The Matrix

It can be tough to provide an original or unique analysis of this text, especially because I think it has been picked over by many other people with way more enthusiasm. I will try nonetheless though.

What I always find to be fascinating about The Matrix is how dense the entire film is of literary, mythological (which I won’t get into), and biblical references. From Neo being told to, “Follow the white rabbit,” to someone telling Neo that he is, “My own little, personal Jesus Christ,” to “It means buckle your seat belts, Dorothy. Because Kansas is going bye bye.” The entire film is loaded with all of these references and I’m going to see if I can unpack a few and what they mean.

The Wachowski’s seemed to be very adamant, and not very subtle, when they began to write out the entire story and fill it with reference to all of these other texts. I think the Neo as a returning Jesus Christ figure and a savior is rather obvious so I don’t think I need to unpack that. How about the other biblical references though, like the name of their ship being called the Nebuchadnezzer. A Babylonian king who, within the Bible, is forced to walk on his four legs and eat grass. Ever since I was a kid I could never really formulate what they were trying to say with this. I also don’t have a confident answer now. Maybe to symbolize how derelict they ship is.

Or how about the ending of The Matrix. I doubt we are suppose to ignore the fact that it is true love’s kiss that revives Neo and brings him back to life. Perhaps The Wachowski’s are trying to tell us that even though their movie is a work of Sci-fi they really want it to be more like a fairytale. A new type of fairytale. They want it be more of a classic fantasy where Good defeats Evil, love abounds, and the humans are freed from their earthly torment and slavery. For all intents and purposes I think the Wachowski’s did exactly that.