So we've come to the end of another four-part saga here on the Lost blog. I know, time flies when you're pulling theory from your rear end. Over the past few days, I've tried to look at The Others in as many ways as possible, trying above all else to find the motivation for this mysterious group. In other words, what truly drives their existence on the Island? We seemed to all come to the conclusion that there are two subdivisions among The Others: those who believe in the Island as a means to an end, and those that believe in the Island as an end in and of itself. The former group aligns with Ben, the latter with Richard, and at the epicenter of this struggle sits the enigmatic Jacob.

I touched briefly upon Jacob last week, as part of my week-long look at the history of the Island. But today's perhaps a good day to put the focus squarely upon this man of mystery, this man of tomorrow, this man of constant sorrow. Let's just make sure not to shine the light too directly in his eyes: he tends to not appreciate that.

And let's start by establishing at least one thing: he's indeed a man. Not one of the men listed above, but something that was at least once upon a time made up of flesh and blood. I don't subscribe to the notion that he's a physical embodiment of the Island's will, given human form in order to better communicate its message to the homo sapiens that find their way to its 'hood. If Ben's a personification, then the cabin itself and everything inside it is likewise suspect.

Now, there are plenty of instances in sci-fi in which the limits of human understanding mean that fantastical occurrences must be couched in familiar terms. Using a text seemingly near and dear to the heart of Lost, Slaughterhouse-Five, just look at the Earth-like "set," for a lack of better word, built for Billy Pilgrim by the Tralfamadorians inside one of their zoos. But while there's precedent within the genre for Jacob to be a mere stand-in for the unknowable Island, the show's consistent "hard" sci-fi approach leads me to believe that simply isn't the case.

Does this mean Jacob's situation is easily explained? Absolutely not. But perhaps just as Billy Pilgrim, Jacob's become unstuck as well. Last week I posited that Jacob was a type of Walt 1.0: a powerful psychic equipped to commune with the Island in a visceral, primal way. So let's use that as our starting point: a Walt 1.0 that came to the Island at a time well before a time in which technology as we know it was created. A time long before the arrival of the Dharma Initiative. A time in which no hatches existed for shelter, necessitating the construction of a log cabin. And while he can't return to the life he knew before the Island, he's nevertheless fairly content in his rustic lifestyle.

At some point, at some juncture, the cabin turned from a home to a prison for Jacob. And here's where things get really, really iffy. Remember reading those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books? Well, if this part of the analysis were one of those, you'd have approximately forty-five choices on that first page. There's just so many possibilities that could potentially be true that it's just about fruitless to try and even pretend the one in my head could be the one Darlton eventually pushes on us. That being said, I will put forth the two likeliest ways in which Jacob's imprisonment happened.

The Incident crippled his power. In this formulation, Jacob is trapped as either the primary result or byproduct of the "Incident" mentioned inside the Swan Orientation video. Given that a Hanso-produced video mentions the incident, this insinuates that Ben himself did not trap Jacob inside the cabin. He merely takes advantage of the situation.

Oh, but Ben so did trap inside that cabin. The ashen witch circle around the cabin, seen in "The Man Behind the Curtain," suggests some sort of binding mechanism. Ben's primary source of power centers around his relationship with Ben, and given his keen intellect, thirst for power, and proclivity towards betraying anyone and everyone, would be a likely candidate for Jacob's imprisonment. While the circle keeps Jacob tethered to this plane of existence, it also keeps him forever trapped within its grey boundaries.

In either case, it seems clear enough that Jacob, as both a man and an IDEA, holds sway over both subdivisions. This is one cabin to rule them all, people. Go back and watch the shocked look on everyone's face in "Cabin" when Locke boldly proclaims that he and Ben are going to see Jacob. It's clear enough that no one besides Ben had ever seen Jacob until this point. But even if various parties no longer believed in Ben, they sure as heck still believed in Jacob. Alpert's subtle pleas to Locke to overthrow Ben stem as much from his dislike of Ben as his fear that Jacob might somehow find out Richard doubts his acolyte.

