The quote in the image above is a key to understanding the deepest mystery of the Matrix story. On the surface, the exile of humans into the Matrix world, unknowingly living as ‘batteries,’ presents itself as a typical “good guys versus bad guys” story. There is, however, a much more profound, underlying meaning. One that precedes the Matrix script itself.
The idea of “exile having a purpose,” is very complex. This short article is in a sense, a synopsis of the Matrix4Humans Knowledge Base. In those articles, we get into the details of how the Matrix is unique among works of human creativity at revealing these concepts.
This is part 1 of a 2-part article. The link to part 2 is at the bottom.
Why Are The Humans In Exile?
There’s a significant back story to the Matrix, much of it interesting from a basic movie tale perspective. What we’re focusing on, is the ‘internal’ issue with humanity that led to the problems with the machines and subsequent enslavement.
Self-centeredness
At one point, the humans had a harmonious environment with the creation around them. This included the machines they had made, which, having become quite ‘enhanced’ through the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). All lived together in a mutually beneficial environment.
The humans, however, became lazy, and abusive toward these now ‘thinking’ machines. From this emerged an antagonism that led to hostility and ultimately – war. The humans were defeated, leading to their enslavement in the Matrix.
HOLD THIS THOUGHT: Was this what the machines really wanted?
The Path Out of the Matrix
Though a fair number of humans have found their way “out of the Matrix,” it still exists. For the bulk of humanity, this ‘prison of the mind,’ still appears to be ‘reality.’
Certain freed humans, like Morpheus, Trinity and Niobe possess advanced skills within the Matrix. However, there are limits to what they can do.
This brings us to the concept of “the One,” who is able to go even further in understanding and ability. This is a special individual, one who in some ‘manner,’ seems to come around in different iterations of the Matrix.
Morpheus expressed how profound the power of such a person could be:
When the Matrix was first built, there was a man born inside who had the ability to change whatever he wanted, to remake the Matrix as he saw fit.
That’s an amazing ability. Not long after this, there was this famous exchange, where he expressed a similar mastery over the Matrix world that was within Neo’s grasp:
Neo: What are you trying to tell me, that I can dodge bullets?
Morpheus: No Neo. I’m trying to tell you that when you’re ready, you won’t have to.
What’s Behind This Power?
The idea that a person can reach a certain understanding of existence, that he can do things “beyond the parameters” of what is thought possible, is well known in kabbalistic works.
Such an ‘elevated’ person is called a ‘tzadik’ which is the term for a totally ‘righteous’ individual. (We also address in our recent article on Morpheus and in our Knowledge Base.)
Note the similarity to the two quotes from Morpheus above, to this text:
“The tzadik, in “touch” with the inner, pure form of all reality, is able to “shape” reality in accordance with his will, as is said: “The tzadik decrees and the Holy One, blessed be He, realizes.”
“The Hebrew Letters,” Yitzchak Ginsburgh
What is meant by the tzadik being, “in touch with the inner, pure form of all reality?”
The Oracle told us this in The Matrix Revolutions.
Oracle: The power of the One extends beyond this world. It reaches from here all the way back to where it came from.
Neo: Where?
Oracle: The Source.
(We discuss the idea of the Source being the perfect singularity in the first of our Introductory Articles.)
The path to attaining such ‘mastery,’ is one of constant humility with the end result of self-denial – something Neo acquired to increasing degrees by the end of each of the three movies.
This state (called ‘bittul’ in kabbalah) is the complete opposite of the self-centeredness that resulted in the imprisonment of the humans.
Through the example of Neo, we can see that not only is there a way out of the Matrix, but the requirement of what it takes, is one of repairing a ‘defect’ present in humanity.
The Snake in the Grass
The battle, as it relates to ‘exile,’ would seem to be an ‘internal’ one for humans, with the remedy personified in the path of Neo.
As is the case with many things in the Matrix, things are not always so “cut and dry.” There are ‘external’ forces to deal with as well. Characters that represent the negative or ‘challenging’ aspects, are part of that environment.
There is one entity in particular who has yet to realize his full potential for ‘causing problems,’ in the Matrix story.
The Merovingian.
We have several articles in our database on what old ‘Merv’ represents and what his role is likely to be in The Matrix Resurrections. Suffice it to say, he is the embodiment of everything humanity needs to correct.
Not only that, he has the ability to draw many toward what he ‘offers.’
Whereas Agent Smith was an ‘accuser’ and ‘destroyer,’ the Merovingian represents a different aspect of “the other side” — one of temptation and disdain for truth. As long as he is around, there will be many aspects of ‘struggle’ within the community of humans.
The Merovingian may have been ‘laying low,’ over The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, but as he is one of the “oldest” programs, he will also be of the last to be “done away with.”
What THAT means, however, may end up being a big surprise in The Matrix Resurrections.
