Archetypes

The characters in any allegorical story are often used to symbolise certain concepts. These may be types of people (stereotypes); a group or organisation; a part of the mind; a power or force; etc.
 
Below are a list of the main characters in the film and what they symbolise.

The Architect

We know the Architect designed the Matrix. He appears to be a symbol of God, indeed, the Freemasons refer to God as “The Great Architect” and the TV screens all around him indicate omnipresence. Yet he required the Oracle to make the Matrix work because although his first Matrix was “perfect”, it catastrophically failed.

Oracle: Please. You and I may not be able to see beyond our own choices, but that man can’t see past any choice.

 

Neo: Why not?

 

Oracle: He doesn’t understand them, he can’t. To him they are variables and equations. One at a time each must be solved and counted. That’s his purpose: to balance the equation.

 

The Matrix Revolutions

Of course he does represent God… or rather one side of God. He is the masculine principle, pure logic and mathematics. In his mind everything is black and white. He is control using reason.