Oracle: Please. You and I may not be able to see beyond our own choices, but that man can’t see past any choice.

 

Neo: Why not?

 

Oracle: He doesn’t understand them, he can’t. To him they are variables and equations. One at a time each must be solved and counted. That’s his purpose: to balance the equation.

 

The Matrix Revolutions

Of course he does represent God… or rather one side of God. He is the masculine principle, pure logic and mathematics. In his mind everything is black and white. He is control using reason.

In the Matrix, the Merovingian thinks he is in control of the wealth, but Persephone has equal access to the Keymaker.

The dynasty was started by Merovech, who maintained that he was of the bloodline of Jesus Christ. There is also another clue as to his archetype offered by Persephone:

“A long time ago, when we first came here, it was so different. He was so different. He was like you.”

 

Persphone – The Matrix Reloaded

Referring, of course, to Neo.

There are also hints to his archetype with the name of his wife, “Persephone” and the name of his club. Although we don’t really know the name of the club, it is accessed through a button in the elevator. The button, originally an emergency button marked “HELP” has had the “P” scratched off, leaving it marked as “HEL”. Persephone was, in Greek mythology, the wife of Hades, Hades being the god of the underworld. The underworld was the realm of the dead, which later became the Christian hell. Hades was not though, the devil. His realm also included Gaia (the earth) and he was considered to be the god of wealth, because wealth came from the ground.

In the Matrix, the Merovingian controls all things “material” and political. He represents the power structure. He is not just the president, emperor or king, he is symbolic of the whole structure.

But… power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. He’s gone bad. Far more interested in his own welfare than his true purpose, ie. the welfare of others. As Persephone points out…”Pompous prick.”

He is a typically militaristic, left brain thinker, only capable of thinking in straight lines. He is a total control freak, and resents Morpheus’ disobedience. He really doesn’t get right brain thinking at all and although he has essentially won the prize (Niobe), he is very insecure around Morpheus, who is completely unphased, by his authourity. Secretly, he knows Morpheus is the better man and a better leader (as indicated by his speech at the beginning of the Zion party).

“an intuitive program designed to investigate certain aspects of the human psyche”

 

and that she

 

“stumbled upon a solution whereby nearly 99% of all test subjects accepted the program, as long as they were given a choice, even if they were only aware of the choice at a near unconscious level.”

We know she is a part of the system and so represents an aspect of society. Oracles are consulted for guidance. They tell prophecies and offer hope. This one offers candy and cookies… maybe to sweeten the bitter realities of life? Throughout the story, she talks about belief and offers the choice “to believe her or not”.

The Oracle symbolises religion… as Karl Marx put it… “Religion is the opiate of the masses.”

She is the feminine principle a way of keeping the right brain sated whilst the masculine principle takes control. Not everyone accepts her as truth, but enough do to allow it to happen.

It is only when Neo defeats him (defeats the law) that Smith becomes “unplugged” and “free”. He becomes far more powerful than the other agents, and outside of the direct control of the Matrix. He can also rally anyone into his ranks. A law unto himself.

He is the system’s extreme reaction to an extreme situation, with only one goal, destruction of the enemy. ie. martial law.