Essay about Reality or Illusion - 955 Words

In Andrew and Larry Wachowski’s 1999 film, The Matrix, and Plato’s Republic, â€Å"On Shadows and Realities,?reality and illusion are one in the same. The Wachowski brothers allows the viewer to see how reality and illusion can be mistaken for the other, using a number of contrasting ideas found in Platos analogy of the Cave, showing that at times the dream world can be safer than real life. The matrix is a simulation that creates an imaginary world where people are prisoners from reality, much like Platos mythological The Cave. The cave holds prisoners inside a dark cave, chained in way prohibiting them from turning their heads, only able to see what is in front of them. All they see is a wall that displays images of what appears to be of†¦show more content†¦In the Matrix, Morpheus, a leader of the movement to save the world from the matrix, talks about human beings being born into bondage. A bondage where people see and live in an imaginary world, believed to be the real world. Where everything they do, see, and how they react to this imagery, is part of the program. The matrix controlling a person’s action and way of thinking, such as in The Cave. Morpheus contacts Neo, a computer hacker, who chosen to assist in destroying the matrix and save humanity. He offers Neo a chance to see reality or return to the world he has known all his life, a world where Neo experienced dreams that never occurred, the matrix?world. To do this, Neo must choose between a red pill, which will show him reality, and a blue pill, which sends him back to the world he has always known. With this scene, the Wachowski brothers use imagery to portray decisions people must make on a daily basis, choose right from wrong. As Morpheus hands Neo the pills, his reflection off his own sunglasses, is two images, both of Morpheus stretching out his arm, but in one he is holding the red pill, and in the other a blue pill. Before making his decision, Morpheus asks Neo if he has ever had a dream that he thought was real, and if so, how could he really tell the dream from reality. Neo does not answer, but takes the red pill, and sees the world, according to Morpheus. Afterwards, Morpheus asks Neo to define reality and adds, â€Å"†¦all the information we getShow MoreRelatedReality and Illusion4098 Words   |  17 PagesReality versus Illusion Texts: Life of Pi King Lear Heavenly Creatures Blade Runner Pans Labyrinth Research Questions: 1. How does each character’s situation influence their perception or ideas of reality versus illusion? 2. What are the similarities and differences between the main character’s situation in each text? 3. What insights relating to reality and illusion can be gained from each text? 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