Utopian Sub-concept: Illusion vs. Reality

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In the Wachowski brothers’ 1999 film, The Matrix and Plato’s Simile of the Cave, the utopian sub-concept illusion versus reality can be found within both works. The Wachowski brothers allow the viewer to see how reality and illusion can be mistaken for the other, using a number of contrasting ideas found in Plato's Simile of the cave, showing that at times the dream world can be safer than real life. The matrix is a simulation that creates an illusionary world where people are prisoners from reality, much like Plato's mythological story, the Simile of the Cave. The cave holds prisoners who have been chained and held captive since childhood, with their heads fixed to stare at a wall in front of them. They see only reflections and shadows. These reflections and shadows are all the prisoners know of the world outside the cave. They only see what is chosen for them to see. In the matrix the two worlds are far less continuous with one another. The real world is extremely a dystopia, and the people that live in the Matrix are entirely cut off from this reality. Ironically, the real world in the Matrix is a parallel to the world inside the cave. In the matrix, people are only able to see what the machines process, making it difficult for them to break free from the fantasy world. However, as Plato`s story progresses one of the prisoners is set free, but only to live a life of confusion and fear. In the matrix, most die trying to escape from it, and once free, they are just as scared as Plato`s prisoner. Fictional characters living in utopias fear reality, since reality may in turn be terrifying. This is the case in both works and this is how utopias summon our darkest fears. In our world it would be very hard to imagine a world of pure paradise and one with eternal peace. This would actually be very frightening because deep down we as humans know that the world will never

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