MORPHEUS THE FALLEN GOD

                         

                                            Morpheus the fallen God

The Matrix the movie by the Wachowski brothers had many ideas to this movie that related to many things. The matrix is packed with symbolism, religious references, and philosophical theories. Characters in the movie such as Morpheus, Neo, Trinity, Cypher, The Oracle, Agent Smith, and other ancillary characters all have a part in these ideas. Morpheus is one of the many important characters. Morpheus is characterized as the god to everyone inside of the matrix. In this essay I will be explaining Morpheus and everything he stands for, then would talk his comparison to the actual Greek gods and all the Greek mythology, Greek myths, and a god portrayed in Gnostic Christianity. I will also explain the relation between Morpheus and the oracle and what she stands for. The reason why Morpheus believes Neo is and has to be the one to save the city of Zion and the matrix. Finally in with finding the one, Morpheus fallen as a god in everyone’s eyes as neo progresses into becoming the one and believing in it.

Morpheus is the captain of a hovercraft ship on which everyone on his team basically eats, sleeps, and lives and it is called Nebuchadnezzar. The crew of the hovercraft is either born in the city of Zion or was brought into the new world like Trinity, Neo, even Morpheus. He was once human like Trinity and Neo living in what they call the matrix until they freed him. Morpheus is destined to find the one who’s going to save the matrix and the city of Zion. Morpheus believes that the Oracle, who’s able to foresight the future would tell all the people he takes is the one, because that what the oracle saw for him. According to the movie script, in conversation with Neo on their way to see the Oracle,

“NEO: She helped you?

MORPHEUS: Yes.

NEO: What did she tell you?

MORPHEUS: That I would find the One.” ("The Matrix (1999) Movie Script)

Many philosophical theories, myths, and religious references are portrayed throughout the movie. Morpheus in Greek mythology means The God of Dreams. Morpheus is the son of Hypnos the god of sleep and Pasithea the Goddess of relaxation and rest. This shows in the movie in the way that it shows the involvement of illusion and dreaming. In the Matrix the illusion it shows is, they lie down and fall into a deep sleep and enter this world of the matrix. Morpheus name can say it all, the name implies in Greek the word morph means form. In the Greek word Morpheus was “the one who shaped and formed the dreams”. Just like the Greek god Morpheus, Matrix version of Morpheus is able to formulate and give choices to people whether to follow him or not. Morpheus gives chances to the people he chooses, take the red pill that allows one to see reality as it is,

Morpheus: “You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes” and taking the blue pill Neo can forget about the matrix,

Morpheus: “take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and you believe whatever you want to believe”. (The Matrix (1999) Movie Script)

Gnostic Christianity and the Matrix have a similarity towards gods and what they believe and Morpheus is characterized as a god. “In the gnostic myth, the supreme god is completely perfect and therefore alien and mysterious, “ineffable,” “unnamable.” “Immeasurable light which is pure, holy and immaculate”. With this it shows Morpheus being the main important god. There may be other captains in this city of Zion but not as important as Morpheus. Other than Morpheus they others are of the “lesser divine”   (Gnosticism and Buddhism in The Matrix)

Morpheus ( God of Dreams )

Morpheus and the Oracle with hold together, the oracle gave him guidance that he will find the one. The oracle is used to describe a particular prophesy. She is able to foresight the future good or bad. The film opens up the possibility of a God through the Oracle, who able to go inside the matrix and has complete access to information about the future that even those free from the matrix do not possess. This means everyone in the matrix and out which includes Morpheus and neo can’t fore sight the future they can only locate the oracle and have it told to them. The Oracle is responsible for the prophecy and all about neo being the one. During pre-research I found another similarity with the Greek mythology. The Oracle in the matrix has the similarities as the Oracle of Delphi Pythia. In Delphi Greece they maintained their own Oracle. Pythia was well known for her prophecies just like the oracle in the matrix.

 Oracle

In finding the “one” Morpheus is set in Neo being that. Morpheus is determined and has spent a lot of time trusting in the oracle when she told him that he would find the one. Morpheus located Neo in many ways, he has communicated with him through the computer and neo couldn’t believe what he was seeing on his computer. He gave him a hint in the inscription on the computer to follow the white rabbit, “He looks up at her and suddenly notices on her black leather motorcycle jacket dozens of pins:  bands, symbols, slogans, military medals and -- A small white rabbit”. (The Matrix (1999) Movie Script).  When he followed, he was lead into another apartment and there was a party going on and that when Morpheus sent trinity to find neo and speak to him. Later on in the movie Neo is then convinced that he is the one. Morpheus also believes in the oracle and everything she stands for in the prophecy and the oracle has never stood Morpheus in the wrong direction. The oracle may have not told him everything in detail but always steered him where he was supposed to go and what to follow.

