In her book Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection, Julia Kristeva examines the concepts of abjection, duality, and defilement. She identifies these elements in biblical and literary texts as well as in various cultural practices. Additionally, her work can be a lens through which The Matrix can be viewed. Indeed, the very concepts Kristeva closely examines are woven throughout the plot. Viewers can consider the rhetorical implications of these elements through careful examination of the following themes:

• the abjection/rebirth of characters
• the inherent duality presented by the concept of a computer matrix
• the defilement of computers and human