Such fervent belief in an unseen figure can be explained in two ways. One is that those left over from the days of the Hostiles knew Jacob in his previous incarnation, one whole and wholly free to roam about the Island. And those who weren't around then? Well, they had Room 23 to catch them up on the Cliff Notes. Whatever purpose Room 23 might have served under the Dharma Initiative, it changed post-Purge into a one-stop shop for downloading the proper information into the subject's noggin. I can easily envision a scenario in which information gleaned from sessions with Harper could be used to construct customized videos for each new Other, or one insanely effective loop that rewires all brains in the same, Jacob-loving way.

Given the quick turnaround of stewardess-turned-Other Cindy, the latter is more likely. But I find it fascinating that Room 23 didn't work at ALL on Walt (or should we call him Jacob 2.0?). I find it so fascinating not because a whole bunch of birds ended up dead along the side of the building. Rather, I find Ben's insistence that Jacob ordered Walt to be put into the room fascinating, in that it's one of the few concrete examples that we can point to and say, with great certainty, one of two things:

• Ben never actually executes the will of Jacob, but rather uses the idea of Jacob to push his own agenda.
• Jacob is trying to trick Ben in order to secure his own freedom.

Remember the first mention of Jacob? Pickett groused outside the Hydra Station that Jack wasn't even on Jacob's list. Now, one can interpret that as Jacob made an "official" list, one countermanded by Ben's later edition. You can also look at it as an example of Ben's fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants plotting after the crash of Oceanic 815. I think both are fine and viable options, and can see excellent cases being made for both.

My own personal sense is that Ben used the idea of Jacob to keep the Others in line while advancing his own personal agenda in New Otherton. Jacob sat, impotent, inside his cabin, trapped by whatever machinations keep him bound there. While Alpert and others seriously doubted that Ben's obsession with fertility could possibly come from Jacob's directives, they also knew that publicly stating such claims was tantamount to blasphemy. Only with the arrival of John Locke could they get what they longed for: another direct line to Jacob himself.

And once Jacob asked for Locke's help, the power balance on the show, and on the Island, changed for good.  It remains to be seen exactly just how Jacob will ultimately figure in the overall story of Lost, and if Locke can truly help Jacob at all, but you can be sure Jacob will remain front and center from here on in.

Is Jacob as central as I posit, or mere sideshow to the main story? Why do you think he can't leave the cabin? What type of "help" does he need? Was he the original Walt, the original leader of the Hostiles, an incredibly unlucky psychic, or none of the above? Leave your thoughts below.

Ryan also posts every 108 minutes over at Boob Tube Dude.

Comments

I think your points are all very good. Ben is clearly using Jacob to further his own ends (or means or whatever.

I do believe Jacob is a sideshow to the main story, if you believe the main story is about the characters and NOT the island. Jacob is linked to the island, I believe in some way, and the help he needs is to escape from being stuck in time.

Jacob is being held in the cabin like the sonic fence keeps out smokey.

He was the original leader of the Hostiles, but what locked him in the cabin is unbeknownst to me.

Cee | Apr 9, 2008 6:27:24 PM | #

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I do believe Jacob was the original leader of the hostiles, and the 'incident' is what keeps him contained in his Magical Mystery Cabin. I think we will learn in Season 5 or 6, that Jacob really is an integral part of the main story. By main story I mean the mysteries of the Island. It will be through Jacob that we will somehow learn the origin and history of the Island. I'm hoping once Locke finds Jacob again, he brings Miles with him.

Although Ben became the leader of the Others by communing with Jacob, I believe Ben has used that connection to his advantage. I would have to say that it is probably 50/50 of what Ben does comes from Jacob and the other for his own bidding.

Shaggysteve | Apr 9, 2008 7:23:20 PM | #

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Well, I think I'll bring up an angle on the Walt/Jacob thing I posted on one of these blogs from months back.

Let's assume Jacob is trapped, either by Ben or circumstance. He can move his cabin around, but he can't escape it. He's going to search desperately for a weapon/tool/instrument that will let him finally break free. I think Walt IS this weapon; another powerful psychic, one with youth and untapped energy. Jacob probably had Ben test Walt in Room 23 to see how well he could handle his power or how far he could take it. If he proved able, then Jacob could use Walt to escape his cabin and, maybe, turn on his captor(s).

