The Matrix & The Mono-myth

The "hero" is given a choice

Ericka Freyre
The Matrix & The Mono-myth
June 7, 2011

Everyone enjoys hearing adventurous stories about a hero that comes from nothing and rises above. According to Joseph Campbell every hero is destined to be sent on their quest. In The Matrix, Neo goes on a step by step journey that a "hero" in Joseph Campbell’s theory must undergo.

In Joseph Campbell’s theory the mono-myth  is a twelve stage hero’s journey. This is commonly found in numerous Hollywood movies such as Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz. One in particular is The Matrix. In this there is a basic three act structure (Benzite). It starts off in what is considered the ordinary world then to the special world and back to the ordinary world. There are many stages into the journey. The first stage is being in the ordinary world, then call to adventure, refusal of the call, meeting the mentor, crossing the threshold, tests allies and enemies, approach to the inmost cave, ordeal, reward, the road back, resurrection, and lastly the return with the elixir(Vogler). The first five stages take place in the ordinary world, and the next five are in the special world then finally the last two are back in the ordinary world.

In the Matrix Neo was sent on his quest that a hero must undergo to bring change and have some kind of knowledge when they return. The first stage is the character known as the hero in an ordinary world. The hero is normally a character that can be considered a recluse. Neo does not fit into his environment. After the intense fight scene we finally meet Neo where he comes into the movie asleep and is woken up to his computer. This can be a display of boredom. Sleep can be connected to boredom. At work, he called into his boss’s office where he seems distracted as he stares out the window. Here we can also infer he doesn’t like his job. He also has a side job as a hacker. His hacker name is Neo and, his work name is Thomas A. Anderson.

The second stage of his journey is the call to adventure. In this stage is the point in a person's life when they are told that there life is going to change ( Vogler). In the Matrix Neo received his calling when the computer (Morpheus) told him “follow the white rabbit.” The white rabbit was a tattoo on his clients girlfriends shoulder. At first he did not see the importance of this and it led him to Trinity they met in the club to which the white rabbit brought him to. She walks over to him and brings him in when she says “He told me that no one should look for the answer unless they have to because once you see it, everything changes.  Your life and the world you live in will never be the same.  It's as if you wake up one morning and the sky is falling” (Wachowski).  At this exact moment, Neo appeared to be captured by Trinity’s words. According to Vogler’s explanation on Campbell’s mono-myth this is when his ordinary world is disrupted and he is presented with the challenge that must be undertaken. What is the Matrix?

The third and fourth stage somewhat rely on one another. Just as all of the stages do but these two stands out to me the most. This is exactly when the adventure to finding one’s self begins, and this is when the hero receives his calling (Stroud). The fourth stage is when Neo meets his mentor. Stage three begins when Neo then receives his message from Trinity and he finally talks to Morpheus. Morpheus helps Neo escape from the Agents that are out to get him because he is “the one”.  Morpheus guides him to safety but out of fear which is the fourth stage (refusal of the call) he is captured by the agents. In the mono-myth this is brought on by the refusal of the call that in a result of refusal is suffering.. When he finally meets Morpheus they become acquainted in a room with two chairs. Neo finally gets to decide his destiny because he does not believe in fate. He is finally given a choice. According to the mono-myth in the time of finally meeting the mentor the hero is given something of great importance (Vogher).Morpheus asks Neo to choose between a blue pill or red pill. The blue pill will allow him to continue his life in the Matrix never knowing the true “reality”. The red pill opens up his mind and allows him to gain knowledge he never had before. He obviously chooses the red pill. Thus ultimately awakening Neo into reality or what truly is the Matrix.

In crossing the threshold (stage five) Neo finally enters The Matrix from being connected on the Nebuchadnezzar while he is “asleep.”  This is the beginning of Neo’s journey with his eyes open. When he finally see’s the Matrix for what it really is. In a “hero’s journey”, after he receives his calling the hero may do it whether it is willingly or he is forced to. He must make a cross between the world he is familiar with and one he is not. Thus bringing forth the change in the three act structure and finally being introduced into being in the special world (Benzite).  Neo is finally in the seat where he appears to be reborn onto the ship where he faces doubt with if he wants to stay on the ship with the crew.

