The Logos and the Mjolnir

FeralBoy

When I watched Revolutions again recently, I was struck by the fact that Neo is continuously stripped of things throughout the movie as he makes his way toward his confrontation with Smith. By the time he fights Smith, all that's left is to strip him of his life by joining with him.

I've always thought that Trinity's death was symbolic of the Christ figure laying down his divinity so that he might experience a mortal death. As Brian Takle points out in his essays at http://www.wylfing.net/essays/index.html, Neo and Trinity are like two halves of the same person. Trinity is so named because she represents the divine aspect of the hero. It is this divinity (symbolized by Neo's love for her) that separates him from the previous Ones who merely maintained the status quo with their general agape love for the masses. But Neo has divine eros love for Trinity, and because of that he will accomplish something special. Neo and Trinity had not been able to let go of each other throughout the trilogy, but now was the time for sacrifice. The most important point where Trinity was needed was when Neo was in the Architect's chamber so that he would choose her over humanity. But when it came time to face Deus ex Machina, Neo had to go alone, without his divinity.

But before even that could occur, Neo had to lay down his warlike nature in preparation for his message of peace. To me this was symbolized by the separating of the ships the Logos and the Mjolnir. The Logos heads in one direction on its mission of peace, and the Mjolnir heads in the other direction on its mission of war. It's as if Neo (in the guise of Thor) is throwing the Mjolnir one last time and not expecting to get it back. As he throws the Mjolnir, he throws off his warlike nature along with it.

Jormungand (who is slayed by Thor via a blow from Mjolnir according to mythology) is an example of the world serpent Ouroboros, which symbolizes the cycles of life and death, beginning and end. It is the perfect symbol of the cycles of the Matrix. This is why in the recent "Piece of Blue Sky" issue of the Sentinel Paul Chadwick used Ouroboros as the name of the corporation that bought Metacortex (Matrix) which had been previously owned by Wadsworth (Merovingian). The static Matrix that used to be ruled over by the Merovingian now has repeating cycles. But the creator of those cycles (the Oracle) wants to see an end to them. And even though Neo does bring an end to the cycles, the poisonous sting of Smith (the bite of Jormungand) was Neo's undoing.

But it was not the heroic action of a Thor-like hero that slayed Jormungand with a mighty blow from a magical weapon and ended the cycles. Instead, it was the sacrifice of a Christ-like messiah that accomplished that. However, the actions of the Mjolnir were necessary to save Zion long enough for Neo to strike a deal with the Machines. So as Neo shed his warlike nature in a final release of Mjolnir, he took on the Christ-like nature of the Logos and prepared to shed his divinity and then give his life.

**Othinn1**

FeralBoy wrote:

Jormungand (who is slayed by Thor via a blow from Mjolnir according to mythology) is an example of the world serpent Ouroboros, which symbolizes the cycles of life and death, beginning and end. It is the perfect symbol of the cycles of the Matrix. This is why in the recent "Piece of Blue Sky" issue of the Sentinel Paul Chadwick used Ouroboros as the name of the corporation that bought Metacortex (Matrix) which had been previously owned by Wadsworth (Merovingian).

I thought Paul Chadwick used Ouroboros because it was an in-game company, like Pendhurst-Amaranth and Kalt. It's located in Creston Heights just east of the museum.

And according to the last Piece of Blue Sky mission from the Machine organization, Wadsworth was killed by the Sleepwalkers after he'd outlived his usefulness.

FeralBoy

Othinn1 wrote:

I thought Paul Chadwick used Ouroboros because it was an in-game company, like Pendhurst-Amaranth and Kalt. It's located in Creston Heights just east of the museum.

And according to the last Piece of Blue Sky mission from the Machine organization, Wadsworth was killed by the Sleepwalkers after he'd outlived his usefulness.

Othinn1, remember that the devs stated that the entire Piece of Blue Sky event was a standalone event and not really considered part of the overall continuing story. After reading the corresponding Sentinel newspaper and doing a bit of research, I have concluded that Decius Wadsworth and everything related to him is not merely a standalone event but is actually an allegory for the Merovingian as well as a history of the Matrix. Although I'm sure you've already heard a few comparisons between the two already, check out my analysis at http://mxoboards.station.sony.com/matrix/board/message?board.id=general&message.id=118221#M118221 for a more thorough examination. I didn't know that the Ouroboros Corp. already existed in the game, but that doesn't disprove my theory.

**zeroone506**

Before I eventually join the main discussion, here's a quote from Agent Gray, mission: "Requiescat in Pace":

"Oh, yes. Regarding the Sleepwalkers, the individual registered as the financial backer for the "Blue Sky" concerts -- a retiring Metacortex executive -- has not been heard from in weeks. It is probably that he was blackmailed and deleted by the Sleepwalkers."

Sorry, that's too assumptive for an "according to the Machine mission, Wadsworth was killed by the Sleepwalkers" statement, don't you think?

I remember having asked Rarebit about how much of the Blue Sky event actually mattered, and although I don't remember the details, I'm pretty sure it wasn't something like "Nothing in that event has any relevance or meaning for past or future happenings". He actually hinted that the Wadsworth plot might have a future. They had the plot and the Sentinel release written up by Chadwick, and that somehow contradicts the "100% standalone" concept. I don't know what happens as time passes, but that side-story might theoretically be a basis for certain future evolvements (not in a direct way, I suppose).

FeralBoy

zeroone5069 wrote:

I remember having asked Rarebit about how much of the Blue Sky event actually mattered, and although I don't remember the details, I'm pretty sure it wasn't something like "Nothing in that event has any relevance or meaning for past or future happenings". He actually hinted that the Wadsworth plot might have a future. They had the plot and the Sentinel release written up by Chadwick, and that somehow contradicts the "100% standalone" concept. I don't know what happens as time passes, but that side-story might theoretically be a basis for certain future evolvements (not in a direct way, I suppose).

That would be cool if Wadsworth's story continued. I believe it's possible for him to be a recurring character, and yet for my point to stand. It's possible to have an element within a larger story and have that element be "real" and yet symbolize the rest of the story as well. That last sentence was confusing (even to me), so I'll give an example.

Metacortex is an allegory for the Matrix. Look at the speech from Rhineheart as he speaks to Neo about his place within the company.

You have a problem with authority, Mr. Anderson. You believe that you are special, that somehow the rules do not apply to you. Obviously you are mistaken. This company is one of the top software companies in the world because every single employee understands that they are part of a whole. Thus if an employee has a problem, the company has a problem. The time has come to make a choice, Mr. Anderson. Either you choose to be at your desk on time from this day forward or you choose to find yourself another job. Do I make myself clear?

What a perfect description of the Matrix, complete with its implications of someone rejecting it (if an employee has a problem, the company has a problem). And the very word "Metacortex" means "many minds"--more or less. That's what the Matrix is--a collection of humanity, whose minds are jacked into a virtual simulation.

But even though Metacortex is an allegory FOR the Matrix, it also appears IN the Matrix. It is a real company you can visit in The Matrix Online. It was created by a man named Decius Wadsworth. But just as Metacortex is real (within the context of the story anyway) AND an allegory, so is its creator. Make sense?

**DarkRevenantW**

You know I always thought The Merovingian had a large role when he was still a Machine program and was in The Source. Perhaps The Merovingian worked closely to The Architect and building The Matrix. After all, what is The Merovingian's profession in-game?

Coder right?