Man versus Machine
by KeanuGirl

I have often wondered the possibility that perhaps Neo is actually a machine himself, and that so are all the rebels. Some may not enjoy this idea, however there is evidence to suggest that it indeed could be a real possibility. The question is, do the rebels, actually know they are machines or are they completely oblivious? If he knows then it would seem that he has lied big time to Neo. The only evidence we have to go on is Morpheus' speech about the war, though perhaps he is not aware himself. The Animatrix has sought to explain what happened during the war...and is slowly showing what the truth is.

Animatrix quotes

quote:
Then man made the machine in his own likeness.”

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Who was to say the machine, endowed with the very spirit of man, did not deserve a fair hearing?

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Female Android: *screams*

Man 2: “I got something for you!”

Female Android: *screams*“No, please! I’m real!”


It seems to me that indeed these androids looked exactly like humans, and perhaps the droid/woman that was attacked wasn't even aware she was a droid. Notice she screams 'I'm real?''

"We have only bits and pieces of information, but what we know for certain is that some point in the early 21st century, all of mankind was united in celebration, we marveled at our own magnificence as we gave birth to A.I.
-Morpheus


Morpheus places special vocal emphasis on the term 'birth.' If a rumor about the Oracle being a machine is true, well then she looks pretty human and normal to me. Is this use of birth in the speech literal or allegorical? it is used several times in the film. "Human beings are no longer born, we are grown." "When the eh matrix was first build there was a man born inside." When Neo questions Morpheus he tells him "a singular consciousness that spawned an entire race of machines." In Speilberg's A.I. we can see just how real these machines appear to be emotionally and physically, incredibly human. If human beings are no longer born instead being grown in the pods of the power plan, they are no longer truly humans either. Instead they are now bio genetically enhanced cybernetic humans almost similar to A.I. like a Borg. The only true humans, are those born in Zion, completely natural birth.

"We don't know who struck first, us or them but we know it was us who scorched the sky. At the time they were dependent on solar power, and it was believed that they would be unable to survive without an energy source as abundant as the sun."
-Morpheus

Morpheus never makes clear who is the 'us' or 'them' in this statement, we naturally believe and trust and assume that what he says is correct, depending on our point of view. An example when Neo speaks to the Oracle, she tells him the truth but he takes her words differently. And by what we see and here in the scene may also decide how we view it as well. Two ways of looking at it.

1) Could not the machines be dependent on solar power? Some things such as vehicles can run off solar energy, and perhaps the humans (remember they being the ones who seemed abusive towards the machines in the first place) said, "Yes, let's destroy the machines by blotting out the sun. Mwahahaha..."

2) The machines believed the humans wouldn't be able to survive without the sun so they scorched the sky, which is real and quite possibly true, you can be sure. We as humans can't live without the sun! Everything would die, thus of course which is why the humans fled to Zion. Why would we, as humans seek to destroy the sun because of the machines? It's a no brainer, if the first theory was entirely true, it would have to be one of the most stupidest blunders in the course of human history. And it is 100% true as evident in seeing various machines, such as docbots and squiddies, that they clearly have no need for solar power and can get around fine without it. So if you look at it that way, Morpheus' comments can be seen in a whole new light.

We don't really know, it's all about perception. It is clear that everything we see and hear in the matrix film is done for a reason this includes 'wording.' Consider then the comment by Tank..

"Ten hours straight, he's a machines."

it becomes a bit freaky. "It's about robots versus kung fu!" said the W. brothers in Revisited, they didn't say "it's about humans versus machines." The question can now become who are the real humans and who are the robots? Keanu stated in Revisited that he "loves what my character [Neo] finds out...about himself.." *wink* *wink* In Revisited it was made clear that the paths of Neo and Smith were so closely connected. The human becomes more machinelike and the program becomes more human-like. Their destinies so closely intertwine along the paths of light and darkness.

-=*=-

Project Notes

Much thanks to KeanuGirl for allowing us to post this essay. KeanuGirl helps to moderate the MatrixFans.Net forums as keanugirl101. While we don't necessarily agree with the conclusions in this essay, it is a truly excellent example of researched rationalization and analysis of quotes (a free mind, allowing one to see the amphibloic nature of whatever Morpheous says). We will say this:

Tank says, "He's a machine." From a sociological stand-point, it just seems unlikely (but not impossible) that he'd say that. When you're at war, the words you say shift somewhat. The way we throw around the word "Nazi" now, probably was much more specific during WW2... no matter how much a jerk the local soup deli guy was. It's hard to believe the word "machine" doesn't have at least some stigma attached to it for the Zionists. Associating your Messiah with the enemy race seems too much of a slip... which implies intent?