After being in the Matrix for so long Morpheus brings Neo into the training program. This is where he tests Neo’s skills as a fighter through the knowledge the crew member Tank gives to him through this training program. It was said that “the one” would be fast enough to fight off the Agents, particularly Agent Smith. Stage six is about testing your(the hero’s) allies and enemies. The hero is brought out of his comfort zone and is given a series of challenges that will test him to see if he reaches the standards. His fight against Morpheus was preparation for when he fought against Agent Smith. At first he was difficult for Neo to fight but then he succeeds. Stage six is tests allies, and enemies. In this stage the location the character is in will bring terrible danger.

The seventh stage is known as the approach to the inmost cave. The settings in which the hero is in may appear to be dangerous. I see this as the scene when Trinity and Neo go back to save Morpheus. This scene is the most interesting because it shows how far Neo has come from when he first arrived on the ship. Although this is not the final battle, this is when Neo comes face to face with his fear and helps him understand his journey more. What awaits him is his final match when he goes head to head with Agent Smith.

Neo is faced with the eighth stage when the agents are breaking into the system. Neo and Trinity are trying to escape by going into the phone booth. This get away was very important because in this scene is when the hero must come face to face with the crisis he must survive. Neo and Agent Smith begin their fight. Neo finally becomes intact with his powers and the abilities that only “the one” has. He sees the Matrix for what it truly is and becomes stronger and faster than Agent Smith. In this he is overcoming stage nine when he reaches his greatest challenge and gets his reward ,Neo’s strength against Agent Smith increases to its highest capacity(stage nine).As he remains in the “ordinary world” throughout the battle he dies before he can beat Agent Smith(stage ten). When he resurrects to become stronger and faster he defeats the Agents and goes back onto the ship (stage eleven). This is when Neo is finally at the final stage. In this case when Neo returns the elixir isn’t a sword or a ruby pair slippers, Neo returns with great strength and the knowledge that he is the one.

Throughout the stages you notice a drastic change in Neo’s character he becomes more aware of his surroundings and isn’t the odd one anymore. On the ship he fits in and finally belongs. He gains knowledge throughout his quest and defeats the bad guys maintaining the role of a hero.

For more on scripts and a hero's journey:

The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World & The Tell-Tale Heart

Ericka Freyre
May 30, 2011


The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World starts off with children playing by the sea. In the water they discover what appears to be a ship but is actually a man. The children played with his body until someone spotted them. Men brought him back to the village noticing how big he was they thought it happened because he drowned in water. The corpse had scales on its body. They noticed he was not apart of their village and went off to find where he came from. The woman removed the scales from his body while admiring his beauty. Questioning where he was from and why he had no place to belong to. The eldest of the village states “he has a face of someone called Esteban” the younger woman describe him to be Lautaro. They deeply admire his features as they clothed him. With no place to call him the village decides to bury him in the sea. The women refusing for him to be tied down by an anchor that the men suggested. They were pleased at the thought of his return not allowing the men to tie an anchor around him so that he may return. The village was never the same. They enlarged everything in case someone like Esteban were to return


The Tell-Tale heart is a story about a man who feels deeply malevolent towards a man with an eye of a vulture. He offers to take caring and loving to the man a week before he decided to kill him. Every night around midnight he would creep to his door only opening it a bit so that the lantern he had can fit and he watch this man. He felt tortured by this man’s eye and only hated the eye and not the man. When he finally got caught by the old man it was because a mistake he made with the lantern. The old man grew scared as he laid in bed. To comfort himself he blamed it on what could have been a mouse running across the floor. When he kills the old vulture eye man he buries him underneath the floor board. Where becomes haunted by his heart. The police show up and he continues to hear the heart. The police men make their way around the old man’s house. But find nothing. As the man sits above the older man’s body he becomes anxious and confesses. It was not the old man he hated but the old man’s eye.