Since Morpheus is so considered as the high and mighty in this movie, every hero or god has there downfalls. As Morpheus introduces Neo to this whole new world he wasn’t used to he starts denying his presences. But the movie shows Morpheus teaching him and everyone everything they needed to know to also believe in his self and for the crew on the ship to believe in Morpheus decision or belief to why Neo is the one. Morpheus from the beginning seemed like the untouchable one. Morpheus never got hit, never got defeated, and never even touched. He moves quickly and he teaches that to Neo. The only way Neo can move like he can or maybe even faster is by believing in himself, not to think about being fast just believed in the fast movement. Going further into the movie Neo progresses and then we as the audience start seeing Morpheus becoming less as important and he starts loosing battles. For example, when Morpheus got captured by the agents in order to save Neo, because Morpheus knew if they captured him that they would find the gateway to the city of Zion. With that said Morpheus was held captive and had no control. Neo was sent back to the ship but Neo wanted to save Morpheus. Neo and Trinity went back into the matrix to save Morpheus from the agents then later on that scene Neo had a battle with one of the agents and Morpheus and Trinity saw that Neo moved quickly just like one of the agents in which Neo was in battle with. Then Morpheus and Trinity new he was the one, and that’s when Neo believed in himself that he was the one.

In conclusion, Morpheus being the main important character is analyzed and characterized as the god in the Matrix. Morpheus has a relation to the Morpheus in Greek mythology. This is an example of how Morpheus being the creator of everyone in the Nebuchadnezzar since he is captain. Morpheus in Greek mythology being the god of dreams shows that Morpheus in the matrix is god of dreams too. Morpheus can control who goes in and out of the matrix. With Morpheus convincing Neo that he was the one and him putting him in some rough obstacles to prove and make neo believe that he was one, was accomplished. Now that Neo is convinced he is the one, Morpheus is now characterized as the fallen god because of the progress that Neo has shown to prove to everyone and himself that he is the one.

 Neo ( The One )   Neo & Trinity

Benjamin Willard Robinson. “The New Testament as the Revelation of a New Life”, the Biblical World, Vol. 44, No. 6 (Dec., 1914), pp. 403-408. Published by: The University of Chicago Press, Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142327

Daily, Frances Flannery, and Rachel Wagner. "Journal of Religion & Film: Wake Up! Gnosticism and Buddhism in the Matrix." Journal of Religion & Film: Wake Up! Gnosticism and Buddhism in the Matrix by Frances Flannery-Daily and Rachel Wagner. Web. 19 May 2012. http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/gnostic.htm

D. Harlan Wilson. “Philosophizing the Matrix (In Extremis)” Philosophers Explore the Matrix by Christopher Grau Science Fiction Studies , Vol. 34, No. 1 (Mar., 2007), pp. 143-145 Published by: SF-TH Inc. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4241504

Kimball, A. Samuel. "Not Begetting the Future: Technological Autochthony, Sexual Reproduction, And the Mythic Structure of the Matrix." Journal of Popular Culture 35.3 (2001): 175. Academic Search Complete. Web. 9 May 2012

The Matrix. Dir. Andy and Larry Wachowski. Wri. Sophia Stewart. 1999. Warner Brothers. DVD.

Oreck, Josh, Dir. Philosophy of the Matrix. (2004). YouTube. Web 09. May. 2012

Wachowski, Larry, and Andy Wachowski. "The Matrix (1999) Movie Script – Screenplays   for You." Screenplays for You - Free Movie Scripts and Screenplays. Web. 9 May 2012. http://sfy.ru/?script=matrix_ds

Wilson, mike. “Taking the red pill: science, philosophy and religion in the matrix utopian studies, vol. 15, no.1 (2004), and ppl.167-169.”JSTOR. Penn State university press, 2004. Web. 09 May 2012. http://www.Jstor.org/stable/20718661.

Ernest Gombrich

Ernest Gombrich believed that an artwork is not in the eye of the beholder but in the eye of an artist. He also believed that art reflected on different dispositions of the painter such as its different emphasis. Gombrich analyzed paintings through personal style, style of the period, choice and availability of, tools used, and its medium. Its personal style deflected off of its temperament of the artist, personality, and selected preferences.  According to the tools used you would see different things. With a pencil in hand the artist will see lines, and with a brush in hand the artist will see different masses. 

