Close Topic Options

Comparison Of Frederick Douglass And Matrix

I have noticed a strange comparison between the Matrix and the book, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." This book is about an African American slave in the 1800's who grew up in slavery and eventually learned to read, and from learning to read, became a representative of Abolition of slavery and was FREED of slavery.

In this time period, slaves were kept in the dark and were not allowed to read, or they would realize the truth of their possible freedom. Frederick Douglass even regrets learning to read and wishes to go back to the IGNORANCE of not knowing, such as the blue pills within the Matrix. He reads a book called The Columbian Orator, which shows dialogue between a Slave owner and a slave who is aware of his situation.

I have a quote here that I believe shows strong proof of this analysis.

Quote from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,
By Frederick Douglass
Published by the Penguin Group
Pg. 53-54

"The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers. I could regard them in no other light than a band of robbers, who had left their homes, and gone to Africa, and stolen us from our homes, and in a strange land reduced us to slavery. I loathed them as being the meanest as well as the most wicked of men. As I read and contemplated the subject (Subject of slavery from the Columbian Orator), behold! That very discontentment which Master Hugh had predicted would follow my learning to read had already come, to torment and sting my soul to unutterable anguish. As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow slaves for their stupidity. I have often wished myself a beast. I preferred the condition of the meanest reptile to my own. Any thing, no matter what, to get rid of thinking! It was this everlasting thinking of my condition that tormented me. There was no getting rid of it. It was pressed upon me by every object in sight or hearing, animate or inanimate. The silver trump of freedom had roused my soul to eternal wakefulness. Freedom now appeared, to disappear no more forever. It was heard in every sound, and seen in everything. It was ever present to torment me with a sense of my wretched condition. I saw nothing without seeing it, I heard nothing without hearing it, and felt nothing without feeling it. It looked from every star, it smiled in every calm, breathed in every wind, and moved in every storm."

Now Frederick Douglass is not blind to the truth and seeks to "Free" his fellow brothers. There is an obvious comparison here.

Matrix Douglass Frederick Comparison

Wow, that is a pretty strong similarity between the two situations. I wonder if its possible that the makers of the Matrix used this story of a freed slave to pattern their fictional story about the Matrix? Of course, this story may not be directly told, but the story of freedom from slavery is well known at least in principal. So I guess Frederick Douglas was the 'One' of his time as well!