This scene reinforces the previous interview Mr. Rhineheart. It has the same structure as Neo’s reprimand, the same comply or suffer rules. It’s just a bit further up the pyramid, on a higher level. Both these scenes set the framework for the authoritative, hierarchical structure of the Matrix. A shift from corporate level to government level.

At government level though, things get a bit more serious. It’s not just a question of losing a job, it’s more about losing everything. Neo is given an ultimatum. Not only to cease and desist his current course of enquiry, but to also hand over Morpheus, the mentor he has yet to meet, who represents his higher self and the source of this behaviour.

Also in this scene is a reference to Neo’s duality, having two lives. One as a respectable citizen, the socially responsible and boring picture of normality. The other as a hacker, rising to exciting challenges, pitting his knowledge and creative abilities against those above him.

We all felt for him. Standing there in Mr Rhineheart’s office. You may have experienced similar… Blah, blah, blah, corporate policy, blah, part of a team, blah, blah. Yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir.

The dull, drudgery of office life, another cog in the corporate wheel. It may seem to be a rather insignificant scene, but here, we are being given insight as to the nature of the real Matrix. This is reinforced by the following interview with agent Smith, which is much of the same, just escalated to a higher level. Both these scenes set the framework for the authoritative, hierarchical structure of the Matrix.

Rhineheart is a typical heirophant, on the company level. He enforces adherence to a typical company structure. You must be at your desk on time… blah, blah, blah. Rules that make non-creative people feel superior to creative people.

The concepts behind this scene are reinforced, by the following, similar reprimand by Smith. It’s the same structure, the same comply or suffer rules, just a bit further up the pyramid from corporate level to government level.

Also in this scene is a reference to Neo’s duality, having two lives. One as a respectable citizen, the socially responsible and boring picture of normality. The other as a hacker, rising to exciting challenges, pitting his knowledge and abilities against those above him.

Although not shown, for reasons of social acceptability, it is highly likely that Neo has come to this very raw, seedy, fetish club with Choi and Dujour for the purpose of recreational drug abuse. Neo is, quite obviously, out of his comfort zone, but the situation offers him the opportunity to meet Trinity. After all, she is the one that engineered the situation. In some cultures (eg. Central and South America) drugs are used as a gateway to the shadow self or hidden aspects of one’s own personality. Ayahuasca, is one such drug, as made famous by this National Geographic report.

Trinity is actually an aspect of his own personality, the part of his mind that he’s not fully aware of. She is part of him, his creative, mischievous side and his shadow self. An entity that does the things that his conscious mind is not in agreement with.

The first thing to note is that he is surprised by the feminine nature of his shadow self, after all, he is a man. Why would he have a feminine shadow self? Of course, the answer is that, despite our social and individual adherence to a socially defined stereotype of acceptable gender traits, we all contain aspects of the feminine and masculine, regardless of biology.

This is Neo’s first step to freedom from the Matrix.

To all intents and purposes Neo is a geek, but the state in which we find him is typical of an individual who has started to question his life model.

His apartment is undecorated with little furniture and certainly no luxuries, just computers. Most would look at this situation and immediately judge Neo as a drop-out or a waster who is either on drugs or has some form of mental dysfunction. Why else would he choose to live like this?

To Neo, these things are of no importance. He has realised that following the capitalist dream is nothing more than a distraction. He knows something is wrong with this ideal and has rejected it.

He has turned his back on the accepted social norms and instead focuses all his time and money pursuing the truth.

The arrival of Choi, Dujour and friends, drop-out like characters, is further indicative of his rejection of the social norm. These are the sort of people that, for various reasons, have also rejected the shrink wrapped ideal of life. No longer accepting the “standard model” of life that has been spoon fed to them since birth, they prefer a drug fuelled, partying, short term alternative.

They don’t believe in reality either, but their direction and search for truth has lead them into a trap. However, like all these things there is an element of truth within their chosen lifestyle. This is what they offer Neo, who takes the offer. The inference is that of the use of mind altering substances.

