The Matrix is based on the archetype of Artificial Intelligence gaining world domination and enslaving the human race. As well as being based on that archetype, it also makes reference towards certain pieces of literature, one being the allegory of the cave by Platos. The allegory clarifies and contributes to both the movie’s theme and plot. It brings clarification towards the movie by the giving a better understanding of where it’s headed and telling you the meaning in a much more simpler form. While bringing clarity to its viewers, it also contributes to the meaning of the film and making it much deeper.
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato refers to the believers and non-believers. The few who are aware and susceptible towards society and it’s every claim as well announcements. Then there are the others who are kept and shun from society. It is also a conversation between Socrates and a friend of his named Glaucon.
Socrates begins to emphasize on his standpoint and perspective so Glaucon can obtain a better understanding. Socrates uses an example of people residing within a cave, chained and kept hidden against their own free will; exposed only to the mere silhouettes of what is. Until one of them is let out and left facing whether to believe what is before him or to reject it and go back to what he knows.
As far as I can remember, the Chupacabra has always been a story of myths and illusions. It’s translated name “Goat Sucker”, is as literal as its given intentions. It has been said that the Chupacabra would wreak havoc on farms, killing and sucking the blood of the livestock. Mostly feeding upon the goats. As every illusion goes, there are always “witnesses”. Those who’ve claimed to come in contact with the suspect either to gain some media related attention or because they’ve literally convinced themselves that this thing exists.
It’s point of origin is more of an opinion by the masses. Few believe it’s from Mexico, others claim Puerto Rico and the rest believe it to be the Latin parts of the Americas. Others can come forth to agree that this thing is from the southern parts of the Americas where the Latins and Hispanics reside. There are so many stories from around that state where the Chupacabra came from and how it came to be. None of this for sure can be true since every created story derives from individuals. If they were all to come to an agreement, I’m sure the point of origin and the myth could be much more realistic.
This heap of malarkey has been so publicized that it truly has convinced a mass population of people. The stories have been so exaggerated that people really begin to convince themselves this creature is out there feasting on livestock and sucking their blood dry. It even goes so far as to there being false witnesses. Those false witnesses have seen dogs but claim it was the Chupacabra that’s how absurd this illusion has become. Another reason being for this is illusion to spread so quickly and convincingly could be because so many people speak of it regardless of the conversations or situations. It has been brought to their attention incessantly that it’s convinced them of it’s existence.
As a child, I never really had frequent visits to the hospital. There weren’t many appointments either. Dad or Grandma, if you’re reading this correct me if I’m wrong. At some point, I was absolutely terrified towards doctors and not just them but the cold syringes they held with vaccines in them. Like every kid, I was completely gullible as well as easily influenced. In a way it’s embarrassing for me to share some of the events. My father would always tell me things such as:
“If we go to the hospital, the doctor is going to give you a needle this big in your ear…”
I would then beg him not to take me. I would even begin to cry just at the thought of the syringe. He would then ask me again for reassurance if I still wanted to go and of course I’d tell him no. This little false story my father would give me started to become absurd to the point where I was hit by a car and my leg was smashed. To make it comical, it was my own uncle who ran me over. I believe he was intoxicated too. Despite this, my father still didn't take me to the hospital. I just took some weeks off and that was it. Since then, I always had a feeling the huge needle thing was false until I went to a doctor's appointment to get a shot.
Though I'm still terrified of syringes at least I know they're not as enormous as the way my father depicted them.
The Excerpt from The Republic also known as the given assignment, The Allegory and The Cave was a conversation amidst Socrates and Glaucon. To accept the truth as is or to believe in the disbelief was the centered focus. The conversation between the two sort of refer back onto us in the sense of either believing everything we come in contact with or like ignorants, stand our ground despite the facts and truth handed to us. Socrates provides Glaucon with an example of human beings forcefully residing within a cave ever since their childhood hence being exposed to the outside world known as "reality".
"And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them, - will he not be perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him?"
This inquires about the prisoner's belief. Whether he would accept what is before him and consider it all facts or he will stray and hiss at it.There are those who cling onto what they know and of course those who do the opposite. To few and possibly the prisoner, ignorance is bliss because it takes you back to where you feel comfortable and what you're only exposed to thus allowing you to only be withdrawn with what you know.
My public self and private self differ from one another the same way the words put before them contrast. Ironically, they are also the same in some aspects. Both compliment each other as well as insult each other, inevitably clashing and handing over the situation to me. This happens frequently whether it’s around family or around peers. In most cases it leaves me in a situation where I feel like I am at war with myself.
In regards to both complimenting each other, it’s similar to the Latin quote “quid pro quo”. If I conceal my private self towards any person, I allow them to see my public self and vice versa. There’s a form of control with both selves but only to a certain extent in some occasions. Depending on the situation, the person who is presently in a higher jurisdiction may give off the feeling that I am obligated to disclose myself which unfortunately leads to my surrender. Aside from that, you can control your public self with anyone you please and your private self is still in your power with those who are close.
When I am with my private self, I feel as though there is no such thing as getting hurt from everything that surrounds me and because I feel that the world may be out to get me, I tend to side with my private self to prevent such things. During the times I am with my private self, I tend to become preoccupied with my thoughts and swept away into my journal. I stray away from those around me thus allowing them to become frustrated with me and inquiring about my emotions. Despite there being pros to my private self, there are always cons. I am much more vulnerable to the negative things due to bottling myself up. The longer I stay within my private self; the negative effects begin to linger and fester within the remains of my conscience. It becomes an absolute problem for me and because of that I try to be more of my public self.
Being more of my public self serves as great difficulty for me because I am not used to it. I’ve yet to grow comfortable with it since I tend to stay quiet most of the time. When I am my public self, I try to be more outgoing and I try to speak up more. Being my public self reminds me how nice life can be when you open up and interact with everyone including family and friends as well as peers from school. Tuning into my public self keeps me closer to my family and keeps a bunch of smiles stitched onto their faces. When I interact, it gives me a positive outlook on everything. I get to speak to friends much more and show them that feeling of wanting to be their friend is mutual. Also when being my public self, family members do not think of me as an anti-social teenager. I get the chance to show my personality and make others around me think that I am a well-kept and amicable individual. But there are the negative effects to being my public self. I become drawn into it and at times I sugar coat the important things in life, making myself distort reality. I begin think there’s no need for me to work for anything in life when really everything must have hard work put into it. Despite that, during the times I am my public self it is all grace and glory.
Both spew out vile insults when it comes to differing as well as trying to persuade me on which should be used most. As much as I enjoy being the both of them, they must both be of use equally to balance out the elements within one another.
Okay,so here I am typing this post..stuck on what to type.I guess whatever comes to mind..I actually have a blog but it's probably considered inappropriate.It's on tumblr.com.I have dreams and aspirations like everyone else.I love food and sleeping.
