“Matrix 4”: the theories and secrets that obsessed the youth of yesterday and that now return in a new film

There are not many films that can be successful as blockbusters and, in addition, parallel, deeper readings, full of riddles and keys that come from millenary religions or cultures. Matrix is one of them. It has also become part of a science fiction video library capable of opening new doors to imagination and reflections capable of transcending beyond its special effects. Such as “2001, a space odyssey” (Stanley Kubrick, 1968), “Solaris” (1972) or “Stalker” (1979) -both by Andréi Tarkovski-, “Blade Runner” (Ridley Scott, 1982) or “Inception” (Christopher Nolan, 2010), “The Matrix” can be seen not only as a cinematographic but also a philosophical proposal.

The imminent premiere of its fourth part reminds us that the heart of his story has its origin in Plato’s “The Myth of the Cave”, an allegory of how knowledge changes the lives of men. Leaving the norm and the everyday, having the internal conviction that what one experiences is not the real thing, is also the impulse that moves Neo, that is, Thomas A. Anderson before his great evolution.

To do this, it is necessary to quickly recall the plot of “Matrix”: Neo (Keanu Reeves) is a bit of a gregarious software programmer in daylight, but in hiding at night he’s a well-known hacker. Suddenly, he is recruited by the rebels Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), who tell him a truth that changes his life: the world is a great lie, we are all slaves and they will work to free humanity, with Neo as great hope. Morpheus will soon become a kind of spiritual teacher or guide; with Trinity he will find love and will be the link between the two.

From this premise, it is said that “Matrix” has a messianic, oracular and transhumanist mythology: Neo is supposed to be ‘The chosen one’, based on a prophecy, to face the machines, making use of all the technology possible. Christianity, Judaism or Islam come together in this origin. Buddhism is also present in the same Matrix, an equivalent to Maya, the illusory image, unreal for that faith.

With his mix of Lewis Carroll and William Gibson; Japanese anime and Chinese martial arts; mythological allusions and technological illusions, offers a couple of hours of escapist fun ”, wrote in the premiere of the first film the critic of “Philadelphia Enquirer”, Steven Rea. “In the broadest sense of the term, ‘The Matrix’ is a classic, not just a great movie, but a play that redefined its own medium. Forever”, also wrote then Ian Nathan, of “Empire”. Two considerations that must be evaluated before continuing to decipher the film: while some looked for unfathomable concepts in it, for others it was nothing more than a good entertainment film.

More than just science fiction

Philosopher William Irvin, in his study “The Matrix & Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real,” wrote: “If we had the possibility of leaving that dream world to return to another more real, but less pleasant – taking the red pill – would it be a moral failure not to do so? Why are human beings more valuable than [eventuales futuros] smart electronic mechanisms? Can the mind live without the body or the body without the mind? “.

These questions shed light on the keys to this futuristic epic. And the dissection of its meanings has been exploited, in the two decades that have elapsed since the premiere of the first film, by philosophical, mystical or religious groups that have given various readings to the history of “The Matrix.” This does not mean, however, that those meanings are the definitive ones. An interesting challenge, considering that, in many cases, the diversity of readings has increased exponentially over time. In 1999 the Internet was still in its infancy and much of the technology displayed seemed like a unique challenge for future generations. There were no social networks or so many tolerant discussion forums, even with the wildest theories.

Some theories may indeed seem like this. Some involve the occult, agnosticism, or astrology. Others repower the possibilities of a script that was always much more than the bullets, kicks and fantastic slow-motion stunts that changed action cinema forever.

For example: in a messianic context, in which Neo is considered ‘The Chosen One’, it may be more than a coincidence that his name is Thomas, because at first, like the apostle of his same name in the Bible, he did not believe. He did not trust in inhabiting a “real” reality, before his encounter with Morpheus and Trinity. After all, he is a hacker, a person who lives by infiltrating various realities to take everything he needs and use it in another way. It is also evident that for many it represents the “Jesus Christ” of the Catholic religion: it will be his sacrifice that “saves” the world.

