IMO I’d probably have to go with Jimmy from Mouthwashing. I think that he’s a very good representation of a very real kind of person. A person who is narcissistic, who is unable to take accountability for his actions, and who refuses to see himself as a monster, even as he continuously does monstrous things. He’s basically like a co-worker from hell, which is part of why he’s so horrifying.
Isn’t Smith Neo’s “shadow” or “asleep” self? I didn’t think so when the movie was new, but all these decades later, seeing how we war with ourselves, self-sabotage, self-deceived, etc. And for that matter, The Oracle too, the real self we hide from ourselves so well, that it speaks to us softly in the cryptic way of dreams, or “vibes”/“feelings” etc? Bearing in mind I’m probably old compared to most users here.
Good question.
There have been libraries written on matrix lore back in the day. I remember staying up late at night discussing this in forums and such.
From the movie’s perspective, in its material circumstances, these assertions do make sense but they of course are their own written characters on the surface and while smith can be seen as the unrestrained side of the young hacker letting loose his vile instincts and reactionary side in some chat on 4chan so to speak, the murderous, fascist, complete disregard for human life is quite fitting for capitalism.
It is extremely fitting for capitalism, which teaches what eventually becomes instinctive…so vile instincts are “second nature”?