Painting Description : HUP

Armored Train in Action

Gino Severini (Italian, 1883-1966)

1915. Oil on canvas, 45 5/8 x 34 7/8" (115.8 x 88.5 cm). Gift of Richard S. Zeisler. © 2012 Gino Severini / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris

287.1986

In the painting “Armored Train in Action” by Gino Severini (Italian, 1883-1966)  is oil on canvas like most paintings are. If you analyze the painting you actually see some shapes you would see in everyday life such as, triangles, squares, and rectangles. There are five men on a train in battle with guns, knows probaly as war or battle rifles. We also see with the train there is a cannon attached to it. Gino Severini made the train to look like metal with the illusion that there metal bolts holding the train together. The people on the train with the guns are all facless. The first two you see alittle of there face like color but you cant make a clear distinction of the eyes, mouth, nose and ears. While the rest of them are hooded or covered. The green in the painting can be trees as they past by in the train. The white smoke is from all the gun fire the rifle guns that the men are using and the cannons on the train which are being used as well.

I chose this painting because the painting made me feel proud and sad at the same time. The painting makes me proud is because people go to war or battle for what they believe in and their rights. This painting also mad me sad because of all the men out there having to leave their children and families by themselves not knowing whether their coming back or not. The painting was made in 1915 which was the year that italy entered world war, I think it was very risky of an artist to paint things that may have happened or not. This painting could have came from his imagination but had some very realistic facts and truths of what happened, which I think is very important. 

kind of my outline.

INTRODUCTION

Question:           

How does Tennessee Williams use stage directions (the non-verbal instructions that accompany the play's spoken aspects) to develop the characters Stanley and Blanche?

Thesis:

Tennessee Williams uses the stage directions in the play as a way to give background information on the protagonist Blanche and Stanley’s sexual & drinking habits.

Characteristics

1.       Blanche

·         Loquacious (excessive talking)

·         fragile woman

·         Sexual - her sexual desires come out when she drinks.

·         Liar

·         Cautious and has anxiety

·         A drunk

                                I.                      Blanche: “takes a  few uncertain steps towards bedroom, looks in. turns back, spies open door of kitchen cabinet, crosses to it, removes a whiskey bottle and glass, comes to above table and pours herself stiff drink”(Williams, pg.9)

                              II.                      Blanche: “I know you must have some liquor on the place. Where can it be, I wonder? (Turns upstage.)  Oh, I spy! I spy! (Crosses to kitchen cabinet. Blanche takes bottle and glass from it. They nearly slip from her grasp. She is shaking, panting for breath, and tries to laugh. Stella moves to L. of Blanche, takes bottle.”(Williams, pg.10)

2.       Stanley

·         Aggressive – becomes this when he drinks.

·         Sexual

·         Passionate

·         A drunk

                                I.                      Stanley: “(bringing liquor bottle and glass to table.) In laurel, huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah, laurel that’s right. Not in my territory. (Holds up bottle to observe its depletion.) Liquor goes fast in hot weather. Have a shot? (Pours a drink.)” (Williams, pg.18)

                              II.                      Stage direction: “empty beer bottles are strung about, and a couple of liquor bottles, half empty, are in evidence.”(Williams, pg.30)

COMPARE

1.       Blanche & Stanley

·         Drunks

·         Sexual

CONTRAST

1.        Blanche

·         Loose

·         Flirtatious – makes her feel wanted

                                                        I.            “(Crosses to him. Touching his shoulders.)”  (Williams, pg.59)

                                                      II.            “(Touches his cheek lightly, and smiles. Then goes to trunk.)”  (Williams, pg.59)

2.       Stanley

·         Aggressive

                                                         I.            “(Stanley hears rumpus in living-room, and charges in. Steve stops him. Pushes Steve aside.)”

·         Argues

                                                       II.            “(In bedroom, Stanley has stopped below Mitch to tell him. That’s the last time you’ll play the radio during my poker game!”)

Blog 4: claims

In the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Blanche is portrayed and characterized as very overtly aggressive. Throughout act 1 scene 1, Blanche throws some insults at her sister Stella, but Stella brushes it off because she knows that's how Blanche is. "But you- you've put on some weight, yes, you're just as plump as a little partridge! And it's so becoming to you!" (Williams, pg.12). When Blanche talks, she talks with uncertainty most of the time throughout act I scene I, but whens she has something insulting to say shes very courageous. "You hear me? I said stand up! You messy child you, you've spilt something on that pretty white lace collar! About your hair-you ought to have it cut in a feather bob with your dainty features!" (Williams, pg.12). Blanche merely belittles Stella with her judging and critics. Blanche shows signs of insecurity of herself and shes picking it on Stella now then how she was described in the first 2 pages. 

Also In the play, Blanche likes to take baths more often then a regular human being. "Now, then, let me look at you. But don't you look at me, Stella, no, no, no, not till later, not till I've bathed and rested! And turn that over-light off! turn that off! i wont be looked at in this merciless glare!" (Williams, pg. 10). All these baths that Blanche takes are a way to calm her nerves and wash all the pain she has dealt with. She tries to forget and shed her illicit past by bathing. Which also  represent her efforts to cleanse herself of her past. One stressful thing that she feels she needs a bath, is the lost of the big plantation they owned, Bella Reve. "I know, I know. But you are the one that abandoned Belle Reve, not I! I stayed and fought for it, bled for it, almost died for it!" (Williams, pg.15).