The other most repeated names in the film have apparently obvious meanings: Morpheus (god of dreams and in charge of bringing these to kings or emperors, according to Greek mythology), captain of Nebuchadnezzar (name of a king of Babylon that appears in the Book of Daniel, from the Old Testament, telling his dreams to the prophet so that he can decipher them), whose greatest hope is in Zion, the last human city, whose spiritual meaning in the Bible is to be the Promised Land. Laurence Fishburne, however, added a more quirky definition to her character: “It was like being Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader in one.”.

Its main ally is Trinity, a name associated with the divine Trinity of the Catholic religion. In keeping with tradition, they are betrayed by Cypher, a diminutive of Lucifer, the fallen angel. Like the biblical character, Cypher was hedonistic, selfish and, above all, sadistic.

One of the most commented theories in forums and social networks of fans of “Matrix” is that Cypher was first “The chosen one”, but would not have passed the test. He also tempted Trinity’s love. They deduce this from various dialogues in the film that seem to make it clear. As if that were not enough, Cypher, due to his role in the plot, can also be considered a transcript of Judas.

A universe of theories

To all the above we can add two references of diverse origin. When Thomas A. Anderson is brought to his first meeting with Trinity, he is told: “Follow the white rabbit”, which reminds us of “Alice in Wonderland”. He finds that tattooed white rabbit in a group member who invites him to a disco. Let’s remember that Alicia’s amazing journey ends when she wakes up.

Another relevant example is the oracle, an important element of ancient Greek culture, where it expressed the will of the gods. Personified in “The Matrix” by a woman, he has the answers for future events. Although perhaps not all.

There are not a few educational institutions, be they cultural centers, universities or institutes in the world, where the subtexts of “Matrix” have been seriously studied, not only in film courses, but also in philosophy or anthropology, touching on mythology from different cultures –also there are references to Egypt, with the Osiris ship, for example-, religions, esotericism or, as we have already mentioned, directly to the Bible, also linking it to the precepts of philosophers such as David Hume or René Descartes, added to those of other more contemporary , like Peter Unger, Hilary Putnam or Jacques Lacan.

In this sense, the name of another philosopher, Jean Baudrillard, stands out from the rest, as many attribute the origin of the “Matrix” to him. So direct is their bond that, in Neo’s first appearance in the film, he takes out a diskette of his book, “Simulacra & Simulation”, a treatise published in 1981, in which he states that current society has replaced reality and meaning with symbols and signs, which turns the human experience into a simulation of reality. The protagonists of the film had to read this book to better understand the spirit and motivations of their characters in the story.

Curiously, Neo keeps the hollowed-out book, since he hides inside the illegal programs that he trades, and the money he earns from them. The only page of that book that can be read fleetingly in the aforementioned scene is the beginning of the chapter “On nihilism.” As is known, nihilism is an eminently pessimistic philosophical current, which argues that nothing makes sense. By denying the existence and value of all things, they uphold the impossibility of knowledge. Next, another peculiar clue: when giving the pirate program to his buyer, he thanks him, telling Neo that he was “His savior. Your own personal Jesus Christ.

Baudrillard is also pessimistic and that feeling was picked up by the then Wachowski brothers –now sisters-, directors and scriptwriters of “The Matrix”, by making their perspective clear to us from the beginning: we inhabit a simulated world and we have lost the ability to distinguish it. A quote from Baudrillard himself makes it clear: “‘The Matrix’ is, without a doubt, the kind of movie about the matrix that the matrix could have produced.”

The mention of the directors of the film -who in 1999 responded to the names of Andy and Larry and today, after a gender reassignment surgery and a long process, they are called Lily and Lana, respectively-, has to do with recent statements of Lilly, who added a new theory to those already discussed, assuring that “Matrix” “is a trans metaphor.” The co-director of the trilogy revealed that the film was originally about how to be a transgender person, but that “the world was not quite ready.” “Everything in ‘The Matrix’ has to do with the desire for transformation, but everything came from an encapsulated point of view,” said the filmmaker, while revealing that the character of Switch was a man in the real world, but a woman. in the Matrix.

What new theories will the upcoming fourth part reveal?

Perhaps we will see Neo ask himself again, “Why do my eyes hurt?”, Only for Morpheus to reply again: “Because you’ve never used them before.”