Themes In The Matrix

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Benjamin Patrick Professor Anthony Galli English 1101 5 December 2011 The Matrix: Reanalyzed When one asks what are the most influential and technologically advanced American thriller movies of the past century are, one of the answers will undoubtedly be The Matrix[1]. The Matrix Trilogy focuses on the story of a post-apocalyptic Earth and the humans and machines that occupy it. The films, despite being of the science fiction/action genre, present a complex series of existential conflicts and resolve these issues over the course of the trilogy. One of these issues is the question: is life ruled by fate or free will? Agent(s) Smith explains the fate side of the debate upon meeting his (their) adversary Neo: We're not here because we're free, we're here because we're not free. There's no escaping reason, no denying purpose - because as we both know, without purpose, we would not exist. It is purpose that created us, Purpose that connects us, Purpose that pulls us, That guides us, That drives us, It is purpose that defines, Purpose that binds us. We're here because of you, Mister Anderson, we're here to take from you what you tried to take from us. Purpose. (The Matrix Reloaded) Neo, or Mister Anderson as Smith calls him, begins his fate versus free will odyssey by making his own decision to leave the Matrix. He is the one that “follow[ed] the white rabbit” (The Matrix). As Morpheus says to everyone before they decide to leave the Matrix: This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.(The Matrix) No other person or higher being made that choice for Neo. The Watchowskis (Dirs.) make this fact apparent with the Architect, the creator and
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