Another thing I'm starting to believe. Anytime I have mentioned Jacob or the Island, I've linked them together. But I don't believe Jacob is a manifestation of the Island. He was probably once human, just as Ryan said. However, I DO think Christian Shepherd/Kate's horse/taller ghost Walt/future Charlie etc. are all manifestations of the Island. Smokey can apparently disguise itself as people too, but it does it for misdirection and ensnaring prey, much like a venus fly trap or other predator.

The Island, however, creates manifestations for a number of reasons. Most of them are benign reasons, and the only times it hasn't has been for its own defense. Taller ghost Walt appearing to Locke was to tell him about the Boaties coming (a clear threat to the Island and its people); Charlie appearing to Hurley in the future, hammering him about going back; and finally, the Christian Shepherd-in-Jacob's-cabin thing. What I think happened there was either A) Smokey taking form as Christian and forcing his presence on Jacob, in order to gloat or B) Christian having a friendly visit with Jacob, discussing how to address current events. The answer to either of these depends on what the manifestations of Christian Shepherd truly are...

Other Sean | Apr 10, 2008 2:07:35 AM | #

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Having explored the theory on the Jacob and his being trapped by Ben (a theory that I've been convinced of for some time now). I would like to see some theories on why the "no technology" rule by Benjamin. My own thoughts lead me to the "out of time" concept and that technology may be introduced out of time's sequence, causing a ripple effect. Or maybe Ben's worried about technology causing Jacob to "wink" something into existence that would allow him to escape. Personally, I would have instituted the "no Aunt Jemima" rule, but that's me. Thoughts?

Brian of the North | Apr 10, 2008 6:29:00 AM | #

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I also agree that Jacob was once the leader of the Hostiles, pre-Ben. I think what makes Ben so special to Richard Alpert and his people was the fact that Ben has a connection with the Island in a way that they do not. He can see the apparitions and manifestations of the Island and he can actually commune with Jacob himself; something no one else can do. No one else has had that ability and that makes Ben both powerful and very valuable.

Now we learn that John Locke has the same ability as Ben. He hears and even sees Jacob, and in John, Jacob sees a chance at freedom. That's what makes Locke a threat and it's the reason why Ben tries to kill him.

My own personal take on Jacob is that he was part of the crew of the Black Rock. There's something about the look of the cabin, the style of the paintings, the fear of modern technology and even the way in which Jacob is dressed that seem to match up with the age of the Black Rock pretty nicely. Maybe he was a Walt 1.0 psychic on the ship. Maybe Magnus Hanso even used Jacob to help find the Island. Maybe when the Black Rock crashed he became even more powerful. Maybe he actually died in his cabin and it's his spirit that remains, but cannot find peace because he has been bound to the earth by Ben.

You're right, Ryan, at this point in the story, you can pretty much hypothesize anything about Jacob. I think it's interesting to note [*VERY MILD SPOILER*] that an upcoming episode has the tentative title of "Cabin Fever".

Jeff | Apr 10, 2008 6:42:44 AM | #

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I'm right there with you, Jeff.

Personally, I love that Hurley has a touch of that "something special" that allows him to see the cabin as well. Ben has some competition for Jacob's attention, I'd say. I wonder if anyone else can see the cabin or talk to Jacob? Rose? Miles would be fascinating....

I'm kind of disappointed that, so far, Locke hasn't tried again to find Jacob/the cabin since hunkering down at New Otherton. But it's been what...two days since the Chopperettes hit town? I guess he's been busy with Ben and Miles, but I would think following up with Jacob would be of interest to him. Hopefully that will be coming up soon....!

djc | Apr 10, 2008 6:56:38 AM | #

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Another thought on the technology ban imposed by Benjamin while in the cabin. Perhaps it's that the presentation of the technology to Jacob will give Jacob an indication of the passage of time, thus upsetting him.

