Dialectics: The Conscious and Unconscious Mind

Psychoanalytic theorist Sigmund Freud defines consciousness and unconsciousness as the following:

The conscious mind consists of what we are aware of; what we can rationally process and think about.

The unconscious mind consists of feelings and thoughts that influence our behavior when we are unaware.

The Martrix demonstrates two worlds in which one exists consciousness, or "enlightened" minds (with Morpheus and friends) and the other exists unconsciousness (with Agent Smith and friends). It is easy to separate the world as such because, as defined by Freud, unconscious minds can be classified as unaware and incontrollable, whereas conscious minds are knowledgeable of reality.

The power of the Matrix comes from its ability to work through the unconscious mind, to influence our behavior through feelings and thoughts without us realizing it or being able to control it. The problem is the unconscious mind has much more influence over our demeanor and personality than our conscious minds. Thus, what those in the Matrix may think they are thinking or doing consciously is actually just a reflection of what is in their unconscious mind (and unfortunately that happens to be the Matrix.)

This idea reflects the reason for what I believe makes Neo "the one," besides his anagrammatic name. Neo's ability to channel the unconscious is what makes him have an edge against the Matrix. Now, granted, I don't know why he specifically has this ability, maybe its some genetic mutation, who knows? Neo says when he first meets Morpheus, "I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my own life," which basically exemplifies the notion that Neo would much rather be completely aware that blissfully ignorant. But not only would he prefer to be aware, but he doesn't even know yet that he actually is. Throughout his whole life, as Morpheus points out, Neo has felt that there is something wrong about the world, "like a splinter in [his] mind." This, I believe, is his unconscious mind that he is bringing into consciousness; taking the idea of the Matrix that is vested in his inner thought and pulling it into a place where he can rationally process, and ultimately control it.

Controlling the unconscious mind is a powerful thing. This goes back to the whole post-modern idea that "you cannot defeat the system." So the only alternative I see is to get inside of it. One cannot simply destroy their unconsciousness to destroy the Matrix. Instead, as Neo so expertly does, working within and testing the system's boundaries, is basically like infiltrating the unconscious mind and controlling it from the inside out, bringing it into consciousness; bring the Matrix into a location where it can be controlled, yet, as the post modernist would point out, not entirely eradicated.

"When I used to look out at this world, all I could see was its edges, its boundaries, its rules and controls, its leaders and laws. But now I see another world. A different world where all things are possible. A world of hope. Of peace. I can't tell you how to get there, but I know if you can free your mind, you'll find the way."