The Concept of Change in the Wachowski Brothers' Film "The Matrix"

As individuals overcome the inevitable process of change, they begin to realize their full potential. In the set text, the 1999 Wachowski Brother’s film, The Matrix, the concept of change is significantly explored. In the related texts “Plato’s Allegory of the cave” and “The Door” clearly represents and reinforces this concept of change; that it is inevitable and experiences from this process leads to wisdom. In each text, the individual composers explore certain themes such as “the illusion of reality”, “choices and the endless outcomes of change” and “the fear and danger of knowing”. All the texts mentioned visible represents that “It is the process of transformation that ultimately allows potential to be realized”.

In the Matrix, the concept of the illusion of reality is constantly portrayed. Mr. Anderson was once an average citizen living the “normal” life, paying taxes. But as he is faced with the realization that the world which he has known his life was not real, he has to make a decision whether to live in his dream world or to become unplugged from the “Matrix” and to begin his journey with the role to become the “one”. Throughout the movie, Neo becomes more and more detached from the world he once knew. He starts developing skills with the guide of Morpheus which allows him to reach his full potential. The dialogue from Morpheus “What is real?” appeals and makes the audience think about the statement. It implies how do you know what is or isn’t real. In “The lady in the red dress” scene, everyone is walking straight, not looking where they are walking thus symbolizing that they are totally unaware of the situation that they are being held as captives. However, the woman dressed in red is moving around freely lookin...

... middle of paper ...

...his full potential.

In Plato’s allegory of the cave, the prisoners are fearful of the unknown and the risks which they have to take to become free. The prisoners dare not to go to the surface in fear of losing their eyesight. Prisoners were so scared that they would murder to stay in the cave. However for the ones which take the risk, they could be lucky and reach their full potential or know of it in which they return to the cave slightly blinded from the bright light. Knowing something does not always advantage the character, but it could disadvantage them as well.

In all texts, it represents that the concept of change is thoroughly explored. The concepts of the illusion of reality, choices and endless outcomes of change and the fear of knowing are present in the above texts. It is the process of transformation that ultimately allows potential to be realized