As humans, there are several instances where we come to realize our beliefs are untrue or incorrect. For example, my last girlfriend and I shared many memories spanning approximately a year in which we felt we were in love. Nevertheless, two months prior to my decision to end our relationship, we tried to mend the knots that held us together most likely due to our fondness of our memories. We constantly attempted to believe that we were in a stable state. If anything, I noticed more holes within our relationship and it seemed like our candle was burning out.
I recall how seeing her had become similar to meeting another ordinary friend. This was a revolutionary change, a paradigm shift of some sort. As the reality became more and more apparent, I decided it was time to accept the truth mainly because I knew it existed. Although it may have existed, I wasn’t willing to acknowledge or understand it earlier. As a result, if I were Neo, and in the same situation where our actual reality that I was unaware of existed, I would decide to explore the reality instead of falsity because ignorance of a fact does not result in genuine happiness.
Those thoughts generally come knocking back. I would find the truth therefore. We all grow older believing that there is a greater purpose to our lives. Plato’s Allegory to the Cave discusses enlightenment, where the prisoner is freed and permitted to stand up after being chained for so long. As the puppets, which are producing the image of the shadow are discovered, the prisoner would have difficulty believing the reality. The prisoner would likely make his outside, into the sun and be blinded. Neo, is also blinded when he first enters reality.
He asks Morpheus why his eyes hurt and it is because he is using them for the first time. Similarly, if I took the red pill, although I would be initially blinded, I would finally see what reality actually is, the greatest enlightenment that exists. While growing up, my mother has told me that sometimes, the largest part of growing up is taking control of one’s life. Ultiamtely this results in the ability to direct one’s life in the direction one desires. In the Allegory of the Cave, the once-real shadows are merely images created by the sun for the prisoner that is released.
The Matrix, based off of this idea, also consists of a reality where humans provide energy for the machines. Neo and his acquaintances know they are slaves and by taking the red pill, I would realize my true purpose which could perhaps as a source of energy. Nevertheless, I would be able to take control over my mind. The discovery of the truth and grasp of control allow a person to become enlightened to his or her reality, and this is only possible through the consumption of the red pill.
