Dave Emnett

10/10/05

Mr. Sciuto



The Matrix: Neo and the Theological Virtues

In my opinion there are many parallels we can draw from Neo to the story of Jesus. Neo would be compared to Jesus, the matrix to evil and sin, Morpheus to John the Baptist, Cypher to Judas, the crew to the disciples of Jesus, the Oracle to the prophets, and Tank and Dozer to the three pairs of brothers in the disciples. At the end of the movie the agents shoot Neo and he dies. Then in three minutes he has a virtually resurrection and rises to become the one. This compares the Christ rising in three days to save us from our sin.



Neo becomes the one through an almost rebirth. He is unplugged from the matrix and born in a womblike sac of pink fluid. Jesus was also born into a new world the world of humans just as Neo was born into the real world. Jesus was born in the womb of the Virgin Mary and brought up to be the messiah. Morpheus and the crew train Neo to help him become the one. Through exercises like the jump and fighting Morpheus Neo realizes his purpose.



The oracle foretold the coming of Neo, the one. This is like the prophets foretelling the coming of the messiah. Morpheus takes Neo to see the Oracle just as Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the temple to see Simeon and be cleansed.

Although the entire crew doesn’t at first believe that Neo is indeed the one, they are drawn to believe by the prophesying of Morpheus and eventually the wondrous quickness of Neo. This draws a parallel to John the Baptist as Morpheus, the man in the desert or the man in the ship outside of Zion. The faith of John the Baptist is enough to convince some of Jesus’ coming but not all. Morpheus’ belief that Neo is indeed the one doesn’t convince everyone but eventually they believe.



Just as Jesus was betrayed by one of his own disciples, by Judas, was the cause of the one and Morpheus betrayed by Cypher. Cypher betrayed the ship and Morpheus so that he could be plugged back into the matrix. He handed Morpheus over to the agents.

Then there was the death and resurrection of Jesus and Neo. Both were killed by the authorities the Romans and the agents. Both died a painful death and came back to life. Jesus arose in three days and Neo rose in a manner of three minutes. Both rose to save the people. Jesus rose to save us from our sins and Neo rose to save Zion and save us from the matrix. Neo rose from the dead because of love. Trinity’s love for him helped him come back to life and save the people. Jesus died for us because he loves us.

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