Matrix the Movie and The Lathe of Heaven

1647 Words4 Pages

Matrix the Movie and The Lathe of Heaven

The world is not always what you think it is. Things change or can appear to be

different than what you originally thought them to be. So are the worlds in the Matrix and

the novel The Lathe of Heaven. What you thought you knew about your life just went out

the window. There are several similarities between the novel and the movie, and there are

many trends in the movies and novels societies that are portrayed in our society as well.

Also, each proves LeGuins theory on science fiction.

The Lathe of Heaven and The Matrix have many similarities. Both utilize the

number three by providing main characters in sets of three. Also, The Matrix brings an

even more blatant example of this by naming one of the main characters Trinity. In addition, they both portray our world as something that is artificial;

made up by others who do not have the best intentions. The Matrix is simply a constantly

changing computer program only one of the hundreds we are unaware of.

The matrices, which, while maintained by the Agents, run on their own, are designed to

create a utopia. In the Lathe of Heaven, Dr. Haber controls Georges dreams, and

therefore, the future, by using the augmenter and the power of suggestion. Both worlds

are created and altered with everyone being oblivious, except the three main characters. In each story there is a group that is trying to save the real world that we live in, while

there are people trying to create the world that they see fit.

Ursula LeGuin proposed a theory that shows what science fiction is and how it

works. She believes that science fiction is what we can not see. Science fiction is made

up of ...

... middle of paper ...

...eat stories. I was intrigued by the Lathe of Heaven and its

psychological story. The Matrix is and will go down as one of the greatest movies of all

time. Not just for its special effects, but for the philosophical meaning behind it. To

question what we know and to wonder, is what we have real? Really makes you want to

take that red pill and find out for your self. The Lathe of Heaven really touches base on

the idea that dreams can be a preview of reality. I know I have had dreams were I can not

tell the difference between a dream and reality. Both were well written and are going to

continue to have an impact on their respected genres of art.

Works Cited

The Matrix. Dir. The Wachoswki Brothers. With Keanu Reeves, and Laurence Fishburn.

Warner Bros, 2001

LeGuin, Ursula. The Lathe of Heaven. HarperCollins Publishers, 2000

Open Document