Morpheus (Matrix)

Morpheus is a male film character who features in The Matrix.

Biography

Morpheus was a male human being who was born within the simulated reality of the Matrix that was maintained by the Machines who used mankind as a source of power. Eventually, he came to be freed from that virtual world and taken to the last human stronghold that was the hidden city of Zion. Over sometime, he came to join the ranks of the resistance where he captained his own hovercraft named the Nebuchadnezzar. He along with his crew engaged in activities to liberate many of the 'bluepills' from their pods in the Matrix with Morpheus became a well known hacker. During this time, he came to be romantically involved with Niobe but their relationship came to an end when Morpheus encountered the Oracle who predicted that he would find the prophecised figure known as the One. This was said to be an individual within the Matrix who would help bring salvation to mankind and free them from the tyranny of the Machines. Thus, Morpheus became consumed with an all-driving passion to find the One and usher in a new age for humanity.

Morpheus finds the bluepill named Thomas Anderson, who calls himself normally by his hacker name of Neo. Through some misfortune, Morpheus is honored to meet the potential savior of mankind, offering Neo a red pill to find out more about the Matrix, or a blue pill to return to his old life. Neo's choice leads him out of the power plant, where Morpheus has time to repair and rebuild Neo's pod-weakened body before he must tell him the truth of the world as he knew it. Neo reacts badly to the truth of the Matrix, and Morpheus apologizes for the event, indicating that there is normally an age limit to freeing minds that he had to break in order to free Neo. He also explains the Prophecy to Neo, and Neo's role in it. Shortly after Morpheus and Neo return from his first visit with the Oracle, Cypher's plan to betray the crew in an effort to return his body permanently to the Matrix was launched. All of the ship's crew are killed except for Neo, Trinity, and Tank. Morpheus attacks their pursuers in order to save Neo from capture, but is captured himself by Agent Smith and taken to a military stronghold for interrogation. Morpheus is drugged to crack his mind into giving the codes to the Zion mainframe computer. Aboard the Nebuchadnezzar, Tank recommends killing Morpheus by pulling his headjack in order to keep Zion's secrets safe. Neo stops Tank, remembering the prediction the Oracle gave to him: Neo must choose to save himself or Morpheus from death. Trinity and Neo re-entered the Matrix in a very dangerous mission to rescue their leader. They are successful and Morpheus and Trinity manage to escape. But Neo remains unable to immediately leave and is attacked by Agent Smith. Instead of running from the virtually unstoppable agent, Neo stands his ground, much to the fascination of Morpheus. But Neo is not able to withstand Smith's relentless attack, and flees, dodging Agents Brown and Jones as well as Smith. Morpheus, his ship under attack itself by sentinels, arms the EMP and whispers words of encouragement to Trinity, but when Neo is apparently shot and killed just moments away from a hardline and escape, Morpheus fell into despair but Trinity was not finished yet. She told the lifeless body of Neo of her prediction from the Oracle: She would fall in love with the One. Concluding that Neo cannot be dead, she kissed him, and Neo's life signs return strongly. His avatar stood up again in the Matrix, enlightened to his powers as the One, and soundly defeated the retaliating agents.

Morpheus was happy to serve with Neo as they begin to free more minds from the Matrix although the many missions of the next six months soon claim Tank as a casualty. The position as the Neb operator then goes to Link who voluntarily joins the crew. During a sudden Crisis Meeting, all of the actively patrolling hovercraft crews discuss the recent destruction of another ship, the Osiris. Captain Niobe then shares the more alarming news transmitted by the Osiris before its demise, that hundreds of thousands of Sentinels are currently enroute to Zion. Still, Morpheus remains unperturbed. And while every other ship including the Neb plans to return to Zion under orders from Commander Lock, Morpheus goes against the order by asking for one other ship to stay, remaining well within reach of the Matrix, to await further instructions from The Oracle. Captain Ballard then volunteers, stating a desire to see what Lock does to Morpheus. The meeting ends when the meeting is raided by Agents which, although entirely upgraded, were dispatched with relative ease by Neo. Aside from the Caduceus captained by Ballard, the rest safely exit back into their own hovercrafts and head back to Zion. Back in Zion, Morpheus and his crew disembark only to find a 'welcoming committee' sent by Lock standing by to escort Morpheus to him. Commander Mifune leads the escort group and reassures Morpheus that he was simply there to 'keep the peace' after Morpheus inquired whether he was to be 'escorted to the stockade'. Brought before an angry Lock, Morpheus is heavily admonished about the orders he disobeyed, further relaying that were it up to him, Morpheus would never set foot on a ship again. Morpheus expresses gratitude that the decision is not up to him just as Councillor Hamann enters the commander's office seeking advice on how to break to the people of Zion news about the imminent Sentinel attack. Lock advises against revealing the full picture while Morpheus advocates for telling Zion the truth, believing that there would be nothing to fear. Hamann then arranges for Morpheus to deliver a speech to all Zionites at the temple that night. Morpheus takes to the mount inside the temple and uses the opportunity to confirm to Zion how rumors of an impending Sentinel attack were true. But after sharing how his faith had kept him from being fearful, he is able to inspire his listeners into facing the news with bravery and festivities quickly ensued after the end of his speech. After leaving the platform, Morpheus was soon approached by Niobe who recalled how Morpheus used to dance well. Morpheus, answering his old flame, stating that some things never change. However, Lock soon interrupted and left with Niobe. After the festivities concluded, Morpheus bade Zion a good night and retired to his quarters.

Notes

• Morpheus was created by the Wachowski Siblings where he was portrayed by actor Laurence Fishburne with his first appearance being in The Matrix (1999).
• On his journal website, writer Neil Gaiman commented, "There was an article someone forwarded to me when the first Matrix film came out, an interview where Lawrence Fishburne talked about meeting DC Comics' Head Jenette Kahn on a plane, and how she gave him some Sandman books, which he didn't read until he was cast in the Matrix, and was told by the Wachowskis that his part should be played like Morpheus in the Sandman comics. But that was the only mention I've ever seen."

Appearances

• The Matrix:
• The Matrix Reloaded:
• The Matrix Revolutions:

External Links

• Matrix Wiki Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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