Research Reflection.

Professor McCormick has taught us many key things in our English 103 class. Before this class I was in a writing class. Which is much different than writing a research paper. We only wrote papers about stories and compared them. We never cited information just quoted. So it’s a lot different.

Professor McCormick taught us a lot from making detailed outlines for every paper to adding to it to build on that paper. I was never a fan of making outlines but it is key to starting a paper. It helps me a lot with my first draft. The key thing I do is write my thesis before beginning my paper so that I have a basic idea of what I will be writing about. Recently we learned things when writing a paper on a story you must write in present tense. Professor McCormick also taught us when writing a research paper to construct it with what can be seen as a sandwich. You start with your introduction and you contextualize. The middle is quoting and you end it with your analysis that connects with your thesis statement. When writing a research paper it is very important to cite information. Every source has a different citation instruction.

The easiest citation is for books!!
Author's Last Name, Author's First Name. Full Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date. Medium of Publication [Print]. Series

Citations can be so confusing. But following the citation format can be very helpful. Thank you Dr.McCormick for introducing us to these techniques.

The Matrix & The Mono-Myth

Ericka Freyre
Draft 1: The Matrix & The Mono-myth
May.16, 2011

(Note: VERY Rough Draft!!!)

According to Joseph Campbell every hero is destined to be sent on their quest. In the Matrix, Neo goes on a step by step journey that a "hero" in Joseph Campbell’s theory must undergo.

In Joseph Campbell’s theory it is a twelve stage hero’s journey. This is commonly found in numerous Hollywood movies such as Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz. One in particular is The Matrix. In this there is a basic three act structure. It starts off in the ordinary world then to the special world and back to the ordinary world. There are many stages into the journey. The first stage is being in the ordinary world, then call to adventure, refusal of the call, meeting the mentor, crossing the threshold, tests allies and enemies, approach to the inmost cave, ordeal, reward, the road back, resurrection, and lastly the return with the elixir.

In the Matrix Neo was sent on his quest that a hero must go on to bring change and have some kind of knowledge when they return. The first stage is the character known as the hero in an ordinary world. The hero is normally a character that does not fit in. Neo does not fit into his environment. He comes into the movie asleep and is woken up to his computer. This can be a display of boredom. At work he called into his boss’s office where he seems distracted as he stares out the window. Here we can also infer he doesn’t like his job

The second stage is the call to adventure. The call to adventure is the point in a person's life when they are told that there life is going to change. In the Matrix Neo received his calling when the computer told him “follow the white rabbit.” At first he did not see the importance of this. This led him to Trinity they met in the club that the white rabbit brought him to. She walks over to him and brings him in when she says “He told me that no one should look for the answer unless they have to because once you see it, everything changes. Your life and the world you live in will never be the same. It's as if you wake up one morning and the sky is falling.” At this exact moment is when Neo appeared to be captured by Trinity’s words. According to Campbell’s mono myth this is when his ordinary world is disrupted and he is presented with the challenge that must be undertaken. What is the Matrix?

The third and fourth stage somewhat rely on one another. Just as all of the stages do but these two stands out to me the most. This is exactly when the adventure to finding one’s self begins. This is when the hero receives his calling. Now after Neo receives his message from Trinity. He finally talks to Morpheus. He helps him escape from the Agents that are out to get him because he is “the one”. Morpheus guides him to safety but out of fear which is the fourth stage (refusal of the call) he is captured by the agents. In the mono-myth this is brought on by the refusal of the call that in a result of refusal is suffering. The fourth stage is when he meets his mentor. When he finally meets Morpheus they become acquainted in a room with two chairs. Neo finally gets to decide his destiny because he does not believe in fate. He is finally given a choice. According to the mono-myth in the time of finally meeting the mentor the hero is given something of great importance .Morpheus asks for Neo to choose between the blue pill or red pill. He obviously chooses the red pill. Thus ultimately awakening Neo into reality or what truly is the Matrix.

