Neo/Christ Parallels in The Matrix

The essay The Matrix - A Cyberpunk Parable? is now here!
This is THE definitive exposition of the religious symbolism that flows through The Matrix.

Please understand,...I'm not saying this movie is THE Messiah Movie! But it is A Messiah Movie! And remember that The Matrix was released the weekend of Easter 1999. That's a very significant release date! Please keep that in mind as you consider these points as parallels with the story of Christ:

Neo is literally born into the real world from the womblike incubator that he's existed in all his life! (Talk about a "virgin" birth!) The imagery in the movie is even symbolic of a birth - from an enclosed sac (complete with several umbilical cords!), down the chute of the birth canal into the world!

Neo's name means "new" or "change". That's exactly WHY he was there. Neo was expected to change things, to bring about a new world order.

A few other significant Biblical names: Trinity, Zion, Nebuchadnezzar.

Neo is brought into a group of people that are excited about his presence; that are willing to believe he is The One.

Neo's way was prepared by Morpheus who proclaimed to everyone that Neo was The One (in interviews, Lawrence Fishburne likens his character Morpheus to "John the Baptist").

Neo's coming was foretold by the Oracle (and THAT woman knows EVERYTHING!).

Neo was preceded by another; a man who was "the father of the movement" ("the father of multitudes" - a parallel to Abraham?).

There are two brothers in this group. With Jesus, there were 3 sets of brothers among the apostles. The fact that there were siblings in this small group (especially brothers!) makes this noteworthy as a parallel.

The group is betrayed from within their own group by Cypher (as a Judas parallel). Here, the Christ allegory breaks down somewhat in that Neo is not really the target of the betrayal (....if the Agents had only known!). The Agents really want Morpheus, and that is the deal Cypher makes - to lead Morpheus and the rest of the group into a trap where Morpheus can be taken.

Neo's death & resurrection is predicted by the Oracle during Neo's visit. She tells Neo that he has "the gift", but it looks like he's waiting for something. Neo asks, "What?" And the Oracle (very prophetically!) replies, "You're next life, maybe!....."

Later, Neo IS killed by the Agents (the authorities), and, instead of 3 days - in less than 3 minutes he is resurrected.
Neo is dead for about 72 seconds. Substitute "hours" for "seconds" and: 72 HOURS equals 3 DAYS!

After his resurrection, he has a GREATER POWER than he had before and the authorities are powerless against him.

After he inhabits the Agent's body and causes the Agent to explode, Neo is represented as an incandescent figure!

Now,...what force brought Neo back from the dead? LOVE! The instrument of that love was Trinity
(and not necessarily the person as much as what the NAME signifies in Christianity!).

With that in mind, let's look at that resurrection scene.....(the) Trinity leans over Neo and kisses him (the proverbial "kiss of life"
or "breath of life"!) and Neo is brought back to life! The first words Neo hears are from (the) Trinity, "Now,....get up!"
Can't you imagine God breathing life back into Jesus, and the first words Jesus hears are God's, "Now,....get up!"

At the end of the movie, Neo hangs up a telephone after telling the Artificial Intelligence that this is the beginning
of a world with no boundaries and no borders; then he "ascends" into the sky. A very fitting end!

This is just a start, people! I don't have all the answers,...like most of us, I search for answers every day! So please don't hesitate to submit your comments, critiques, and ideas! As a matter of fact, let me thank you in advance for them! I invite you to check back here occasionally to see how this site progresses.