The Matrix contains many ideas about our interaction with identity.  In particular the scene where Cipher is bargaining with Agent Smith brings up many ideas about American identity.  Cipher bargains with the Agents to get himself reinstated into the Matrix.  He does not want to live in reality and greatly prefers the ignorance of being in the Matrix.  He has become disillusioned in the literal sense.  Cipher’s attitude can be seen as representative of part of the American identity.  Many Americans live in ignorance in today’s society.  In the beginning our country was founded on the idea of the informed citizenry, however the reality has become something very different.  Many Americans don’t bother with informing themselves about politics, whether it is in their town, in their country, or on the world stage.  Cipher represents these feelings in the American citizenry.  He is living in a world where practically all of humanity is enslaved by machines.  The Earth has been pretty much destroyed, the sun cannot penetrate the atmosphere, thunder storms ravage the landscape, and it is completely devoid of life.  Instead of dealing with these issues and fighting for his people he wishes to go back to the hallowed ignorant bliss he lived in while in the Matrix.

When Cipher is talking to Agent Smith he makes an important request.  He says, “I wanna be someone important…like an actor.”  This epitomizes the Matrix’s already inherent themes of simulation and relates it to American society.  Cipher wants to be put back into the Matrix.  He wants to be back in the simulated life, he wants to return to his artificial and fake sense of being.  This mimics the artificial life than the uninformed American citizenry compose.  Cipher represents their lack of desire to inform themselves and be contributing members to politics.  He represents the willful choice of ignorance and the “bliss” associated with it.  By asking to be an actor he adds an entire level to the simulation.  An actor in many American eyes is seen as an important person, where in reality all they do is entertain, they do not change the world.  In our society many famous actors are wealthy and famous, despite not being important people.  However, an actor’s job is to simulate.  An actor portrays a fake personality, they assume a role, just like Cipher and just like the American populace.  Cipher’s desire to be an actor displays the importance of simulation in American society.  Many people live created lives, they live a fake life.  Cipher himself is a simulation.