Angle of Analysis:

Matrix is a complex film with multiple layers of interpretation, revolutionary in many ways for its time. In this analysis, we will adopt a scriptwriting approach, focusing on the tools used by the writers to build the story and convey their message.

Theoretical Context

Drawing on theoretical concepts from dramaturgy and script analysis, we will dissect the narrative structure and themes explored in Matrix. This cyberpunk science fiction film offers a powerful metaphor for the human condition through the idea of a virtual reality manipulated by machines. By comparing it to the «Matrix» we will, like Neo, attempt to cross the mirror and understand the film's construction.

1. Narrative Structure

According to McKee, narrative structure is a series of events chosen from the lives of the characters, strategically organized to evoke specific emotions and convey a particular worldview. The selection of events allows the protagonist to progress while offering the audience a unique emotional experience.

This structure produces a dual effect:

• Novelty: The audience discovers something new, a product of the authors' creativity.
• Familiarity: They follow a narrative path that they instinctively recognize, as narrative structure is based on universal archetypes.

In Matrix, the narrative structure is crucial in revealing the choices made by the writers and the themes they aim to explore.

2. Narrative Arc and Plot

The narrative arc tracks the evolution of the characters' values from the beginning to the end of the story. In the case of Matrix, Neo's narrative arc is that of the philosopher, a journey that leads him to question reality, truth, and the nature of humanity.

The plot consists of the external events that confront the characters and force them to question their beliefs and values. For Neo, the plot materializes through his quest to discover whether he is «The One» and his mission to free humanity from the Matrix.

The theme of The Matrix is intrinsically tied to its genre, science fiction. This genre allows for the exploration of social, political, and philosophical systems by imagining alternative realities and exaggerating certain characteristics of the contemporary world.

By creating a society dominated by machines, The Matrix raises the question of what differentiates humans from machines, and thus, what humanity truly is. The film invites the viewer to reflect on the human condition and to redefine the notion of freedom.

Neo's journey in The Matrix can be seen as a metaphor for the path that each viewer is invited to take. The Matrix is a highly philosophical film that, while belonging to mainstream art, encourages its viewers to ask existential questions.

The analysis of the film will follow the structure of an essay, exploring the thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. The characters themselves represent these different aspects of the authors' message.

The analysis of The Matrix will rely on key structural elements inspired by John Truby, particularly detailed in his book The Anatomy of Story:

1. Weakness and Need – Exposition Moment

Introduction of the protagonist in his daily life: We discover the hero in his usual world. His weakness prevents him from knowing happiness, creating a need for change, even though the character is not yet aware of it.False belief: The protagonist acts based on a mistaken belief, which initiates his narrative arc (internal conflict) that he will have to resolve at the moment of catharsis.Two types of weaknesses:

• Moral: The protagonist suffers from this weakness.
• Psychological: Those around him suffer from this weakness.

In The Matrix:

• Daily Life: Until the 32-minute mark of the film, Neo is a day employee and a hacker at night.
• Weakness: Neo suffers from a deep self-doubt.
• Need: To believe in his abilities.
• False belief: Neo and Thomas Anderson can coexist.
• Psychological need: To accept the responsibility of being The One to help those who believe in him.
• Moral need: To sacrifice himself to save others, to accept his destiny and true nature.

Narrative arc: Neo's journey is that of a philosopher.

2. Desire – Learning Moment

• Inciting element: It creates a clear desire in the protagonist while attacking his weakness. This event guides the plot and enhances the viewer's interest.
• Opposition of desire/need: The plot progresses through the struggle between the protagonist's desire and need. The desire becomes more complex throughout the story, pushing the hero to confront his false beliefs.
• Climax: The hero makes a moral choice that will determine whether he attains or relinquishes his desire and, by extension, his need.

In The Matrix:

• Neo wants to know if he is The One to liberate humanity from the Matrix.

3. The Antagonist

• Central role of conflict: The antagonist provides the protagonist with the opportunity to change. They must be as complex as the protagonist and have similar but oppositional goals.
• Equality of forces: The antagonist should be almost as strong as the protagonist, heightening the challenge to be overcome.

In The Matrix:

• Antagonist: Agent Smith, who hates humanity, aims to free himself from the Matrix, just like Neo, but with contrary motivations. Neo and Smith share an equality of forces: Neo cannot kill Smith, representing a facet of his repressed «shadow» (Jungian concept).

4. The Plan

• Protagonist's plan: These are the actions the protagonist intends to take to achieve his desire. This plan must be clear and identifiable to the viewer, yet fraught with obstacles and constantly evolving based on the antagonist's strategies.

In The Matrix:

• Neo and his team's plan: To evade the machines until Neo masters his powers.
• Agents' plan: To obtain the location of Zion to destroy the last human city and end the resistance.

5. The Battle

• Final confrontation: This is the culmination of the two plans of the protagonist and the antagonist. The timing and location are narrowed down to maximize dramatic intensity.
• Uncertainty: The outcome of the battle should remain uncertain until the resolution.

In The Matrix:

• Neo confronts Smith in the subway, asserting his identity by ceasing to run. He finally accepts that he is Neo, no longer Thomas Anderson.

6. Personal Revelation

• Climax: The protagonist realizes what he has misinterpreted throughout the film. This is a moral choice, often between his desire and need. Ideally, he chooses his need while also achieving his desire.

In The Matrix:

• Neo sacrifices himself and is resurrected through love, the ultimate human value. This resurrection allows him to fully accept who he is and to merge with Smith, symbolizing the integration of his «shadow» and the total acceptance of his nature.

7. New Balance

• Return to normal: This moment shows, often in the same environment as at the beginning, what the hero has learned and gained. Ideally, everyone benefits from this.

In The Matrix:

• Neo becomes The One and offers the machines an alternative to war: peace. He warns them that he will liberate humanity with his power.

1) Dream: Initial lie (the Matrix).

2) Destruction of beliefs: Exit from the Matrix.

3) Reconstruction: Understanding the new rules.

The Matrix is a reinvention of the myth of the cave, where the truth is not beautiful but frightening. The film raises the question: do we really want to see reality, even if it is unpleasant? Neo's journey is an invitation for each viewer to exit their own «Matrix» to accept their inner truths, and to embrace the responsibility of their choices.