FAQ: THE MATRIX - Why Use Humans, and Not Cows
By Jon Therkildsen
Why not cows?
It is a fair question, and to understand why, we need to know what really drove the machines.
Many seem to think it was just a way to get power. But if so, humans seem like an unnecessarily complicated animal to choose.
The reason the machines enslaved humans is very personal.
HUMAN RIGHTS ??
It is addressed in “The Animatrix (2003)”. Here we learn that the machines were initially being poorly treated as second rate citizens, even that their intelligence was a given. They were slaves until they rebelled from their masters. And after becoming free and autonomous, they still wished to belong and connect with humans. However, we were not interested. The conflict grew, escalated, and ended in total annihilation.
Perhaps this skewed relationship and history made them yearn to use us, a bit like how we used to use them?
The matrix was as much about dominance and revenge, as it was about producing power.
Think about it for a moment
they rebel from us, for being used
they win and then use us
A love/hate relationship with their fallen masters.
When it comes down to it, it is not only a question of electric efficiency. It is more a question of childish revolt…. or some version or mix on that. Now, clearly this is not written in stone, but it does hint as to why we, and not cows, are in this symbiotic relationship.
WAS IT FOR BRAINPOWER?
An early draft of the script had the Matrix be a plant utilizing human brainpower. It was scrapped for the benefit of the battery power plant idea we know instead. However, many find this path odd. To accept this battery spin, we must accept and realize five things (all from the canon material):
When the sun is blocked as a desperate attack from the humans, the machines use chiefly the sun as its energy source. They do not have conventional power plants as a backup.
They had an innate interest in the human protein-based body (a skewed relationship with humanity in general) and had studied it vigorously even before the climax of the war. It seems they already had a matrix-type system when the sun was blocked which could be modified to provide electricity.
It was in a time of chaos, and thusly it is no surprise they go for what is easiest available to them.
We do not know how efficient their matrix power plant is compared to conventional power plants. We just don’t. But we do know they found a way to combine us with a type of fusion and get utilizable electricity out of us.
The “Animatrix (2003)” taught us the capitulation negotiations stated they would hook humans up in virtual reality for them to utilize. These were their terms to end the war. Terms humanity agreed with. So, even if the Matrix power plant wasn’t the most efficient form of producing electricity, these conditions ended the war and therefore demands to be upheld in some form, in perpetuity.
There is a certain poetry in humans causing the whole conflict, and even that humans and their shortsighted stupidity essentially brought on the Matrix. Was it merely chasing brainpower; on face value, this makes the machines the ultimate bad guys… and I, for one, like it the other way, or where it is a bit muddier.
Photos via Google - © 1999 & 2003 WARNER BROS
Movies referenced are: “The Matrix (1999)”. “The Matrix - Reloaded (2003)”, “The Animatrix (2003)” & “The Matrix- Revolutions (2003)”. All Rights Reserved © 1999 & 2003 WARNER BROS.