The Matrix- Extra Credit

The Matrix is an American science-fiction film produced in 1999 by The Wachowski Brothers, starring actors Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Ann Moss. The film depicts a computer simulated world named The Matrix, where its human inhabitants live off completely oblivious to the nonexistence of their surroundings and dominating machines use the real bodies of its citizens as an energy source. A rebel squad, assembled to destroy these machines who cause the decline of human population, embark to crack the tyranny with the leadership of a computer hacker Neo, born and raised in the Matrix, who the squad believes is "the one". The story ensues with the squad doubting Neo's prophesy all while powerful Matrix agents threaten to kill the rebellion. Symbols such as fate, freedom and reality play strong roles in the plot, causing some of the major problems and dilemmas in the story.

 One member of the rebel squad, Cypher, betrays them to the agents in exchange of getting back to his life in the Matrix. He reports that his old life was much more comfortable than the one in the real world, and claims that "ignorance is bliss". Cypher shows that he'd rather live in utmost oblivion than work in hard conditions to regain real freedom. This reminded me of the theme of freedom we covered in class, where I recant that Goethe once stated, "none are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free". This quote applies to the situation in The Matrix. Cypher is so manipulated by the false comfort the Matrix gives that he would rather sacrifice his knowledge for oblivion. Cypher, along with potentially the other inhabitants of the Matrix, are so controlled and manipulated by the Matrix programmers that they believe they have freedom, when they clearly don't. When that oblivion turns into utmost ignorance, like what happened to Cypher, it proves the strength of the control, or "enslavement" enforced by the existing order (like the Matrix).

 While Cypher is trapped in the control of the Matrix and prefers ignorance over knowledge, the rest of the squad are thankful for their acknowledgement and know that their hard work will result in real freedom. This is scary to think about because it could happen to anyone; you either have to be strong enough to face reality and fight for your own good or retreat to "enslavement" to reside comfortably in ignorance.