What Is Art ? & "Portrait of a Dog"

What is Art ?
Art is an creative and artistic form of expression, Imagination, and Design. Art can come from anything and anyone. A crumbled piece of paper mashed together with other objects can become a work of art.

"Portrait Of A Dog"
My group had "The Portrait Of A Dog" By Eric Fischl. He displayed 4 frames and turned it into one big portrait. My group noticed that Eric painted a lot of nudes. we questioned whether the nudes were models or if they came from Eric Fischl's imagination. This portrait was about 9' 5 x 14' 2 3/4 (287 x 433.7 cm) made up of oil on a canvas.

Blog:3 Final Draft My Goals

                                    1) “A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at." Goals are the result or achievement toward which effort is directed to. One of my many goals in the near future is to exercise and be healthier by summer of 2012. When I was younger I was shorter and overweight, and then when I got into high school my body decided to grow in height 1,000 inches figuratively speaking. So I got skinnier when I grew but I still had fat left over and I just felt instead of having fat make it muscle. Most goals have an inspiration, methods of accomplishments, importance, and challenges.

                             2)   An inspiration can come within anything and anyone. My inspiration would have to be anyone who has and still is reforming themselves for the better of them and not anyone else. I think anyone who is able to change themselves for them is incredible.

                             3)    Most people in time think they can just cruise without having any major goals. Things that truly worth accomplishing, you need to analyze what you need to do to get there from start to end. I have thought about what I have to do to reach my goal. I’ve spoken to family members about what they do to better themselves whether it’s exercising or being on hardcore diet. People go on hardcore diets and stop eating anything and they faint. That is because they don’t know what they should eat or not so they don’t eat anything. I decided sometime that I will speak my doctor or nutritionist about what is good and not good to put in my body during my diet. Also a very important factor to me exercising is, I need a gym to exercise at. I will find one around where I live and see if they have trainers to speak to and ask what will help me lose weight and gaining muscle in the right areas, which is important.

                             4)    The Importance of my goal of exercising and being healthier is a very important goal for me to reach for many reasons. The risk of not eating healthy can lead to heart disease, osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers. In my family line we have a history of high blood pressure, asthma, and diabetes. Those health problems are due to poor eating habits, and lack of exercising. Learning from experience eating poorly and lack of exercise stops you from being able to run without losing breath, walking for long periods of time, and being active with children. I told myself this could not be me because I want to be able to run and walk for a long period of time. I want to be able to be active whether it’s with my little cousins, brother, and even my own kids in the future.

                             5)    After the importance of a goal come the challenges. A goal wouldn’t be if there were no challenges. Everyone faces them because no goal is easy. If goals were easy I would be a billionaire and more. Challenges that I face trying to exercise and be healthier are not major. Laziness is one important factor of a goal to overcome for me. I get told a lot that I’m lazy but it’s the truth; I can never disagree on that. If I try to exercise for a full month I can do it for a week. Exercise comes with healthy eating and I would eat chips or, some kind of junk food and I’ll feel like I messed up everything and quit.   Stress and being overwhelmed are also factors of challenges. Being so overwhelmed is rough because I can be so caught up in school or work and I’ll lose track in my habit of exercising every day, so that’s where I get organized and plan things out. Stress comes in a big way also. Stress in my world is like everything is falling apart. Stress can be about anything home, money, school, work, and life in general.

                              6)   Therefore, one of my many goals in the near future is to exercise and be healthier by summer of 2012 and it will be accomplished if not before summer shortly in the middle. According to an article by Megan Gressor, ‘’when trying to lose weight, believing in your goals and having a positive attitude can be as important as improving your diet and being active. If you have a plan to keep yourself motivated while you're losing weight, you stand a better chance of succeeding.’’  Being positive and organized by calculating my calories and having a planner telling me when it’s time for school work and when it’s time to hit the gym, all these steps can help me accomplish my goal on time. Hopefully through my success of this accomplishment I can help my family realize if I can change then they can too. 

                                                        

Bibliography

“A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at."

"Bruce Lee." BrainyQuote.com.XploreInc,2012.17March.2012.http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/brucelee385747.html

‘’when trying to lose weight, believing in your goals and having a positive attitude can be as important as improving your diet and being active. If you have a plan to keep yourself motivated while you're losing weight, you stand a better chance of succeeding.’’

Gressor, Megan. "7 Key Steps to Losing Weight." Object Moved. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=4>.