
Every time I see parts of the “Matrix” franchise, I find myself asking
more questions about its foundations. Having just watched the kick-off
flick again only recently, I have a new point or two to ponder.
Essentially, Tom Anderson (aka Neo) and Morpheus meet inside the matrix
as Anderson distinguishes himself through his hacking skills. Or at a
minimum, Neo's choice for extra curricular activity makes it easier for
Morpheus to single him out for personal contact.
Suppose then that Neo wasn't “working” as a programmer with hacker
tendencies. Would he still have the inherent skills or personality or
strength of will or whatever to be “the One”? If in the matrix his
“profession” and mental frame of reference revolved around serving food
or pouring concrete, could Neo have “woken up” and learned to be the
matrix-bending hero Zion needs?
Along the same lines, Neo's world prior to his rescue is nothing more
than a computer-supplied dream (the matrix itself). And we learn later
that as Neo, he does what he does as part of a reoccurring glitch in
the matrix program – the Merovingian says he will outlive Neo has he
did Neo's predecessors.
So here is my though or question:
If the “world” Neo grows up in is nothing more than the greatest
simulation ever, and his choice of career/lifestyle in this
machine-controlled environment helps distinguish him as “the One,” and
presumably others have done the same … Why don't the machines simply
craft a world that is not based on late 20th century earth? Why
couldn't the matrix be viewed as the old west, the moon or a
non-existent fantasy world divorced of a former reality that none of
its occupants ever witnessed before?
Why does the matrix itself – time and again – generate the perfect scenario for the creation of its own demise?