Character: Significant connections

What do you perceive reality to be? We assume this reality is our own, but is it really our own. My topic will be based on the concept of illusion in 4 text’s that I have selected. My statement that I will being exploring is characters and how they perceive their reality to be their own one. My text’s are the following, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, The Matrix by The Wachowskis, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and Skullduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. I will connect each specific character by the theme of illusion and their perception of reality.

Body 1:
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is a novel surrounding the life of Wade Watts, a enthusiastic player in the massive multiplayer online virtual reality called the Oasis. He prefers the online reality instead of facing his real reality because he perceives it as a mess. He can express himself because he doesn’t have to worry about any sort of physical hurt or pain that could be inflicted on himself. He doesn’t have to worry about his self appearance as his virtual avatar isn’t a exact depiction of his physical self.

Sub paragraph 1:
“These seem like minor changes to Wade, and maybe they are in a world full of Vulcans and cat people, but it still shows how the OASIS is a world where you can create your own appearance how you want it. Who needs Botox when you never leave your house?”. This quote outlines Wade’s values and his personal view on the topic of illusion by using the aspect of appearance. He self conscious about his looks and the oasis supports his emotional feeling there for he would naturally love the oasis as his insecurity is non-existent. He prefers a fake reality because his feelings.

Body 2:
The Matrix is a film directed by the wachowskis about the ‘life’ of Neo. A computer hacker in the matrix that spontaneously is called to reality by the mysterious leader, morpheus. He struggles to cope with his reality and he finds that he needs to adjust to live in the real world. At the beginning of the film he prefers the matrix over the real world which couldn’t make sense of. That’s why he prefers the matrix at that point. He can’t make sense of the real world so he sticks to what he knows and he’s used for so long.

Sub paragraph:
“I’d like to share a revelation that I’ve had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species and I realized that you’re not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not.”
The quote coming from Mr Smith explains how he perceives the human race to be. Neo then is provoked by this and begins to accept his reality. Neo is much like Wade in a way that they both prefer something perfect for them so they don’t have to deal with something they don’t believe or don’t want to do. Both have desire to find a meaning and a purpose.

Body 3:
Dark matter by Blake Grouch is a story of a family man named Jason Dessen who is thrown into a mind bending world of alternate realities where his family isn’t his because his alternate self chose to continue his life work instead of settling down to have a family. Jason’s past haunts him when he is swapped with his alternate family that craved a family which he never got. Jason has accepted that he won’t be able to return to his reality for a large duration of the story.

Sub paragraph:
“He says, “Every moment, every breath, contains a choice. But life is imperfect. We make the wrong choices. So we end up living in a state of perpetual regret, and is there anything worse? I built something that could actually eradicate regret. Let you find worlds where you made the right choice.” Daniela says, “Life doesn’t work that way. You live with your choices and learn. You don’t cheat the system.” This quote explains how that any reality is unfair. Any way we try to escape our feelings it will always remain. Jason relates to both Neo and Wade because they try to escape their emotions and problems by faking their reality.

Body 4:
Skulduggery Pleasant is a novel by Derek Landy follows the story of Stephanie Edgley and Skulduggery Pleasant who lives in a world full of magic and darkness. Stephanie comes to terms that her world isn’t as she thought it was. It is larger and more stranger than she originally thought. She comes to terms that she is not a normal human being but a magical being with supernatural power. She lived in a world where life is easier and she prefers that reality.

Sub paragraph 4:
“The world is bigger than you know, and scarier than you might imagine. The only currency worth anything is being true to yourself, and the only goal worth seeking is finding out who you truly are.”
This quote refers to Stephanie and how she perceived her reality before being introduced the one from her own. Her perception of her reality had been widened. The reality that you are going to be exposed to may be scary or weird. If you know you’re self you van tackle any sort of problem. If stephanie finds her courage just like Wade, Jason and Neo you can own you’re reality, emotions and fears.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, all of my texts characters were afraid of there own reality. They prefer a false one to hide there emotions and fears. They trust the fake reality more as it is ideal to them. It doesn’t hurt them in any way. But by facing their emotions and fears, Wade, Jason, Neo and Stephanie can all conquer their real realities and then utilize that to become better people.

One Reply to “Character: Significant connections”

  1. Well done Liam, very well all rounded text but if i had to be extremely judgy i would say to expand on the linking between the two texts to give a more in depth explanation. Also add a few more language features and more sophisticated vocab because we know that Miss MacDonald loves that type of stuff haha. Well done.

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