Adam Court

20091016

Theres a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.1 Wise words of the father figure Morpheus in the modern day myth and blockbuster film The Matrix. Joseph Campbell, an American writer and mythologist, noticed that within the vast collection of myths told throughout history lay structural similarities; so emerged his notion of the monomyth.2 Campbell thought that if so many different myths share common patterns and symbols, then they must serve a greater purpose than entertainment. He argues that they provide guidance and meaning so one can gain a deeper, transcendent, experience and understanding of life, That is what people want. That is what the soul asks for.3 This paper will demonstrate the accuracy of Campbells monomyth with a modern day twist by revealing the patterns and symbolism within The Matrix that can be seen in other myths. Further to this, we will discover a metaphorical interpretation of the film and that truth, knowledge, and love are all just as important today as they were thousands of years ago.

Plot Summary Thomas Anderson is a computer programmer living in what appears to be the world in 1999. Secretly, Thomas Anderson is a computer hacker who goes by the alias name Neo. Neo is contacted by a group of freedom fighters that inform him what he believes is reality is in fact an intricate computer simulation known as the Matrix. Constructed by artificial intelligence, the Matrix is a virtual world that hides humanity from the truth in order to harvest humans as an energy source. The delusion of the Matrix is evil since
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Andy Wachowski & Larry Wachowski, Directors, The Martix, 1999, 1hr 48mins 5secs. Phil Cousineau, The Heros Journey: Joseph Campbell on his Life and Work, (New York/USA: Harper & Row Publishing, 1990) 1. 3 Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth: with Bill Moyers (New York/USA: Anchor Books Publishing, 1988) 61.

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true freedom cannot exist, so the truth of the real world is portrayed as the higher good. Morpheus is the leader of the freedom fighters and, through the prophecy of the Oracle, believes that Neo is The One who will regain control over the machines that dominate the real world. Thus freeing humanity from the delusion. Morpheus and Trinity help Neo to understand the truth and in return, he helps to uphold the resistance against the machines and embarks on his journey to become The One.4

The Wachowski brothers were inspired to make The Matrix primarily from the literary genre, known as cyberpunk, where a disorderly society is dominated by computer technology.5 The other central ideas were derived from mythology, philosophy, religion and psychology.6 With too many examples to list, some include, Platos allegory of the cave, the prophecy of a messiah, submission to authority, and the Delphic oracle.

The Function of Myth: A Metaphorical Interpretation Campbells comparative mythology draws from Friedrich Nietzsches bermensch (superman) and Carl Jungs archetypes.7 In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell argues that despite the great diversity of the hero myths, they all follow a similar pattern.8 This pattern is what he calls the monomyth, or the heros journey, which consists of three main steps, departure, initiation, and return.9 The heros journey recognises the

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Wachowski, The Matrix. Matthew Kapell and William Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation (New York/USA: Continuum International Publishing Group Inc., 2004) 3. 6 Ibid. 7 Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (New Jersey/Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1968). 8 Ibid, 30. 9 Eva Thury & Margaret Devinney, Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths, 2nded., (New York/USA: Oxford University Press, 2009) 161.

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reoccurrence of universal symbols, known as archetypes, which are said to point to some transcendental connection.10 These include, but are not limited to, prophecy of a saviour, freedom of choice, pairs of opposites, and power of love. Campbell explains: Mythology is an organization of symbolic images and narratives metaphorical of the possibilities and fulfilment in a given culture in a given time. Mythology is a metaphor.11 Campbell proposes that myths serve four functions: mystical (metaphysical), opening the heart and mind to some ultimate mystery; cosmological, a description of the world as present scientific knowledge perceives it; sociological, validation or perspective of a social system, usually the existing one; and pedagogical (psychological), guiding individuals through the inevitable crises of a lifetime.12 The modern day myth The Matrix is riddled with metaphorical symbolism. Not only does it retell the heros journey, it imparts moral lessons. By applying Campbells four functions to The Matrix, I will reveal the significant archetypical themes, extract moral lessons, provide a metaphorical interpretation and evaluate its legitimacy, and, where applicable, disclose the pattern of the heros journey.

Mystical The Matrix shows the progression of the illusion bound doubting Thomas Anderson, to the learned will-powered Neo, then finally, to the understanding and enlightened, The One.13 Campbells pattern of the heros journey is consistent here, the departure of

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Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 18. Cousineau, The Heros Journey: Joseph Campbell on his Life and Work, 139. 12 Cousineau, The Heros Journey: Joseph Campbell on his Life and Work, 165. 13 Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, 190.

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Thomas Anderson, the initiation of Neo, and the return of The One. This path emulates Platos Allegory of the Cave.14 Neo is like the prisoner whose entire life was an illusion, but once freed, walked the path to a higher understanding, enlightenment.15 The stage of enlightenment is the scene where Neo becomes The One. He dives into the body of Smith and bursts through in a bright light, which is symbolic of the truth or a new understanding. The archetype of light as good correlates to the Buddhist tradition of walking the path to enlightenment,16 and biblical references from Christianity that relate light to life, truth, and Jesus, for example, The true light that enlightens17 and, I am the light of the world. He who follows willhave the light of life.18 This is also used in the common adage light bulb! that is associated with having a good idea or a new understanding.

