Neo in “The Matrix” – Film by the Wachowskis

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Analysis
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The story of The Matrix is an ideal depiction of a hero’s journey. It is a narrative that dramatizes Neo’s search for knowledge and ends successfully when he finds out the truth about himself. He also empowers others to do the same. Through an analysis of the elements of a hero’s journey, it is evident that most human stories have common linkages.

Analysis

The hero of this film is Thomas Anderson or Neo; he is a computer hacker and programmer who initially learns about the word ‘matrix’, and wants to find out what it means. The central conflict of the film is the war between human beings and machines. The intelligent machines already dominate human life, but Neo wants to rebel against them and free humans from bondage.

The title closely reflects the central conflict as the matrix is the name of the machine that harbors the imprisoned humans and alters their reality. Neo and his counterparts must get into the matrix (by hacking) in order to free their counterparts. All the key challenges in the rest of the story revolve around the matrix (Grant 315).

For instance, Neo, Trinity (another computer programmer) and Morpheus enter the Matrix in order to free other humans. Agent Smith, who is a machine designed to destroy Neo, meets the protagonist inside the Matrix and eventually shoots him in the location. Even the rescue of the humans inside the vessel takes place within the matrix. Therefore, the title is close to the plot of the story.

Certain parts of the story recur in this film. For instance, there is a frequent reference to the words “The One”. At first, it comes up when Morpheus plans on introducing Neo to The Matrix. The Oracle then mentions it and claims that Neo is not The One. Shortly after, the Architect (a program that built the matrix) meets Neo and acknowledges that Neo is the One. This repetition serves to reinforce the fact that Neo is the protagonist of the story, and has the capacity to alter other people’s destiny.

Initially, when Neo faces the first challenge, he appears hesitant about embracing the role. Vogler (105) explains that the third phase of a hero’s journey is the refusal to call, where the hero hesitates or another person articulates the danger inherent in his adventure. In the case of The Matrix, it is Morpheus who tells Neo about the dangers of rebelling against the machine. He warns Neo that he could die in that harvesting chamber or experience fatal injuries. These aspects serve to make the hero endearing to viewers.

The story contains an ordeal and resurrection, as well. The ordeal is that part of a film where the hero confronts his greatest fear or death taking place in the middle of the narration. Conversely, the resurrection occurs towards the end of the movie when the hero undergoes one last test; the sacrifice transforms him. In this case, Neo undergoes an ordeal when he chooses to go into war with the machines. The Architect gives Neo two choices, namely, saving 23 humans and himself thus perpetuating humanity, or go into a war with the machines and risk the destruction of man.

Since Neo wants to preserve the life of the love of his life –Trinity, he chooses war; the fight against the machines is the ordeal. The resurrection takes place at the end of the movie when Neo confronts death; Agent Smith gets into Neo and eventually dies. However, Neo is only physically dead; he gets renewed when he assimilates with the source (the ultimate leader of the matrix). The hero has truly found himself after the resurrection. He has realized that the true essence of humanity is free will, which comes about when Agent Smith dies (Babenko 16). It is this knowledge that makes Neo stronger and better than he was before.

The Elixir in any narration is the part where the hero goes back to his former life with a treasure that has the potential to transform humanity. In The Matrix, the Elixir is the point when Neo assimilates with the Source. The treasure is the merger of a human soul and a computer body (the source). Together, this combination will ensure that humans have the free will to live in Zion (the real world) or The Matrix (a virtual world). Neo’s transformation ensures that humanity can free itself from the ignorance and darkness that it lived in before (Grant 285).

The hero is initially a typical member of his world, but he is privileged because he is not part of the oppressed group in the Matrix. He chooses to change his world by rescuing people from their prevailing circumstances. Neo is a crucial force in his society because without him they would remain oppressed. Some of the archetypes in the story include shadows (antagonists), such as Agent Smith and Cypher who betray Neo. Mentors include the Morpheus while threshold gatekeepers include the Oracle and Apoc (a member of a ship in Zion)

Conclusion

The Matrix is a well-written and profound film. The protagonist comes out of ignorance, masters the newly-acquired knowledge and uses it to change his world for the better.

Works Cited

Babenko, Yelyzaveta. Analysis of the film “The Matrix”. Munich: GRIN Verlag, 2011. Print.

Grant, Morrison. Supergods: Our World in the Age of the Superhero. London: Random House, 2011. Print.

Vogler, Christopher. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. NY: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. Print.

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Neo in “The Matrix” – Film by the Wachowskis

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