The Balance in The Matrix : Taoist Characteristics in The Matrix Films

Nagy, Dániel (2018) The Balance in The Matrix : Taoist Characteristics in The Matrix Films. BA/Bsc, Szegedi Tudományegyetem.

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Abstract

The Matrix trilogy presents a religious/philosophical worldview; what that worldview is, however, is a matter of scholarly debate. The main motive of Messianistic or Buddhistic enlightement can be found, but this paper claims that Taoism forms the root of the Matrix. The plot and the fundamental message of the trilogy correspond with the principles of Taoism at a higher level than other religious or spiritual disciplines. The Matrix trilogy raises the issue of choice, free will and determinism. The main research question is if we can explain these problems through a Taoist interpretation of the diegesis. The analysis of Taoism constitutes the core of the paper in order to achieve this interpretation. Consequently, interrelations between the film and Taoist concepts are also discussed in detail in this paper. The Taoist perspective of reality is contrasted with the Matrix’s worldview through the problem of simulation. The films also question excessive technological developement, and how this unbalance can result in the end of humanity’s era on Earth. The paper continues with the dilemma of choice as an important backbone of the universal balance in life, and concludes with the dechipering of the Wachowski brothers’ covert message, represented through the struggles of the protagonist, Neo.

Institution

Szegedi Tudományegyetem

Faculty

Faculty of Arts

Department

Angol Tanszék

Discipline

Humanities

Institute

Angol-Amerikai Intézet

Specialization

anglisztika

Supervisor(s)

Item Type:	Thesis (BA/Bsc)
Subjects:	06. Humanities
Depositing User:	szerkesztő BTK
Date Deposited:	2019. Apr. 26. 06:54
Last Modified:	2019. Apr. 26. 13:54
URI:	https://diploma.bibl.u-szeged.hu/id/eprint/74382

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