Cosmological When Morpheus is explaining the Matrix to Neo in the construct, Neo struggles to fathom that his current experience is not real. Morpheus forms the archetype of Wise Old Man guiding Neo throughout the film.19 He tells Neo, what you can feelsmelltaste and see, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain.20 Metaphorically pointing towards uncertainty based on the current understanding of our limited sensory experience and the anomalies of science, specifically quantum physics. Is there something beyond the temporal realm? Archetypically, many notions
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Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation,122. Scott R. Stroud, 'Technology and Mythic Narrative: The Matrix as Technological Hero-Quest', Western Journal Of Communication, 65:4, (1999): 422. 16 Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, 98-103. 17 John 1:9 18 John 8:12 19 Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 9. 20 Wachowski, The Matrix, 39mins 20secs.

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point to such a realm, or at least some force. For example, the Ancient Egyptians idea of ka (life-force) in the afterlife, the Christian belief of God and heaven, Buddhist concept of nirvana, and the Platonic Forms.21 So, Morpheus shows Neo that what he thought was real, was actually an illusion.

Evaluating the Mystical & Cosmological Functions The cosmological interpretation left us with the question of realms beyond the temporal, which was archetypically consistent. However, this raises another question, namely that, how does Morpheus know that the real world is not just another Matrix? If his experience in the real world is also merely electrical signals interpreted by his brain, which it is, then he cannot know.22 The same question could be asked about the freed prisoner in Platos Allegory of the Cave.23 In light of this difficulty, the metaphor may intend to emphasise levels of understanding rather than layers upon layers of reality. This then, would tie neatly back with the mystical interpretation of enlightenment, and link to the sociological interpretation still to come.

Sociological The Matrix is centralised around regaining control of the machines and freeing the people trapped in the delusional reality. Viewing the film in a literal sense one will perceive lessons such as: one should question their reality; finite resources should be used prudently to prevent the Desert of the Real with its scorched sky; and, artificial

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Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 356-364. David J. Chalmers, The Matrix as Metaphysics, in Christopher Grau (ed.), Philosophers Explore the Matrix, (Oxford Univeristy Press, 2005) 2. 23 Stroud, 'Technology and Mythic Narrative: The Matrix as Technological Hero-Quest', 422.

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intelligence should be constructed carefully.24 However, a metaphorical interpretation reveals a reality symbolic of the social system of the Western world, explained below.

Humans are naturally inquisitive.25 It motivates the search for knowledge, understanding and morality, which is achieved through question and reason.26 Trinity tells Neo, Its the question that drives us.27 Unfortunately, most people are blinded by habitual and customary undertakings, which impede the questioning of the fundamental realities that lay before them.28 It seems that people are conditioned in a way to never ask questions, or too be afraid to ask questions. Consciously or subconsciously, they are concerned how the answers may impact their established beliefs.

Cypher, a fellow freedom fighter, is an example of the not wanting to know because he is tired of his responsibility in the real world. This is seen when Cypher quips, Ignorance is bliss.29 However, archetypically truth is a type of good, often the highest good. For example, Christianity, You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free30, which is emphasised in the film. Morpheus explains to Neo how the Matrix is a systematic illusion, stating, It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth That you are a slave.31 The minds trapped in the Matrix have bodies in the real world that the machines exploit for power. The illusion of the Matrix

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Stroud, 'Technology and Mythic Narrative: The Matrix as Technological Hero-Quest', 418. Matt Hettche, Christian Wolff, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2006), available http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/wolff-christian/, accessed 25 April 2012. 26 Ibid. 27 Wachowski, The Matrix, 11mins 35secs 28 Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 387. 29 Wachowski, The Matrix, 1hr 1min 44secs. 30 John 8:32 31 Wachowski, The Matrix, 27mins 35secs

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is symbolic of the distractions of our world, such as, war, pointless possessions, selfimage, media, and politics. Shifting the concerns of society enables a system of control in The Matrix and in our world.32 The nine-to-five worker is like the trapped mind that is exploited for power, but in our world the power is their labour. They are slaves to the system. The controllers of the consuming system are the power-wielding superiors, feeding off the ignorant slaves. Morpheus describes, You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unpluggedso inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.33

In the same way that people are born into the illusion of the Matrix, people are born into the distraction of the consuming system. The extras in the film, the plugged-in citizens wearing work attire, seem to be in a trance, oblivious and self-absorbed, which symbolises the ridged thinking of the exploited worker. As Neo, the oblivious worker, reaches for the red pill, Morpheus says, Remember all Im offering you is the truth, nothing more.34 So, if truth is desirable and implies consistency, one ought to question the nature of things and not blindly submit to authority. This forms an archetype of the pair of opposites, the good triumphing over evil.35

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Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, 168. Wachowski, The Matrix, 54mins 54secs. 34 Ibid, 28mins 57secs. 35 Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, 196.