In crossing the threshold Neo finally enters The Matrix through being on the Nebuchadnezzar while he is “asleep.” This is the beginning of Neo’s journey with his eyes open.
In a hero’s journey this is after he receives his calling and may do it whether it is willingly or he is forced to. He must make a cross between the world he is familiar with and one he is not. Thus bringing forth the change in the three act structure and finally being introduced into being in the special world. Neo is finally in the seat where he appears to be reborn onto the ship where he faces doubt with if he wants to stay on the ship with the crew.

Technology and Mythic Narrative:The Matrix as Technological Hero-Quest

In the article "Technology and Mythic Narrative:The Matrix as Technological Hero-Quest" it does into detail in which Joseph Cambell's theory is shown in The Matrix. In his theory there is a step by step procedure in which the "Hero" must undergo. He calls this the Hero's Journey(also known as the mono-myth).

1. Hero is not comfortable with his environment
2. He receives his call to the adventure
3. Refuses the call because of fear
4. Overcomes his fear by meeting his mentor
5. Crossing threshold setting out on adventure
6. Test allies and enemies
7. Approach to face battle or struggle
8. Actual moment of facing struggle
9. Reward, if you survive
10.Road back and finish your quest,known as the chase.
11.Resurrection. death once more at a deeper level
12.Return with the elixir

Hero must go on journey to bring change and have some king of knowledge when they return.

Neo was in an environment he did not feel a part of. In the beginning he was asleep and went to work where he seemed distracted. He received his call when he had to 'follow the white rabbit' and went to the club and met Trinity for the first time.He then refuses because his fear. And in the movie it appeared to be his fear of heights. But it has a deeper significant meaning. He overcomes the doubt when he meets Morpheus who has faith of him being the one.As he questions his surronding's on the Nebuchadnezzar. He faces the battle to bring Morpheus back.He was faced with a great challenge in which he found out he was the one. And when he comes back he is awakened after his resurection and brings forth the knowledge he never had.

Cyberpunk & The Matrix

Cyberpunk is a science fiction story based on a computer based society. The basic characters to any cyberpunk story are hackers, artificial intelligence and mega-corporations. The time period is to be based in futuristic time period. These are all found in The Matrix. The Matrix is the computer based society in which Neo lives in. In most cyberpunk writings the story can take place in a cyber space, online or an alternate reality that is unclear whether it is real or not. The directors the Wachowskis brothers bring out the question is it real? You must pay close attention to the storyline so you don’t lose track of what’s going on. The hackers would be Neo, Trinity, Morpheus and the rest of the group. They constantly go in and out of the Matrix. The mega-corporations would be the three sinister agents that are in the Matrix.

TPODG Draft.

Ericka Freyre
The Picture of Dorian Grey: Influence


ALOT TO WORK ON!

Influence plays a big part in our everyday lives. Influence can be used for creativity, love and manipulation. All in which have to do with the imagination. In the story The Picture of Doran Grey all these influences are brought to life and shown in Basil Hallward, Dorian Grey as well as Sybil Vane.


In all four characters they are influenced in this way that two with what can be viewed as a positive outcome and two with a negative outcome. Basil’s love for Dorian Grey betters his painting career by painting a masterpiece. As well as the love Sybil has for Dorian gives her the experience of true love. On the other hand the influence of Lord Henry destroys Dorian Grey's perception. Just as Dorian Grey’s love for Sybil destroyed her creativity. In all situations they end badly no matter how positive the intentions are. But also in the perspective that all along it was Dorian causing the negative influence.

Throughout the whole story Dorian Grey actually becomes the bad influence. Perhaps the only reason Lord Henry spoke those words to Dorian was simply because Dorian’s sex appeal is what triggered Lord Henry to speak words he did not know he would say. Just like Basil became in terror over Dorian’s looks and the love for Dorian killed Sybil’s imagination. All these different influences cause one ending.

Influence can have a different outcome. Influence comes from being influenced. And being influenced has many different outcomes.