Religious Themes in Film

Lesson 4: The Matrix II: Zion, Trinity, and Christ

For Thought

1. There are, of course, other names of things and characters that we haven’t hit on that could use some investigating: What about Kamala, the wife of Ramacandra, or Persephone, the Merovingian’s woman (and why do she and the Merovingian hang out in Club Hell)? Or Niobe and Charra? Have some fun and go find them.
2. Unlike Frodo and Aragorn, Neo is less reluctant about his destiny. He’s not sure he’s the One, but he doesn’t seem afraid of it when he thinks of it. (He seems to just need convincing.) Do you think Christ knew he was the One from the very beginning? If so, what was the extent of that knowledge? Did he simply think he was someone special, or did he know he was the Son of God?
3. Neo has special talents before he even escapes from the Matrix – he's a hacker and already has a special ability at bending and breaking computer codes. Likewise, Christ is born in miraculous circumstances that demonstrate that he is indeed special. Read Campbell's section on Hero's Childhood and think of some applications to Neo, Christ and even Aragorn and Frodo. (Campbell 318 - 334).

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