The Allegory of The Matrix: A Metaphysical and Theological Odyssey

Rating: 10/10 (11 January 2007)

On March 31, 1999, The Matrix, undoubtedly one of the greatest films ever produced, was released into thousands of theaters worldwide. Directed by the Wachowski brothers, The Matrix tells the story of a confused, questioning, Thomas Anderson, a computer programmer by day and a notorious hacker by nightalias: Neowho is searching for an answer to a question that eludes him: what is the Matrix? He is visited by a man named Morpheus who tells him that he can answer the question which Neo so desperately seeks the answer to; that he can show Neo the truthhe can show Neo "just how deep the rabbit hole goes"if he wishes it, and so he does. Neo learns from Morpheus that he has been living in a completely fabricated reality known as the Matrix; a computer generated dream world created by an advanced artificial cybernetic intelligence systemthat now rules Earthfor the sole purpose of keeping humans blissfully content as they are unknowingly grown in endless fields and then harvested for the energy that their bodies emitas they are transformed into batteries for the machines. Morpheus frees Neo from the oppressive shackles of this "reality" and Neo finds himself catapulted to the vanguard in a war between the pitiful remnants of mankind and the awesome machines that now rule the world. The Matrix manages to combine a stunning array of ingeniously filmed visual effects and intense stylized action with a plethora of philosophical and theological allusions and symbolismsomething precious few other action films ever manage to achieveand it is this featthe melding of thought-provoking intellectual concepts with the usual commonplace high-paced actionthat makes The Matrix such a unique and truly exceptional movie.
The Matrix continually ponders philosophical questions sporadically throughout its entirety. Chief among these are questions concerning the nature of reality, truth, existence, and destiny. The Matrix is, in fact, a modern day retelling of Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Neo, being the prisoner who is freed from his bondage and dragged into the world of light, who, when confronted with the painful, naked truth, finds himself unable to comprehend and accept it at first, until, as his mind and eyes adjust, the truth comes into focus and he is able to see and grasp reality for what it truly isno longer tricked by the ghostly apparitions of his old existence; of what he once believed to be real and true.
Besides inundating its viewers with a deluge of philosophical themes, The Matrix also presents a veritable feast of theological and mythical allusions and symbolism. Many of its locales, characters, and objects, are based, either explicitly, off such topics, or, if not quite as evidently, still cleverly alluded to, and clearly discernible. Zion, mankind's last city, the Oracle, a guide who assists Neo in his questmost assuredly based off of the legendary Oracle of Delphi that assisted Socrates along his paththe Nebuchadnezzar, Morpheus's ship, and Morpheus himself are some of the more readily apparent references to historical, mythical, or theological objects.
However, The Matrix also plays host to a variety of more subtle, yet nonetheless important, thought-provoking, and intriguing references. Many aspects of the plot, themes, and characters presented within the movie directly correspond and run parallel to many of Christianity's themes, biblical stories and characters. Although the story of The Matrix is most closely aligned with ancient Greek and Christian themes and stories, that is not to say that its exploration rests solely within said respective domains.; for The Matrix also delves into many other realms besides those of Christianity and philosophyHinduism and Buddhism being just some of them. The many allusions, symbols, and philosophical aspects of The Matrix are what makes it truly one of the best movies ever made; it is these aspects that propel it from simply a great action flick to preeminence.