A Comparison of The Matrix and Plato's The Allegory of the Cave

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A Comparison of The Matrix and Plato's The Allegory of the Cave

In the movie The Matrix we find a character by the name of Neo and his struggle adapting to the truth...to reality. This story is closely similar to an ancient Greek text written by Plato called "The Allegory of the Cave." Now both stories are different but the ideas are basically the same. Both Stories have key points that can be analyzed and related to one another almost exactly. There is no doubt that The Matrix was based off Greek philosophy. The idea of freeing your mind or soul as even stated in "The Allegory of the Cave" is a well known idea connecting to Greek philosophy. The Matrix is more futuristic and scientific than "The Cave" but it's the same Idea. Neo is trapped in a false reality created by a computer program that was created by machines that took over the planet. Now the story of course has many themes such as Man vs. Machine, Good vs. Evil, and our favorite Reality vs. Illusion. Neo is unplugged from the matrix and learns the truth and becomes "the one" who is to save the humans from their machine oppressors. "The Cave" is similar in that it has humans trapped in a cave and chained up to only face one direction. The "puppeteers" then make shadows against the wall the humans face using the fire from the outside as a light source. One big difference is that "The Cave" is about two philosophers conversing about the cave as one explains what needs to happen and that the prisoners must free their souls to find truth. The Matrix is the actions of what the philosopher describes actually happening. The comparing of the two stories will show how things said in "The Cave" are the same as in The Matrix, of course with the exception that one is futuristic ...

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...nplugged and becomes "The One." He is freed so he can bring freedom to the humans in the "visible world" or real world.

In conclusion both stories are similar in their ideas. The stories are about people searching for the truth so they can be free. At the end of Neos phone call is something that could have been said to the "puppeteers" in "The Cave." That he's going to show the people what they don't want them to see, A world without rules or control, a world without borders or boundaries and most importantly a world without them. There were many key points that I was able to relate and analyze in this story. I still have no doubt that this movie was based off Greek Philosophy and a great piece to choose. In the end both "The Allegory of the Cave" and The Matrix were both great stories or truth and freedom and what a person will do to find the truth and be free.

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