The Matrix - The Red Pill

The movie “The Matrix” is filled with philosophical thoughts and questions. The biggest and most important question of them all is: “Which one, the red or the blue pill?” Given the choices, the red pill would be the most appealing. If the red pill is chosen it will open eyes to a new reality; it will give life a new meaning; and it will give a better understanding of the world to the one who consumes it. When it comes right down to it, to know or not to know, that is the underlying philosophical question.

Before the pill, reality was just a picture that was painted for the well being of those who lived within it; however, after the pill, that picture loses it’s disguise and reveals it’s true design. “If someone explained that everything … seen before was an illusion and that now … reality … was actually clearer”, how could it be true? Perhaps that is best answered by Morpheus in his answer to Neo’s question: “Why do my eyes hurt?”, when he replies: “You’ve never used them before.” In other words, reality is right there for all to see, its just that nobody seems to want to open their eyes and look. It seems that as people get older, the walls of reality narrow, and people believe less and less; however, when in childhood, anything is possible, and children do not shut the door on any idea. This is best seen at the end of The Matrix when the young boy sees Neo take off into the air and the mother tells her son “Don’t be silly, honey. Men don’t fly.“ Instead, people are happy being the prisoners of the cave, so to speak. Being able to escape from the darkness would broaden boundaries and change the rules. It would open up doors that were otherwise closed, and allow for greater adventure. In taking the red pill, the bars are lifted and souls are set free to experience the new reality.

In experiencing a new reality, a new meaning of life is also exposed. Throughout time, people have been in search of the meaning of life, and all have come up short. Conceivably, this is due to the fact that “The Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.” It is impossible to know the true meaning of life, when one doesn’t really know what life is. As Morpheus says: “…there’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” In pre-red pill time, the meaning of life is only a dream, no one really knows why they exist or what their purpose is, they just think they know. Having the truth exposed, allows for the beholder to see the design, to see the meaning of existence. You just have to “… let it go, … fear, doubt, and disbelief. Free your mind …”, and let truth be your guide. Looking in from the outside, all those within the matrix have but one meaning, to power the robots; however, being on the outside, a new and much greater meaning is uncovered: the meaning of survival. Being on the outside is like being part of an exclusive club, “If you are not one of us, you are one of them.” The choice is robot or human, and human kind is the minority. Being a human means that you are fighting for the right to exist, and fighting for the right to exist is the meaning of life.

By knowing the meaning of life, one can also develop a better understanding of the world around them. In developing an understanding, a realism is brought forth with an new and more complex truth. “What is real? How do you define real? If you’re talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain.” Morpheus says “simply” like it is not a big deal, but to understand what causes senses, after being ignorant to it for so long, makes it much more than simple. Perhaps ignorance is too strong, perhaps “What you know you can’t explain, but you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life, that there’s something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is, but it’s there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad.” If the Good Brahman had been given the opportunity to take the red pill, he would have received an understanding to all the things that he knew, but couldn’t explain, and were troubling his mind so much. No longer would he “ … live in time, and … not know what time is …”; instead, he would live his life, and know why. How great would it be to know why things happen, and how things work in the world? Knowledge is a powerful thing, and people spend all their lives trying to attain and retain it.

Knowledge and truth are the two most sought after materials in the world. As long as one is in the matrix, they will continue to search for them. By taking the red pill, the possibility of finding those materials is present. Being given such great possibilities, who would even think “why oh why didn’t I take the blue pill?” Sure there are greater responsibilities involved, but who could turn down the opportunity to know the truth about reality, life, and the world. The red pill is the only way to go. Perhaps “ … ignorance is bliss.” for some people, but the vast majority of people would like to know the answers to life’s most asked questions, and being outside the matrix is the only way to get them.

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