Applying Propp's theory to the Matrix

Vladimir Propp was a Russian formalist scholar who analyzed the basic plot components of Russian folk tales to identify their simplest narrative elements. He then applied this to other types of fiction and films.

Propp’s theory says that each film has a specific list of characters. These are:

1. The villain — struggles against the hero.
2. The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.
4. The princess and her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.
5. The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
6. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
7. False hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

Propp’s theory also says that each film follows a sequence of events divided into 4 spheres. These are:

1st Sphere: The introductory sequence
2nd Sphere: The body of the story
3rd Sphere: The donor sequence
4th Sphere: The hero’s return

Within all these spheres are 31 functions which the sequence of the story follows.

I have used the Matrix as an example to show how Propp’s theory applies




Characters:

The villain - Agents
The donor - Morpheus
The helper - Trinity
The princess - Trinity
Dispatcher - Morpheus
Hero - Neo
False hero - Cypher

Functions:

1st Sphere:

ABSENTATION: Hero is introduced and leaves home

INTERDICTION: Neo is warned by Trinity that he is being watched

VIOLATION OF INTERDICTION: Neo chooses to disobey Trinity and gets captured by the agents.

TRICKERY: Neo tricked by Agents

COMPLICITY: Neo taken in by agents trickery

2nd Sphere:

MEDIATION: Neo is given the choice to discover the truth of the real world or to stay in the matrix.

BEGINNING COUNTER-ACTION: Neo chooses to enter the real world and join Morpheus.

DEPARTURE: Neo leaves the matrix and enters the real world

3rd Sphere:

FIRST FUNCTION OF THE DONOR: Morpheus tests Neo

HERO’S REACTION: Neo tries to fight Morpheus

RECEIPT OF MAGICAL AGENT: Given knowledge by Morpheus

GUIDANCE: Neo goes to the oracle

STRUGGLE: Fight between Neo and the agents. Attempts to rescue Morpheus

BRANDING: Neo badly injured

VICTORY: Neo defeats agents

LIQUIDATION: Morpheus freed

4th Sphere:

PURSUIT: Neo pursued by agents

RESCUE: Neo rescued

RECOGNITION: Neo recognised as the One

EXPOSURE: Cypher exposed and killed


Faults of the Theory

The Matrix does follow a majority of the functions mentioned in Propp's theory however Propp's theory was concluded many years ago and so is not necessarily present in modern films today. Not all the functions are applicable to modern films so at points, there seems to be breaks in the plot.