ?

Conquers death Conquers death Becomes the saviour Becomes the saviour

of mankind of mankind Choi says, “you’re my Choi says, “you’re my

saviour man, my own saviour man, my own personal Jesus personal Jesus Christ”Christ”

Has superhuman Has superhuman powers powers

Is rebornIs reborn

MorpheusMorpheus Name: Greek God of Dreams Name: Greek God of Dreams

His job in mythology was to His job in mythology was to fashion and guard the dreams fashion and guard the dreams that the gods sent to humansthat the gods sent to humans

Thus, Morpheus is a Thus, Morpheus is a

reference to the eternal sleep reference to the eternal sleep of the humans hardwired to of the humans hardwired to the dream world of The the dream world of The Matrix.Matrix.

Morpheus – Morpheus – Contin…Contin…

God ? God ?

John the Baptist - Telling of the John the Baptist - Telling of the arrival of the saviour? arrival of the saviour?

The Oracle tells the prophecy, The Oracle tells the prophecy, Morpheus spread it with faith.Morpheus spread it with faith.

Morpheus + Neo = Morpheus + Neo = Yoda + Luke (Star Wars)?Yoda + Luke (Star Wars)?

TrinityTrinity

Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost =Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost = Morpheus, Neo and Trinity?Morpheus, Neo and Trinity?

Feminine WarriorFeminine Warrior

Androgynous “Prince Charming”Androgynous “Prince Charming”

CypherCypher

Name: Message in codeName: Message in code “ “Don’t hate me Trinity, I’m Don’t hate me Trinity, I’m

just the messenger…”just the messenger…”

Judas Iscariot – Betrays Judas Iscariot – Betrays Jesus, or in this case Neo.Jesus, or in this case Neo.

Dresses in Red early on – Dresses in Red early on – perhaps a sign of Lucifer perhaps a sign of Lucifer (Satan’s Angelic name)(Satan’s Angelic name)

Agent SmithAgent Smith

Wears plain clothes and has plain Wears plain clothes and has plain name - interchangeablename - interchangeable

A sentient program, able to grow A sentient program, able to grow and learn from his environment.and learn from his environment.

Learns to experience emotions Learns to experience emotions from the very humans he loathes.from the very humans he loathes.

Unstoppable like a Terminator?Unstoppable like a Terminator?

Agent Smith – Agent Smith – Contin…Contin…

The more he learns, the more he resents The more he learns, the more he resents being stuck in The Matrix.being stuck in The Matrix.

Smith has become self-aware. Smith has become self-aware.

Irony: Agent Smith is as trapped by The Matrix as everybody else.

OracleOracle

The sign above her door The sign above her door bears the same advice bears the same advice as the sign over the as the sign over the door at the Oracle at door at the Oracle at Delphi in Delphi in The OdysseyThe Odyssey: : "Know thyself." "Know thyself."

Like an ancient Greek Like an ancient Greek oracle, The Oracle can oracle, The Oracle can see the future clearly see the future clearly and is an intermediary and is an intermediary between God and manbetween God and man

Oracle - Oracle - contin…contin…

Her meaning is not always clear until the Her meaning is not always clear until the events she predicts come to pass.events she predicts come to pass.

She never tells Neo that he is NOT the oneShe never tells Neo that he is NOT the one

““It looks like you are waiting for something. It looks like you are waiting for something. Your next life, maybe…..”Your next life, maybe…..”

Other characters:Other characters:

Switch – Machine referenceSwitch – Machine reference

Mouse – Machine referenceMouse – Machine reference

Dozer, Tank – Other old machines – Dozer, Tank – Other old machines – Obsolete? Obsolete?

Zion – The last human cityZion – The last human city

Another name for Jerusalem, the holy cityAnother name for Jerusalem, the holy city

"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion" (Psalms 48:2);earth, is mount Zion" (Psalms 48:2);

Represents hope for all mankindRepresents hope for all mankind

Nebuchadnezzar - The ShipNebuchadnezzar - The Ship

Taken from the king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia (605-562 B.C.), who was haunted by bad dreams Destroyed Jerusalem and brought the Israelites back to Babylonia in captivity

Religion & PhilosophyReligion & Philosophy Mainly Christian, Mainly Christian,

elements of elements of Buddhism (Spoon Buddhism (Spoon Child) and Child) and Gnosticism also. Gnosticism also.

““There is no spoon”There is no spoon”

The nature of reality The nature of reality and collective and collective unconsciousness – unconsciousness – (Carl Jung)(Carl Jung)

Relationship with Alice in Relationship with Alice in WonderlandWonderland

““You take the red pill and You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.“the rabbit-hole goes.“

““Follow the white rabbit”Follow the white rabbit”

Think of the dream world Think of the dream world nature of Wonderlandnature of Wonderland

ChoiceChoice

Boss – Be at desk on time or leaveBoss – Be at desk on time or leave

Smith – “One of these lives has a future, Mr Smith – “One of these lives has a future, Mr Anderson……”Anderson……”

Choose the Red Pill or the Blue PillChoose the Red Pill or the Blue Pill

Oracle – Choose if Morpheus lives or diesOracle – Choose if Morpheus lives or dies

FateFate Morpheus: “Do you Morpheus: “Do you

believe in fate, believe in fate, Neo?”Neo?”

Choices create the Choices create the illusion of free willillusion of free will

The question of The question of fate: are we only fate: are we only fulfilling destiny?fulfilling destiny?