It’s called mescaline and it’s the only way to fly.

 

Choi – The Matrix

Though it would be generally unacceptable and politically incorrect to suggest, that this was the purpose of Neo’s joining them for a bit of “R & R”, it is highly indicative that this is what it meant. Mind altering drugs have, for hundreds of years, been used as a stepping stone to open the mind and start the internal questioning process.

The mention of the “white rabbit”, refers, of course to Lewis Caroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”. A book that is famous for suggesting that things are not always what they appear to be. There is also a certain amount of speculation that the works were influenced by the use of opium, which was prevalent at the time.

As Trinity makes her rooftop escape, pursued by Agent Brown and several police, she makes a seemingly impossible jump. The police, who are just men, wearing a uniform, doing a job, stop. Their lives, their futures just aren’t worth the risk. Trinity is unrestricted by such limitations and running for her life.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

- Hippocrates

Of course, we know that in the movie, the Matrix is not real. As such, the constructed reality is limited, to some extent, by belief. This is one of the strongest messages that comes from the authors. Although, it would be inadvisable to attempt a forty foot leap between seven story buildings, regardless of personal conviction, the idea still somehow compelling.

As a metaphor though, with the Matrix representing the rules of society, the majority of people will see anything that breaks the rules as impossible.

The only exceptions are those who have equal conviction in upholding one law at the expense of breaking another… ie. an agent.

Initially, we get the impression that subversive activities are afoot. Spying, maybe something illegal. Armed police storm into room 303, where sits a young woman in front of a laptop.

Back in the street, the police lieutenant is approached by three CIA or FBI like agents. They reprimand the lieutenant, which he shrugs off with the air of someone who just doing the same run of the mill job he’s always done. Like so many of us, when a job becomes routine, we become blasé and ignore warnings as the ego says “I know what I’m doing.” The suspect was just a girl. Hardly a force to be reckoned with.

But, looks can be deceiving. For most people, what they see is real. The cops see a slim, sexy woman wearing the skin tight leather clothing, of what could be initially construed as a cheap tart or prostitute. In society, attire defines who you are according to its restraints. According to the rules of society, a young woman does not wear clothing that shows more of her figure than taboo allows, unless she is selling sexual favours or rebelling against those taboos. In Trinity’s case, it is partially the latter, but she is also aware that such taboos are nothing more than an illusory construct. She is quite comfortable with her own sexuality and aware that in the Matrix, it gives her an advantage. Let’s face it, you were distracted by her shapely leather clad backside (regardless of gender or sexual orientation), weren’t you?

Although Trinity is exceptionally feminine, she is also capable of emotionless acts of aggression. She is far more that her appearances portray and easily capable of protecting herself.

 …make up your own damn mind.  Believe me or don’t.

 

- The Oracle

Don’t blindly believe what I say. Don’t believe me because others convince you of my words. Don’t believe anything you see, read, or hear from others, whether of authority, religious teachers or texts.

Don’t rely on logic alone, nor speculation. Don’t infer or be deceived by appearances. Do not give up your authority and follow blindly the will of others. This way will lead to only delusion.

Find out for yourself what is truth, what is real. Discover that there are virtuous things and there are non-virtuous things. Once you have discovered for yourself give up the bad and embrace the good.

 

- The Buddha

The majority of those we would term “enlightened” have only reached that state due to external forces shattering their illusion, and with it their false model of life.

We are all sold a life model. It may vary according to country, culture and upbringing, but a vastly simplified analogy would be as follows:

Go to school -> Get a job -> Get married -> Have children -> Retire -> Die

It is often only after life shattering trauma, that most honest and responsible people question their beliefs. Those people who have played by the rules and played well, yet despite this, still failed.

The life model must be flawed!

Ultimately, there is only one single truth, the rest are illusions created by a dream-state induced and maintained by society. But, when you are in that dream-state, believing that illusion, how would you know whether what you believe is the real truth?

What if you were unable to wake from that dream, Neo?

How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?

 

- Morpheus