THE MATRIX

Another viewing of The Matrix. More questions.

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How is one to view the machine-world "abortion" scene and the subsequent real-world "birth" scene in The Matrix, knowing now that the Wachowskis are both transgender women?

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Wonderland. Oz. The Martian "machines" from H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. Post-apocalyptic wastelands. Late night kung fu flicks. Wild West shootouts at high noon. "Mr. Wizard, get me the hell out of here." (Neo referencing a cartoon from the early 1960s.)

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Thomas Anderson. Thomas = twin. Andro = man. Twin of the Son of Man?

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"Neo" is an anagram of the "One," the first human in the Matrix, the savior who frees the first wave of those from slavery as bio-batteries and into the "promised land" of the "real world" (Zion).

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Belief and doubt.

Morpheus: "It means that the Matrix cannot tell you who you are."

Neo: "But the Oracle can?"

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Tank and Dozer. Brothers born in Zion. They don't have plugs. Yet they are named after machines.

Agent Smith is a sentient program, a machine. Yet he is named after one of the most common English surnames, after a person.

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Morpheus: "And you are?"

Agent Smith: "Smith. Agent Smith."

Morpheus: "You all look the same to me."

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Agent Smith to Morpheus: "You're like the dinosaurs. Look outside. You've had your time."

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Agent Smith to Morpheus on viewing humans not as mammals: "You multiply until every resource is consumed." Comparing us to a virus, disease.

Every time I hear Agent Smith speak these lines, I think of William S. Burroughs and his declaration that language is a virus from outer space. And if language is what (partially?) defines us, then are the statements the same?