Another theme that examines the values of the contemporary Western world is that of illusion versus reality. Illusion versus reality is brought out in this film by symbolism, dialogue, camera angles and costume.
Throughout the first few scenes of the film, there is continual reference to the story of Alice in wonderland. In The Matrix, Neo's computer tells him to "follow the white rabbit." This is symbolic of the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. It symbolises a new journey filled with mystery and danger. The Matrix is a dream world. It is an illusion and mankind is completely ignorant of this fact. They are unable to see that they, like Alice, are in a dream world. It is only if you know what the Matrix is, then you are able to discern between illusion and reality.
Dialogue was another technique used to bring out the theme of illusion versus reality. The young boy at the oracle's house said, "Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead only try to realise the truth There is no spoon Then you"ll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself." This boy is telling Neo that the spoon is an illusion. It is not really there but it is part of the computer programme. Neo has to realise that the world he is in is not real. It is not the reality that he now knows. So this ties in with illusion versus reality, what's real and what's not.
Camera angles are used frequently to bring out the theme of illusion versus reality. In the opening scene, the audience is introduced to Trinity and they see how she alone defeats half a dozen armed policemen, runs along walls and jumping from building to building across roads. This shows that the Matrix is an illusion because these things are impossible to do in real life, even though the Matrix does look like reality. At this point in the film the audience is forced to ask themselves whether this is real or not.
Also, when Neo and Trinity re-enter the Matrix to save Morpheus, the audience sees an overshot of Neo as the bullets fly past him in slow motion.
