As a basis for many plot lines, modern film often relies on great works of literature. The film, The Matrix Reloaded, is one of these instances for it contains many plot and structural ideas that are very similar to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. In the movie, the matrix is an alternate reality computer programs created by intelligent machines in order to enslave the human race and harvest them as an energy source. Some people manage to break free of this matrix and escape to the rebel force that is trying to free the rest of mankind.
When viewing the movie and its similarities to Frankenstein, the computer race is analogous to the main character, Victor, and the character, Neo, would portray the monster. The computers of The Matrix are much like Shelley’s Victor because they are both creators. In the novel, Frankenstein, Victor creates the monster and the computers unintentionally create Neo. They both created extremely powerful beings that were capable of great strength. Much like Frankenstein the monster, Neo is an extremely powerful superhuman, that cannot be defeated. Neo, like the monster denies society, for he does not accept the matrix. Just like the computers of the matrix gave Neo his power, Victor created a “being of gigantic stature”(Frankenstein,58) and gave him all the power and strength.
In the dialogue with the Architect, the architect tells Neo that there have been multiple people who have denied the matrix before him. He says that there have been five before him and implies that there will be more after him. The movie relates to Frankenstein, for in the novel Victor tries many times to create a being. Although his previous attempts have never worked, unlike those of The Matrix, they still both share the possibility of having multiple monsters. Also, in the novel Victor creates another monster after Frankenstein, much like the architect’s statement that there will be more monsters after Neo.
Throughout their scene together, Neo talks to the architect and as the background walls are covered by televisions that spans the entire room. These televisions represent the choices that Neo can make. This is comparable to Victor and his incessant internal thoughts of the outcomes of the choices he has made to bring the dead back to life. Neo can see his choices flashing all around him but still makes decides to use his own judgment. The camera, after rotating around three hundred and sixty degrees to show all the televisions, then zooms in to one of the televisions. This screen shows the choice that Neo takes, while he is being faced by his maker. The televisions also show close-ups of Neo, which could possibly symbolize the importance of Neo and the impact he will make. The monster of Frankenstein is also extremely important to the plot of the novel, and the crux of the story line.
This scene with the architect also shows Neo from every possible angle and aspect. His creator, the architect, is able to view him in the television screens and is able to see him in any respect. The architect can see him from any aspect and knows him completely. His creator will always be able to Neo in this way. Much like the imprinted image Victor gets when he sees his creation during a “flash of lighting [illuminating]… the wretch… whom [he] had given life too”(Frankenstein, 75),the architect will always have Neo on his mind and in his thoughts. Both creators will never be able to get the idea of the monster out of their heads. Their monsters will always be in view and always in their inner-most thoughts.
The architect is also very similar to Victor because of the level of intelligence they possess and their communication skills. Their level of intellect far surpasses everyone else’s for they seem to be the smartest people within the plot line. Victor in the novel, had “made some discoveries in the improvement of some chemical instruments, which procured [him] great esteem and admiration at the university”(Frankenstein, 55) he studied at. Victor’s communication skills are very sub par at the beginning of the novel, for he lives his life as a recluse. The architect also seems to be slightly out of touch with the rest of the world. These two influential men both possess a great mind, which makes them unable to hold the communication skills that the rest of the world has.
In the scene, the architect is sitting down in a chair and looking up at Neo. The architect looks up to Neo, which represents the idea of Victor figuratively looking up to the monster. The monster stands “about eight feet in height and proportion ably large”(Frankenstein, 58) In this case it is the monster looking up to the creator unlike the monster in Frankenstein where the creator was always looking up to the monster.
The matrix puts a very interesting spin on the idea of Frankenstein. The movie takes the idea of a creation of a monster and makes the human race the monsters. This radical idea changes the way Frankenstein is view because there is more sympathy towards the monster and less of an abomination feeling to it. Neo is often forgotten that he is really a monster to the computers but he truly is demon and causes great troubles for the computer race.
*Honor Code statement: I pledge my honor that I have completed this work in accordance with the Honor Code.
I feel that my conclusion was the strongest part of my essay because I wrote the conclusion and the intro after completing my essay. I also wish I could have worked more on my connection between each paragraph.
The matrix Reloaded. Dir. Andy Wachowski.” Fox Studios: 2003, Film.