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Psychological In the initiation step of the heros journey, Neo is taken to see The Oracle, who forms the archetype of a guiding mother.36 A similar figure is found in Greek mythology called the Delphic Oracle, who told prophecies and future shaping advice.37 In The Matrix, The Oracle tells Neo that, being The One is like being in love, no one can tell you youre in love, you just know it. 38 Neo pauses, Im not The One.39 The Oracle replys, Sorry kid. Youve got the gift but it looks like youre waiting for something.40 Morpheus tells Neo to understand, theres a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.41 Touching on the existential notion of rejecting limitations to will an authentic choice ties in with Nietzsches bermensch and the heros journey.42 This is emphasised most eloquently by the Spoon Boy saying, Then you will see, it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.43 Despite the prophecy pointing to fatalism, the archetype of the freedom of choice emerges.44

Love plays a key role in many mythologies.45 For example, Inanna from ancient Mesopotamia was a female goddess of love helped a fallen god to resurrection,46 and Christian traditions valued love in reference to Jesus and the sacrament of marriage. In

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Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 71. Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, 196. 38 Wachowski, The Matrix, 1hr 11mins 50secs. 39 Ibid. 40 Ibid. 41 Ibid, 1hr 48mins 5secs. 42 Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, 161. 43 Wachowski, The Matrix, 1hr 9mins 29secs. 44 Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, 162. 45 Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 109-120. 46 Kapell and Doty, Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, 199.

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The Matrix, Trinity is like the goddess, symbolic of Inanna.47 The Oracle told Trinity that she would fall in love with The One. After Agent Smith kills Neo, Trinity is watching over Neos body in the real world. She confesses her love for him and kisses him. Symbolising a sacred marriage, which is the archetype captured here.48 This fulfils the prophecy, thus raising Neo back from the dead and transforming him to The One.

Evaluating the Sociological & Psychological Functions The Matrix as metaphorically pointing to a political system of control seems plausible but is somewhat dangerous.49 Seeking truth and asking questions may reveal disturbing realities. Although the illusion of the Matrix is perceived as evil, it could be argued that the Matrix is more pleasant than the real world. This is the perspective of Cypher. Furthermore, the focus on Neo, questioning authority and rejecting limitations, may emit the idea of individual supremacy to people of society, potentially leading to anarchy.50 By Campbell insisting that the meaning of modern myths no longer radiate to the masses, he turns to relativism, leaving it up to the individual interpretation.51

Individual interpretation is not problematic as long as the different perspectives are determined through the recognition of the whole.52 Then, from the aforementioned dangers, there transpires a less extreme interpretation, a call for balance. The current social system is one of control, but it serves to maintain relative harmony between

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Stroud, 'Technology and Mythic Narrative: The Matrix as Technological Hero-Quest, 433. Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 246. 49 Stroud, 'Technology and Mythic Narrative: The Matrix as Technological Hero-Quest, 437. 50 Ibid, 437. 51 Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 387-391. 52 Ibid, 387-391.

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citizens. Whether that societys values are directed appropriately is the question that one should ask. All members of the society function as part of a whole. So, it is possible that the metaphor of The Matrix was type of mythological prophecy, a warning of the potential outcome of the Western society that fails to evolve their values in accordance with the changing issues of the individuals within. In the final scene, Neo says, Youre afraid of us, youre afraid of change53 Neo was talking to the Matrix, the unchanged system, which brings to light the final archetype of the film, change is inevitable.

This paper has demonstrated that the patterns and symbols of Campbells monomyth are present in the modern day myth The Matrix. The characters archetypically portray, Neo as the messiah, Morpheus as the father figure or Wise Old Man, and Trinity as the goddess. Despite the potential dangers of individual superiority, as conveyed in the psychological function, there remains a dominant sociological interpretation. The Matrix is a metaphoric warning to the society that malevolently controls their people through illusionary freedom and ridged thinking. Change is inevitable. Just as The Oracle told Neo, Youre in control of your own life, remember?54

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Wachowski, The Matrix, 2hr 03mins 16secs. Ibid, 1hr 14mins 32secs

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Resources
Campbell, J. The Power of Myth: with Bill Moyers, New York: Anchor Books Publishing, 1988. Campbell, J. The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1968. Cousineau, P. The Heros Journey: Joseph Campbell on his Life and Work, New York: Harper & Row Publishing, 1990. Hettche, M. Christian Wolff, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2006), available http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/wolff-christian/, accessed 25 April 2012. Kapell, M. & Doty, W. Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation, New York: Continuum International Publishing Group Inc., 2004. Stroud, S.R., 'Technology and Mythic Narrative: The Matrix as Technological HeroQuest', Western Journal Of Communication, 65:4 (2001): 416-441. Thury, E. & Devinney, M. 2009, Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths, 2nded, New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Wachowski, A, & Wachowski, L, Directors, The Martix, 1999.

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