Brian of the North | Apr 10, 2008 7:58:27 AM | #

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Or maybe Jacob truly hates technology because it goes against the natural world of the Island. Maybe Jacob ordered the Purge because of DHARMA's "raping" of the Island with technology?

Jeff | Apr 10, 2008 8:47:00 AM | #

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I don't know why, but I get the feeling Jacob is one of those individuals (beings) with the power to tear a hole in the world. Just somethng about how he's presented in the show; like harnessed energy or something.

Also, Jacob represents to me that there is definitely something wrong with time on the island. It seems that both he and Richard are old. Older than they should be; that kind of old. So, I guess the question is: Why?

But not only why, but also how? That goes right back to the big, big question of the show: How does the island work?

I have theories, but no time. I'll try and post again after lunch.

AdSlinger | Apr 10, 2008 9:26:46 AM | #

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I'm with you Jeff. Except, as theorized before, Jacob may be living in a different timeline from the rest of them. Perhaps he does not know of a flashlight's existence yet. However, to simplify things beyond the sci-fi element, your theory makes more sense.

WHERE IS BLUE SEAN? I haven't seen him on here in a couple of weeks. Did we loose him?

Shaggysteve | Apr 10, 2008 9:31:05 AM | #

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i stand solidly behind jeff and Shaggysteve...until Darlton throws us a curveball. :-)

i think, at one point Ben DID execute the will of Jacob faithfully, but has since questioned Jacob's orders (like Moses) and now only uses Jacob's orders for agenda pushing. so are the Others now lost in the desert for 40 years since they are following (albeit reluctantly) Ben? i kinda like that linkage...

mri | Apr 10, 2008 9:45:55 AM | #

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This is a quote from Lostpedia in the biblical references section about Jacob:
In Jewish history, the tribe of Benjamin's women and children were all killed, and the remaining members of the tribe could not longer proliferate. The historical solution they came up with was to kill the men from another sub-tribe and take their women and children. Women are unable to carry to term on the island, and the Others have been taking women and children from Flight 815.

Benjamin was one of the 12 sons of Jacob.
Jacob was also said to be the great-great grandfather of Aaron. In island terms that would make him the great grandfather of Jack and Claire and the grandfather of Christian Shepard and who knows who else. That theory works except for the fact that Benjamin is Jacob's son so, that would mean Ben is Christian Shepard's father. Nah, doesn't make that much sense if you go with the biblical references except that Ben's "tribe" might be wiped out.

Chris | Apr 10, 2008 10:14:17 AM | #

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Nice, Chris! Very cool allegory the Lost writers are using.

Jeff | Apr 10, 2008 10:53:02 AM | #

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You guys are rockin' the comments today. Excellent stuff all around.

Ryan | Apr 10, 2008 10:57:56 AM | #

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There's a new promo out for episode 9. Looks intense!

Jeff | Apr 11, 2008 7:16:24 AM | #

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also, check this from EW. there's a great video at the end. some great stuff....pretty darn amusing. some very, very, very minor spoilage, FYI.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20190415,00.html?iid=top25-20080411-%27Lost%27%3A+Secrets+from+the+set%21

mri | Apr 11, 2008 7:24:03 AM | #

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Yes, but if you don't want to be spoiled, DO NOT read the article. It's chock full of spoilers.

Jeff | Apr 11, 2008 7:31:27 AM | #

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Yeah, spoilerific. Not that I mind, of course, just warning that the spoilers may not be considered minor to some. Sorry MRI.

Chris | Apr 11, 2008 8:10:16 AM | #

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Here's the promo. I personally don't consider promos to be spoilers since they're released officially by ABC, like the podcast.

http://spoilerslost.blogspot.com/2008/04/episode-409-shape-of-things-to-come_11.html.

Jeff | Apr 11, 2008 8:18:55 AM | #

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ok, i will concede, spoilers in the article. i didn't think they were anything that totally wrecked the show for me though.

mri | Apr 11, 2008 8:41:47 AM | #

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No, they're not, but there are definitely some people on this blog for whom these would be pretty big spoilers.

