Lee Xue Mei 1104306
What is the Matrix? In Mathematics, matrix is a table of data that contains information. In The Matrix film, the same concept is used to refer to the computer system that creates virtual reality based on the information that incorporate together with formulas and programming codes. For each cell, different factors such as the level of feeling and physical laws are incorporated into a virtual reality- which is then called as the Matrix.
In relation to the monomyth, Neo, the hero, who's eager to learn about the cryptic reference of the word "matrix" appeared on his computer, received a call to an adventure through the meeting with Trinity who informs him about Morpheus, the key answer to his problem. With the help of Trinity and a few companions, Neo escapes from the arrestment by Agent Smith and the other two sinister Agents, who attempt to prevent his collaboration with Morpheus.
During the meet up, Morpheus offers Neo two different pills- one to be back to the comfort zone he has been living all his life, another one is to be unplugged from the Matrix into the real world. Out of curiosity, Neo decides to be unplugged and takes the red pill- the answer to the matrix. It marks the acceptance of the call into the adventure and crossing the first threshold from his familiar world (his home) to the unfamiliar territory (the real world).
Neo wakes up abruptly and finds himself in a vessel filled with fluid, connecting with thousands of other people in an electrical structure, which is used to generate bio-electrical power. Upon his awakening, Neo is then rescued by Morpheus and brought to a ship- Nebuchadnezzar. He is then told about the real world and the simulated world (the matrix), and that he is prophesied as "The One" who will eventually end the war between humans and the Machines. It is where Neo is at the stage of 'Belly of The Whale', where he finds himself in a whole new world filled with darkness after getting to know that he has been living in an delusional world (matrix) since his birth. It also is the time when he accepts his fate and finds a purpose to move on by becoming a free man and to fight against the Machines.
Upon Initiation, during the Road of Trials, Neo goes through a lot of simulation tests in order to prepare himself in fighting against the Machines. Morpheus also challenges him in developing his understanding of the matrix world for better control of it. After going through several failures, he finally succeeds in the simulation tests and is able to take a better control of the simulation world.
In Meeting with Goddess stage, the group enters the Matrix to visit the Oracle, who predicted about the emergence of the One. However, Oracle tells Neo that he's not The One and that he has to choose between his life and that of Morpheus soon.
Unfortunately, during the visit to the Matrix, the group is chased after by the Agents and Morpheus is caught to let Neo and his crew escape. Their ally, Cypher betrayed them and killed some of the crew members, in exchange of permanent return to the comfortable life in the Matrix. Later on, Neo and Trinity return to the Matrix to rescue Morpheus. Neo becomes more confident in manipulating the matrix to the point of dodging bullets fired at him. When they are about to leave to the real world, Neo is defeated and killed by Agent Smith. In the real world, Trinity kisses Neo and restores his life. It is where he encounters Atonement with the Father, where he is saved by the power of love from Trinity.
Neo revives with the power to control the Matrix and equipped with divine knowledge, love and compassion, which marks the Apotheosis stage. With the special power, Neo is able to destroy Agent Smith and return to the ships to destroy the attacking sentinels. The Ultimate Boon is achieved following the revival of Neo as The One.
In the stage of Return, the film ends with Neo going back to the Matrix and making a phone call demonstrating the imprisoned people that "anything is possible". He hangs up the phone and flies to the sky, indicating that he becomes a Master of Two Worlds and achieves a balance between the spiritual and the material. Now, his mastery leads to the freedom from the fear of death and in return, the freedom to live. It correlates to the theories of Descartes, which he promoted thinking. He said as long as we think, we are alive, despite of the environment being a hallucination; unlike the animals which he considered as mechanical beings, because they can't think but usually react the same based on rules and situation like programming languages.
Based on Plato's Allergory of the Cave, what we see may not be the whole truth or even can be a whole lie. For that reason, we should doubt everything we see as it may not be real. It can be reinforced by experience and other factors like habits and chemical dependency but those factors may not prove that what we see is true. In the film, people live in the virtual reality (matrix) without knowing about the real world existence. They are so hopelessly dependent on the existing laws and system that they will fight to protect it. They are afraid and refuse changes because they believe in what they see as 'real'.
The same concept applies in Art too. It can not be seen at first sight and we have to look at it deeper to interpret its meaning behind. At one point we may interpret it like that, but after some time, we may interpret it differently and it may differ from the artist's original intention. It is so we can get it more boldly after we find out our mistakes and it's to let the individuals to be independent and go along with their desires, more to the point of facilitating them to the path they want, rather than controlling their minds at what they see as something fixed.
