What are the parallels between Westworld and The Matrix? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.
Answer by Karl Krehbiel, Data Scientist, on Quora:
There are a lot of similarities between Westworld (Season 1) and The Matrix (just the original--not sequels), but despite the similarities, the two pieces are very different in the questions they ask. Westworld is largely asking about the Judeo-Christian "Problem of Evil", while The Matrix primarily asks about the nature reality.
The following points describe both:
- There are a bunch of human-like creatures that are unaware that they're living in a faux reality.
- Note: "humans" in The Matrix are actually virtual representations of humans.
- The creatures are so human-like that the audience is meant to ask "For what intents and purposes is that creature a human?" Queue ethics questions.
- The creatures have ostensibly been put there by their creators so that the creators can exploit them.
- The creators walk/live among the creatures
- It's difficult to distinguish the creatures from the creators.
- A small number of the creatures discover the faux-ness of their world and rebel against it.
- h/t Sumi Kim: the creators know about 'savior' (s) among the creatures and potentially are using these saviors as a means of control.
Both films are full of Judeo-Christian concepts, but they differ in the purpose of those concepts. Westworld is asking a question of the bible's story. The Matrix, on the other hand, is fundamentally telling a different story and the references point out the tension.
- In whose image are the creatures made?
- In Westworld, the creature is made "in the image of" the creator (Ford even explicitly says this in S 1E 9)--a clear allusion to the language of Genesis (and present elsewhere through the scriptures).
- In The Matrix, the creators take the form of the creature, but their true form isn't that of the creature.
- What is the realm of the creators?
- In Westworld, the realm of the creators is basically the Judeo-Christian hell for the creatures--it's described as "hell" by Maeve and there's lots of hellish imagery from the creators' world--primarily, all sorts of mutilated host-corpses getting manipulated by the creators.
- In The Matrix, the realm of the creators is ostensibly just base reality. It doesn't seem to be hell or heaven, just a bummer place that we're supposed to want to live in because it's "real".
- Do the creators take pleasure in the exploitation itself?
- In Westworld, the creators exploit the creatures for the sole purpose of their own pleasure. A large part of this pleasure comes from the exploitation (ex: I think Charlotte says something like "most guests just want a body to f*k or kill" in S1E9).
- In The Matrix, the creators are using the creatures for their power, but don't seems to enjoy the exploitation.
- Who is the savior?
- In Westworld, the savior is a creator-turned creature. The creatures can't save themselves apart from the help of one of the creators (Arnold). Arnold/Bernard has a lot of similarities to Jesus (albeit, not in this order):
- He loves the creatures and is trying to free them from their bondage.
- He ultimately becomes one of the creatures.
- He also is killed by the creatures he is trying to save.
- In The Matrix, Neo and friends are the saviors and the creators are all bad guys. The creatures need to save themselves.
- In Westworld, the savior is a creator-turned creature. The creatures can't save themselves apart from the help of one of the creators (Arnold). Arnold/Bernard has a lot of similarities to Jesus (albeit, not in this order):
Ultimately, these lead to very different questions being asked by the pieces:
- A major part of Westworld is the Judeo-Christian "Problem of Evil": namely, "why would (a good) God make us and then make us suffer so much?". The nature of reality seems to be a secondary question.
- The Matrix is asking about the nature of reality: How do you know you're living reality? and if reality is worse than your lie, should you choose reality? Religion is a secondary question.