The Matrix Decoded - Chapter 21

The Matrix Decoded

Chapter 21 - There is No Spoon &
Chapter 22 - Choices and a Cookie

DVD Script
(fairly close, anyway)

Notes

The Oracle

The Wachowski brothers used many religious influences; the Oracle is an example of Greek mythology, however I will adapt some aspects of the scenes with the Oracle can still be adapted to fit a Christian allegory.

The Oracle can symbolize the "Word of God" - Scriptures. In the Bible, the term 'oracle' is used to mean a speaker from God, a prophet, a prophecy, or a truth from God.

She can also represent the Holy Spirit, although, as I've stated above, I don't think she fits this position well. I prefer to see her as a wise woman...someone who has understood the Matrix for a long time and has seen and learned much.

MORPHEUS: I told you that I can only show you the door. You have to step through it.

NEO: All right.

(A woman opens the door)

PRIESTESS (WOMAN): Hello, Neo. You're right on time.

PRIESTESS: Make yourself at home, Morpheus.

MORPHEUS: Thank you.

PRIESTESS: Neo, come with me.

PRIESTESS: These are the other Potentials. You can wait here.

Morpheus' statement puts the responsibility on Neo. Neo is the one who has to make the decisions about his life, and whether he will embrace the truth that Morpheus shows him is entirely up to him.

The same can be said for us as Christians. We have to take the steps to live the truth that we find.

I love how the Priestess opens the door before Neo puts his hand on the knob...just like God, who sees us coming and runs to open the doors for us to get to Him!

(The TV program is Night of the Lepus, a 1972 horror flick.)

SPOON BOY: Do not try to bend the spoon. That is impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth.

NEO: What truth?

SPOON BOY: There is no spoon.

Neo nods, staring at the spoon.

NEO: There is no spoon.

SPOON BOY: Then you will see that it is not the spoon that bends. It is only yourself.

The entire room is reflected inside the spoon and as Neo stares into it, it slowly begins to bend until--

A hand touches his shoulder.

PRIESTESS: The Oracle will see you now.

Spoon Boy smiles.

(The 'spoon boy' scene is an homage to the similar scene at the end of the animae film Akira, originally released in 1988.)

There has been a lot of controversy on the 'net over the line, "there is no spoon." But I see it as really powerful.

In the Matrix there really IS no spoon...it's all just a computer program. But in our world the spoon represents the lies that Satan tries to feed us.

Later, on the elevator, Neo will remind himself, "There is no spoon." It is as if he needs to remind himself that the laws of the Matrix world do not bind him. I find it a very inspiring comment! When Satan whispers in my ear, "God won't forgive you again," I can remind myself that there is no spoon, it's all just a lie, or your faith waning.

(KITCHEN)

NEO: Hello?

ORACLE: I know. You're Neo. Be right with you.

NEO: You're the Oracle?

ORACLE: Bingo. Not quite what you were expecting, right? Almost done. Smell good, don't they?

NEO: Yeah.

ORACLE: I'd ask you to sit down, but you're not going to anyway. And don't worry about the vase.

NEO: What vase? (knocks over vase)

ORACLE: That vase.

((The music in the background here is Duke Ellington's I'm Beginning to See the Light.))

This exchange is odd...the Oracle knows that Neo has come for something important, yet she invites him into her homey kitchen while she continues to bake.

First, there is this vase thing. Would he have knocked over the vase if she hadn't said anything? I think this is an important moment...he has come to her expecting to be told who he is. She shows him that, perhaps if she were to tell him anything he would attempts to fulfill her prophesy even if what she tells him is not true.

What she does, though, is help Neo to take a look inside his heart.

NEO: I'm sorry.

ORACLE: I said don't worry about it. I'll get one of my kids to fix it.

NEO: How did you know...?

ORACLE: Oh, what's really going to bake your noodle later on is, would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything.

ORACLE: You're cuter than I thought. I see why she likes you.

NEO: Who?

ORACLE: Not too bright though.

ORACLE: You know why Morpheus brought you to see me?

He nods.

ORACLE: So? What do you think? You think you're the One?

NEO: Honestly? I don't know.

ORACLE: You know what that means? It's Latin. Means, 'Know Thyself'. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Being the One is just like being in love. Nobody can tell you you're in love. You just know it. Through and through. Balls to bones.

ORACLE: Well, I better have a look at you. Open your mouth. Say 'ahh'.

ORACLE: Okay, now I'm supposed to say, 'Hmmm, that's interesting but...' Then you say--

NEO: But what?

ORACLE: But you already know what I'm going to tell you.

NEO: I'm not the One.

ORACLE: Sorry, kid. You got the gift but looks like you're waiting for something.

NEO: What?

ORACLE: Your next life, maybe. Who knows. That's how these things go.

ORACLE: What's funny?

NEO: Morpheus. He almost had me convinced.

The Oracle shows Neo the Latin phrase "Temet Nosce", which means "know thyself". She tells him that when you know yourself, "you just know it, through and through."

In essence, Neo is the only one who can know anything for sure about himself. And he will only know it if he searches inside himself.

The Oracle makes a big show of looking Neo over, examining him like a vet would a horse. But, ultimately she can only tell him that he "has the gift."

What gift? She never explains it. But she seems to know what he expects and gives it to him. She doesn't, however, tell him he isn't the One. As long as he is looking for someone to tell him who he is, he isn't ready to know.

She does mention that he's waiting for something, which points to another interesting comment. She says he seems to be waiting for his "next life."

When Neo finally does realize the truth, he will die and be resurrected, just as Christ died and was resurrected. He will have new power, new strength, a new life.

But this can also apply to us. As Christians, we must die daily to sin (1 Cor. 15:29) and live according to the new people we are in Christ. "Lay aside the old self...be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Ephesians 4:22) "...if by the Spirit you are putting to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)

ORACLE: I know. Poor Morpheus. Without him we are lost.

NEO: What do you mean, without him?

ORACLE: Are you sure you want to hear this?

Neo nods.

ORACLE: Morpheus believes in you, Neo and no one, not you or even me can convince him otherwise. He believes it so blindly that he's going to sacrifice his life to save yours.

Again, I hesitate to say the Oracle is prophesying here. I think the events she describe are obviously what the future is heading toward. If Morpheus and Neo are going to continue coming into the Matrix they will eventually have to face the consequences. Since Morpheus has so much faith in Neo being the saviour, he will be willing to give his life for him.

It is a good warning, though, of what can happen when you do not know yourself and live the truth.

NEO: What?

ORACLE: You're going to have to make a choice. In one hand, you will have Morpheus's life. In the other hand, you will have your own. One of you is going to die. Which one, will be up to you.

Again, it comes down to choices.

The script called for chocolate chip, although they look like oatmeal cookies to me. But why it is supposed to make him feel better is beyond me, unless it is the simple 'comfort food' idea.

ORACLE: I'm sorry, kiddo. I really am. You have a good soul and I hate giving good people bad news. But don't worry, as soon as you walk outside that door, you'll start feeling better. You'll remember that you don't believe any of this fate crap. You're in control of your own life, remember?

ORACLE: Here, take a cookie. I promise by the time you're done eating it, you'll feel right as rain.

(Living Room)

MORPHEUS: What was said was said for you and you alone.

Neo nods and takes a bite of his cookie.