The matrix The franchise is full of theories, the key to which is that the real world is yet another level in the simulation as a whole. While this assumption reverses a plethora of plot points and retracts meaning attached to the characters’ motivations, the matrix in a matrix theory is plausible when measured against the franchise’s key inspiration. This theory may well unfold in the highly anticipated The matrix 4, which announces the return of Neo and the start of a potential war of the machines, but with additional stakes.
The matrix trilogy establishes several links with the French sociologist Jean Baudrillard Simulators and simulation, which is essentially the loose basis of overall franchise simulation theory. Baudrillard’s work is used as a literal prop in the first film, in which Neo uses the hollowed-out text to hold money and key computer files, with the chapter “On Nihilism” near the center of the book instead of the end, as it is in reality. . The presence of this misplaced chapter is perhaps one of the many clues that point to the fabricated nature of the Matrix, which is aptly described by Morpheus as “the desert of reality.“
The Matrix in a Matrix Theory was popular fan speculation after the release of The Matrix Reloaded, which postulated that the real world is actually not real at all, but yet another layer of simulated reality. The implications of this theory are far-reaching, as it would potentially mean that The Resistance is a lie and that Neo’s sacrifice has no real value at the end of Revolutions. What does this theory mean and how does it hold up to the next one The matrix 4?
Understanding simulacra and simulation – the real desert
Although Baudrillard’s work differs greatly from the principles of The matrix, there are basic theories about the nature of reality that are reflected in both works. Simulators and simulation talks about the precedence of images and signs, which have essentially replaced and changed our understanding of reality. Arguing in this vein, Baudrillard postulates that reality, as we know it, is simply a simulation of what we understand to be real, as the world is saturated with hyperreal images and symbolism – signs that are often greater than nature. When applied to the real world in The matrix, where Neo and the others operate most of the time, he paints Zion in a whole new light, as the city appears more and more hyperreal over time.
If the real world is, in fact, another level in simulation, it aligns with Baudrillard’s theory that the alien nature of reality imbues human perception with apathy and eroded hope, which is reflected in Cypher’s actions in the movies. Despite being a redpill, Cypher rejects the real world due to the abject terrors associated with it, acting apathetically towards his crew in favor of lulling an even deeper layer of dissociation – the Matrix. Could the real world be deliberately designed by the Machines in a cold, brutal, and subterranean way in order to pose the matrix world as the most desirable? Although she is an apparent reflection of reality, Zion feels totally alien in nature, almost hyperreal in how she functions. It could also be related to the planned emergence of the Cypherites, who vehemently oppose the awakening of humans to reality.
Every clue that the real world is just another simulation
Longtime fans of the Matrix in a Matrix Theory argue that several plot points in The Matrix Reloaded definitely point to the fact that the real world is yet another Machine-shaped “level”. One of the biggest clues that validates this theory is how Neo is able to use his powers in the real world, going so far as to deactivate the Sentinels using telekinesis, which can be interpreted as a manipulation of reality. While it is accepted that Neo is The One, it is important to remember that the mere concept of the One, along with prophecy, is a machine-made world of the Machine to further control reality. Understanding the innate human urge for conflict, hope, and the illusion of choice, the machine world has shaped the emergence of a messiah figure, a deliberate problem in the matrix designed to work in their favor.
While Neo breaks the established mold of the One by beating Agent Smith and making a deal with the Machines, that doesn’t explain how he’s able to demonstrate superhuman abilities in the real world. This is further exacerbated by the fact that Smith manages to own Bane, who is clearly not part of the Matrix and is a redpill, who persisted even after he was taken out of the system. Despite the fact that Smith works like a virus or an anomaly in the system, it is inexplicable how he is able to completely bypass Bane’s mind, which seems plausible if Bane is yet another redpill orchestrated in a simulated layer. of reality. Additionally, we also see Neo entering the real world from the Matrix without being plugged in, suggesting that there is some form of wireless data flow between the two planes.
Also, given that Zion is simply allowed to exist, is it possible that its very existence is part of a predetermined scenario? If Sion has always been associated with humanity’s last hope, is it in fact yet another prison for the redpills who think they have escaped the simulation? Several clues that the real world is a simulated world can also be gleaned from the architect’s conversation with Neo. According to theorist Jason Payne, the architect is not obligated to guide Neo in his fate, as it is already predetermined, and the fact that an intelligent machine would ignore Neo’s choice in the equation is unlikely. . Although Neo choosing not to reload the Matrix has never been done before, the Architect is unlikely to ignore this probability, because, after all, it’s almost inevitable that someone will ultimately make the decision to do so. .
How Matrix 4 could potentially give authenticity to this theory
While the arguments for this theory may be compelling, the matrix within the matrix guess belittles the choices of key figures and the weight that accompanies certain decisions. This raises the question of whether the aforementioned anomalies were deliberate evasions left by the Wachowskis, in order to expand the realm of possibilities in the dynamic world of The matrix. Whether this theory is true or not, the theory of “reality is a matrix” oddly reflects the scientific possibility that the real world is a simulation, as the probabilistic article by Nick Bostrom proposes, “”Do you live in a computer simulation?“Bostrom believes that the entire physical universe, as well as human history, is akin to specks in data stored in a supercomputer or an arc in a video game.
Can the same be said of the events of The matrix? This question can only be answered by the next The matrix 4, which will look at the future of human-machine dynamics and how the two worlds evolve with the changes. Is Neo’s return sparked by the epic revelation that the real world was a simulation all this time, which could potentially explain why he’s alive despite total annihilation? This may also apply to Trinity’s presence in the film, which some fans believe could be revealed as a program designed to fall in love with Neo, triggering the machine-human truce as part of a planned contingency. However, if this is indeed true, a huge question of authenticity will haunt the trilogy as a whole, reducing the characters’ emotional experiences to a cruel plot, a dream within a dream.
- Matrix resurrections (2021)Release Date: December 22, 2021
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