Film || The Hero's Journey in 'The Matrix' (1999)

Today we will be looking at a film structure called 'The Hero's Journey', which is within boundaries of stories such as The Lion King (1994), Star Wars (1977) and Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (2001). This 'Monomyth' writing style was interpreted from the pattern of classical narratives which can be rearranged or edited to fit in with different contexts. In order to further understand this cycle, we will trace the various stages according to events in The Matrix (1999).

To begin, we observe the daily life of main character Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) who leads a double life as a hacker name of 'Neo'. This is the initial landing of the film that builds empathy for the lifestyle, aptly called 'Ordinary Life' in Monomyth. Establishing the basic life prepares the viewer for the 'Call to Adventure'.

Over the course of time, Neo begins to hear messages that refer to a as of yet ambiguous 'matrix', which even further mystifies when a group of men in suits come looking for him at his workplace. As he follows the specific motions laid out for him over the phone, he is asked to open the window and jump out; his refusal to do so results in the 'Refusal of Call'.

Later, he is brought to a room where is interrogated, but is saved by pre-established character 'Trinity', whom he met earilier in a night club, (Carrie-Anne Moss) and her group who brings him to a abandoned building where he meets 'Morpheus' (Laurence Fishburne) which coincides with 'Meeting with the Mentor'. Morpheus shows Neo the secrets of the matrix and the state of the real world in a way to be described as 'Crossing the First Threshold'.

During his time in the real world, Neo meets with others, who load information directly into his head via a electrical socket. Doing so allows him to instantaneously learn martial arts which he demonstrates in the matrix with Morpheus, this stage is 'Tests, Allies, and Enemies', when the hero explores the new world to make friends and enemies and face trials.

As they descend into the matrix, they exchange some solemn words with each other about death in the matrix. 'The Ordeal' is a stage where characters are thrust into their first dangers in knowledge of their objective, this is sampled in the scene where the main group are ambushed by agents of the matrix, and Morpheus puts himself in harms way for the good of the group. When Neo finds out about this he initiates 'The Reward' stage, where he re enters the matrix to save Morpheus; depending on how you look at it, being alive was his 'reward'.

Before he could leave the matrix, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), kills him, causing him to also die in real life. 'The Road Back' highlights the pursuit of a vengeful force that must be confronted. 'The Resurrection' To revive Neo, Trinity tell him that she loves him, which miraculously brings him back to life with godlike abilities which he uses to purge the Agents from the matrix. 

Later he makes a call to the machines in charge, telling them that 'he will free humanity'. 'Return with the Elixir' Partitions the end of a story in which they use their success to better their own world in some fashion; the acquired object can vary in many ways from being a simple victory, or perhaps a trophy.