Matrix: Modern Alienation or Modern Anxiety?

Introduction to Film Studies. Assessed Essay Term 3 Week 1.

Question 8. Discuss how The Matrix, has focused attention on the idea of identity.

Although it would be preposterous to suggest that The Matrix’s narrative and cinematic composition are focused solely upon the idea of ‘identity’, after watching the first of the Wachowski brothers’ trilogy, it becomes clear that this idea certainly forms an integral backbone to both this movie and it’s two continuations. The central character ‘Neo’, played by Keanu Reeves, undergoes a number of personal revelations in this first instalment of the trilogy, which will reveal the start of his ‘true’ identity. Outside of the individual story relating to this main character, the film’s narrative also leads it’s audience into questioning both the identity of reality versus fabricated existence within the film and also in their own world. I also feel that this interplay of questioning both the diegesis of The Matrix and also our own existence extends to the subjects of religion, individuality within the mass and a world of rapid technological advancement. What I feel The Matrix successfully achieves predominantly through its narrative and also various technical cinematic constructs, is the ability to stir its audience into questioning their own identities.
In this essay I will detail each of these forms of ‘identity in question’ and how the film both creates them and what it is attempting to achieve through posing these questions. As this film uses groundbreaking technological effects in its production, some of which at the time of filming were completely revolutionary I will try instead to focus my critical analysis on the narrative and the underlying messages that the film seems to set out to make relating to the notion of ‘identity’. I feel that this will result in a much more interesting and driven study of The Matrix, rather than simply documenting various special effect, lighting and filming techniques, that will create the piece of work that brings these messages to life but would detract attention away from the philosophical questions I feel the film poses. Furthermore, because of the nature of the film I have decided to base my research for this essay solely around information found on the internet, as I feel that this medium and the various questions and debates that can be found on this subject when searching through it are central to both the film and this period of technological advancement within which we currently exist.
As the main focus of identity revolves around the film’s protagonist ‘Neo’, it seems sensible to begin with the exploration of his identity explored within The Matrix first and foremost. What the Wachowski brothers have created with this character is a man with which a huge amount of contemporary audiences will be able to relate to. From the outset of the film, we are made aware that the character of ‘Thomas Anderson’ is searching for his true purpose within life. Stuck in a lifeless and stuffy job, leading a secret double life as a computer hacker and acutely aware of there being ‘something wrong’ with his initial existence, the audience is immediately drawn into this man’s world through various levels of empathy. In our current society, men and women are often working nine to five jobs, without passion, in order to simply keep financially afloat. Many find solace in alternate lives or past-times outside of work and I myself feel a similar sense of longing for something more out of life that this character Anderson or Neo feels within the film.
In a simplistic sense our protagonist already exists within two identities. Firstly, the office bound, rule abiding computer consultant, a life he is desperate to break free from, and secondly the risk taking, questioning computer hacker Neo, a life he enjoys embracing. I am sure that these two identities of the main character are not solely intended to provide an audience with an entertaining modern action cyber-western, but also to make certain critical comments on contemporary society and the lives many of our population exist within it. The patronising boss that Anderson has to deal with at the beginning of the film, the way that the office mise-en-scene is made to create a stuffy, stark and mundane atmosphere, are just one of the film’s underlying messages trying to be communicated through this narrative. It appears that the fact that our hero breaks free from the shackles of regulated, mundane life to pursue a quest to ensure that his human civilisation are able to break free from the occupation of the artificial intelligence civilisation, is the Wachowski brothers speaking directly to their audience. The narrative screams to the viewers to pursue their dreams, their inner most passions and to no longer accept the regulated life they may have become slaves to. As one piece inspired by the film notes, ‘The problem of the matrix in The Matrix is not that the humans are in an artificial environment; we've been in artificial environments ever since we built our first homes. The problem is that the matrix is a prison – it's an environment that people are unaware of, and cannot (easily) escape from. As the character Morpheus says, it is a “prison for your mind.”’
As the film continues we witness a rebellion. Morpheus and his group are renegades, driven by a desire to be free and to enlighten others with the truth. This pursuing of freedom gives a sense of identity for each of these characters. Rather than being ‘harvested’ by the A.I captors and fed into a makeshift existence called the Matrix, the humans aware of the truth of their situation become identifiable from the rows upon rows of humans used as a power source. Neo is obviously to be the leader of these people, their ‘Chosen One’ that will empower them in such a way that they will be able to choose their own paths, their own existences and identities and it is this purpose that is to drive the narrative of the trilogy.
