transmission 036 - what it means to be cypher (CAREER WEEK)

The 36th transmission from Starship Commander Miquiel Banks.

Quote

Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You’re a plague and we are the cure.

• Agent Smith

Introduction

After yesterday's power-packed session on The Matrix as Global Myth, I'm not surprised by the empty seats here.

I argued against this, but as you know, the Board ruled against me.

Today we're here to hear about Cypher and his response to today's topic.

What does it mean to be an Opponent?

Cypher is a simple character, very simple.

We DO NOT consider him Mythical because he chose the wrong side.

The Academic Books consider him Mythical because, as an Opponent, he represents the Carnal and Lower Nature of Man (Ignorance).

Deeper into Cypher

And if we push the academia, we can argue that he CAN BE considered a Shapeshifter.

However, we will dismiss that theory and we argue that he was ALWAYS envious and jealous of Morpheus and Trinity's rejection of his romantic endeavors pushed him to the edge.

When he notices that Trinity is IN LOVE with Neo, this is what pushes him over the edge.

But let's push back to his beginning.

It's interesting when we look into his role and his situation.

Knowing shallow men, we can argue that he joins the mission because he is IN LOVE with Trinity.

What we are NOT TOLD is whether or not he went to the see the Oracle.

And if he did, what secret did she reveal to him?

What we DO KNOW is that Cypher allows impatience, heartbreak, jealousy, greed, envy, and ignorance to destroy his chances of finding freedom.

Think about this.

In the course of the movie, if Cypher waits for another hour or two, Neo will crack the codes, save Humanity, and Cypher will realize his freedom.

Instead, he chooses to betray Morpheus just to prove that he's right - how foolish can you be?

Also, we heard several students arguing about Cypher is synonymous with Judas.

• Sorry Charlie, y'all suckers are ABSOLUTELY WRONG and Off-Base!

First, let's look at the situation.

• Judas is going AGAINST Christ - right?

• Is Cypher going AGAINST Neo?

Don't walk away now, let's talk about it.

So, the answer is NO.

• Who is Cypher jealous of?

He is jealous of Morpheus, not Neo.

So, get your debates accurate before you start them.

Unless of course, you are choosing to be Cypher and live off ignorance for your entire academic career too.

The Meaning of Cipher

Cipher is defined as the following:

the mathematical symbol (0) denoting absence of quantity

• zero

• a number

• one having no influence or value

• a non-entity

The Placeholder

Since Cypher literally means zero, we can draw a few conclusions:

• Cypher is a Zero

• Cypher is a Loser

• Cypher can be seen as NOTHING

• Cypher is a placeholder

As a placeholder, we can view his place on the ship as someone holding space until the one arrives.

Rather than him looking at this as a Sacred Duty or Honor, he views this position as inferior and it's obvious, he wishes to be THE ONE, but will never be.

The Hidden Opponent

We must view Cypher as a hidden opponent because he is technically the Contagonist in this film.

The actual Antagonist is The Matrix, but since it's too big, the movie pushes us to identify the Major Antagonist as the Agents.

Then, we are pushed to further personify the Agents through Agent Smith, actively campaigning against him PERSONALLY.

However, we must go back to Cypher and look at his secret "Cypher," and yes, pun intended.

Remember that Neo is the ONE and he is ALSO an Anagram for The One.

Since Cypher is zero, he is the OPPOSITE of Neo.

And when we look deeper, we have a 1 and a 0, the same binary numbers used by the Machines.

Isn't this by accident or excellent storytelling?

I'll let you decide, but right now, let's continue.

The British Spelling

Cypher is a British spelling of the word Cipher.

Does this ACTUALLY mean something:

• Does that mean Cypher is a spy?

• Does that imply Cypher is a spy?

• If he is a spy, who is he spying on and why?

• If he is NOT a spy, does his role as Contagonist play out as spy?

The Science behind Cryptography

In cryptography, a cipher is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption.

In addition, in common circles, cipher is synonymous with "code."

• Isn't this ingenious?

Cypher is literally an algorithm, and his job is to monitor the virtual reality broadcast feeds.

• Doesn't that make him an "organic" Agent outside The Matrix?

And my last question is interesting.

• Since Cipher means code, how can he be an Organic Code looking at Artificial Code inside The Matrix?

He seems like a bad guy people, but really, he's a cautionary tale.

We often think that when we take the red pill and enter the real world, that it's over.

We walk around campus, shouting by the cafeteria.

We march and picket and complain about everybody else.

We are better than them and in order to prove it, we keep shouting and wasting our voices.

I'm Woke, how about you?

Here's the problem.

Cypher took the red pill, so was he woke or not?

He worked on the ship with Morpheus, was he woke or not?

All Operatives on the Ship know that when they see an Agent, they SHOULD RUN.

However, he did NOT run and he not only faced them, he BEFRIENDED Agent Smith.

• Does that make him extraordinary or foolish?

• When others were running, he was negotiating, does that make him smart or cunning?

And this pushes us to another question.

How many choices do we have to be woke?

If we take the journey and seek out The Truth, how do we find Morpheus?

After finding Morpheus, how do we face reality?

After taking the red pill, how do we trust our real bodies and their senses?

After taking the red pill, how do we face the harsh reality of living in the real world?

After taking the red pill, how do we muster the courage to fight the machines inside The Matrix and outside The Matrix (The Real World)?

After taking the red pill, how do deal with knowing if we die in The Matrix, we die in real life?

As you can see, taking the red pill is just the beginning of the journey to be free.

Fighting for Freedom and Fighting for Truth requires us to CHOOSE wisely every day.

And if we get weak or think we can't make it, we can always use Cypher as our Cautionary Tale.

This guy was only 2 hours away from Freedom and he gave up.

Right at the Finish Line.

I am asking all of you, today, to make the right choices and to HOLD ON.

You never know.

Your dream may only be 1 hour away.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this concludes our Career Day with Cypher.

Tomorrow is Savior’s Day and we will have a lecture from Neo.

Let's thank Cypher for coming out and joining our Career Week and I know many of you cannot wait, so let's begin our Q&A.

• Do you have any questions for Cypher?