What is the Matrix?

So the question of the day was what is the Matrix. Having never seen the movie, except for the selections we watched in class, I was wondering the same exact thing. I decided to google it to see what would appear.

Here are some definitions for Matrix

• An enclosure within which something originates or develops (from the Latin word womb)


• The thick tissue at the base of a nail from which a fingernail or toenail develops


• A rectangular array of numbers (see below)

Basically from what I have read about what a Matrix is is that it is something that is contained within something else or where something else can grow from. This relates to the movie, I believe, in that the world has been surrounded by a simulated world. Which results in "reality" and a sort of "dreamland" that is contained within the "reality". The "dreamland" ultimately is growing inside of the "reality".

These ideas relate back to the idea of myth and dream in that it makes you consider what is real and what is dream and if it is ever truly possible to wake up from a dream like Shelby talks about in her blog. Where does illusion and dream meet reality and is it ever possible to truly be able to say what is illusion and what is reality? If so, how?