Throughout this film Neo’s path to finding his true identity is riddled with choices. When he first meets Morpheus he has a choice of whether or not to take the red pill that will reveal the truth about the Matrix. He also has a choice over whether or not to let Morpheus die when he is apprehended by the agents inside the Matrix, as the mysterious Oracle character prophesises, however, the final outcome of this choice resulting in a fate that did not seem to be a possibility according to her words. Morpheus tells Neo when he is training him for combat, that the reason why he will beat the agents is because human’s have the power of free thought completely unbound by the rules that computer programs are bound by. It would seem then that true identity comes through this ability to have ultimate choice to change your fate. Dr. Sam Vaknin believes that ‘the root question is: is there any difference between making decisions and feeling certain of making them (not having made them)? If one is unaware of the existence of the Matrix, the answer is no. From the inside, as a part of the Matrix, making decisions and appearing to be making them are identical states. Only an outside observer - one who in possession of full information regarding both the Matrix and the humans - can tell the difference.’ Therefore it is only once Neo is made aware of his true existence that he can start to make these choices by free will and experience the true identity of being human.
The philosophical debate that our hero has to undergo to reach his realisation of being ‘The One’ in the final scenes of the film is one that has plagued philosophers, religious groups and scientists for as long as history can recall. There has always been an element of questioning our own identity as humans and the reason for our existence. Philosophies of Gnosticism, yoga and various religions have all given various possible explanations for our existence and every one of them has posed questions that try to achieve a better and more complete understanding of one’s own identity, and The Matrix appears to be another philosophical debate internalised within a film narrative amidst a time of rapid technological advancement. Why then is the Wachowski brothers film and its take on the truth behind our identities any less plausible than that of the Christian faith or Gnosticism, even Albert Einstein’s beliefs corresponded somewhat to this world created in The Matrix, ‘A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us…’ . Obviously there are various scientific impossibilities within the film, such as human bodies producing the kind of electrical charge that could run such powerful and large artificial intelligence, however the general idea of being entrapped in a false reality is certainly a universal concept that challenges the human consciousness on a daily basis in contemporary society. Whether it is through scientific study, religious beliefs or philosophical debate, we are all searching for the ‘truths’ behind our own identities.
Continuing to focus on how different realms of identity are dealt with within The Matrix and stemming from the protagonist’s personal journey to realise his own identity, the film appears to draw many parallels to the Christian religion. Throughout the film there are constant references to Christianity, whether it be the fact that our hero is referred to as ‘The Chosen One’, or our heroine’s name being Trinity and most notably the resurrection from death when Neo’s identity of this saviour of human civilisation is realised. The moments in the narrative that make allusions to Neo being a kind of Jesus character are emphasised by godlike powers such as when he no longer has to dodge bullets as Morpheus predicts and the shimmering light he emanates after he bursts from within Agent Smith. There is certainly a sense that Neo sacrifices himself for the sake of Morpheus and the civilisation he is trying to save, and this selfless act and the power of his holy ‘Trinity’ resurrect him in the final scenes of the film. This Christ-like aspect to the main character adds that supernatural edge to his identity, he realises his true being, power and existence and is all at once empowered to expose the truth to the dormant masses. Interestingly, these parallels with Christianity have been received by Christians worldwide with very mixed feelings. Many have written articles labelling this film as a slanderous mocking of the religion, whereas others have seen the film as an inspirational subliminal message promoting the desire to seek out Christian ‘truth’, ‘I invite people to take the red pill (accept Jesus as your Saviour), wake up, become conscious, and join the Resistance (Christianity).’ Whether or not the film is directed as questioning the beliefs of the Christian religion or supporting these beliefs through a technological and futuristic parable relating to the story of Christ is going to be decided by each individual audience member. What is certain is that the Wachowski brothers certainly feel that religious identity, or more directly the beliefs each of us hold that helps to create that identity, supportive of religion or not, is worthy of attention in our individual journeys through life.
Outside of the predominant focus of the film upon Neo’s self-discovery and his identity being realised as the almost biblical ‘Chosen One’, the Wachowski brothers have, in my opinion, used The Matrix as a tool to explore other schemes of identity that are prevalent in our contemporary society. One is that of singular identity from out of the masses. Audiences watching the film certainly empathised with the protagonist’s search for his true self, however, what also must capture the interest of the viewers is his rise out of the mass to achieve a purpose and a status. Neo is separated from the fields of harvested humans fuelling the A.I with it’s power source, he is given a new name, reason for being and a level of great weight and importance in his life.
This societal shift is somethi