Paradise Lost And The Matrix Comparison Essay

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Scott Adams once said “[f]ree will is an illusion. People always choose the perceived path of greatest pleasure”. This quote is clearly seen in two complex media: John Milton’s Paradise Lost and the film “The Matrix”. In “The Matrix”, Neo, the main character, is given the option to choose the blue pill or the red pill, the later allowing him to experience The Matrix, or what supposingly is the real world. His bold action to take the red pill is similar to Eve’s decision to eat from the tree of knowledge in Book 9. Even though Neo and Eve technically have free will, it is clear that achieving a perfect life is the ultimately goal. As a result of their similarities, Eve is compared to Neo which allows the reader to see Eve in Paradise Lost as a risk-taker and a individual who purely wants a satisfying life. Taking risks is can be considered one of the best assets to accomplishing a successful life. Without taking risks, an individual experiences a flat personality with no character and no wisdom. Satan tries to convince Eve to avoid having a flat personality when he states the convincing point that “what forbids he but to know, / Forbids us good, …show more content…

Through taking risks, wanting to be happy, and understanding their inferred backgrounds, the reader can assume that this belief of “cause and effect” significantly changed their way of life, which highlights how free will is not so free. Clearly, many theories arise while analyzing Neo and Eve, but the main judgement that can be made about the two are their desire to be successful. Although Neo himself believes in free will, his ambitious attitude to be successful rejects his belief in free will because he is rather unquestionable. Neo and Eve share their willingness to experience the unknown, illustrating their risk-taking