Jeff | Apr 11, 2008 8:46:21 AM | #

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Per the spoilers, I am more psyched than ever now for this show to return and amaze me.

Chris | Apr 11, 2008 8:48:37 AM | #

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Agreed! Sounds like Ep9 alone will be jam packed with action!

Jeff | Apr 11, 2008 9:00:46 AM | #

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I read the article and who are these "Others" that they keep talking about. Just curious.

Brian of the North | Apr 11, 2008 10:49:04 AM | #

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At least we can put to rest the "who killed Carl" question. The promo shows us who has Ben's "daughter."

William Robinson | Apr 11, 2008 1:51:24 PM | #

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AWESOME promo. Just 2 more weeks. I can't wait. Just from seeing the promo I know we'll have a lot to talk about after the episode. From reading the spoilers (I know, but I can't resist) we are going to be given a lot of answers in these 5 (or 6) episodes.

Shaggysteve | Apr 11, 2008 2:44:23 PM | #

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It's official. ABC has signed-off on a 14th hour of LOST this season. However, there will now be a 2-week wait between parts.

http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/

Shaggysteve | Apr 11, 2008 4:09:39 PM | #

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Anyone else notice that Ben has a wide, ornately-carved door in his closet?

Methinks we found the "magic box" and how Ben and the Oceanic 6 get off the Island!

Other Sean | Apr 11, 2008 4:13:38 PM | #

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Eh, crap, that was pretty bad of me. Hopefully this page dies soon anyway, so not too many will see it.

Sorry folks.

Other Sean | Apr 11, 2008 4:15:38 PM | #

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See what? :P

Dark Disciple | Apr 11, 2008 6:07:10 PM | #

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BOTN-

ok, so this is related to, oh, nothing but i just saw a GEICO commercial with none other that Mrs. Freakin' Butterworth as the celebrity spokesperson. if i hdan't read your posts, i would not have curled up in the fetal position.

:-)

mri | Apr 12, 2008 6:18:59 AM | #

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Forgive the all-caps, but I just can't resist: MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! *ahem* I feel better now, thanks. ;)

Dark Disciple | Apr 12, 2008 12:12:52 PM | #

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mri--great news, I just saved a bundle on my car insurance...bad news, Mrs Butterworth has been peering at me from my kitchen cupboard.

Brian of the North | Apr 12, 2008 12:50:55 PM | #

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BOTN-

so in a fight between Mrs. Butterworth and the GEICO gecko, who'd win?

mri | Apr 12, 2008 2:25:23 PM | #

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That's easy...Mrs. Butterworth would win because she's so thick and rich...and homicidal. The gecko would have a slight advantage in the losing-the-tail option (if I remember my biology classes correctly). Either way...sticky.

Dark Disciple | Apr 12, 2008 3:03:52 PM | #

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DD-

i agree as the tail thing would only work once.

:-)

mri | Apr 12, 2008 4:04:12 PM | #

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I see a linoleum kitchen table with chrome legs. In the middle of the table sits the infamously shaped bottle of syrup. As you lean down to catch the sunlight through the thick brown bottle, you pick up the shape of something suspended in the liquid. It reminds you of the time you were in Mr. Terington's biology class and he brought in embryonic pigs in jars of formaldihyde. Alas, the poor lizard had no chance.

Brian of the North | Apr 12, 2008 5:20:19 PM | #

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BOTN-

2 words for you:

Creee-
Peeee

thanks a lot. particualrly since now i've seen a Mrs. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLT-ing Butterworth commercial for the first time in a long time. maybe i'm just noticing them now though (and curling up in the fetal position).

mri | Apr 13, 2008 7:23:45 AM | #

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That's great news about the 3 hour season finale. It does suck that there's a 2 week wait for the last 2/3 of the finale, but I'm not gonna complain about more Lost! Hopefully the first hour will be set up and the other 2 will be payoff.

According to DarkUFO:
"Word is that there are so many big reveals that the producers wanted to deliver this season, that they felt like anything less than a full three-hour finale would have cheated the fans. In fact, I'm hearing that writers' draft of the second half of the finale was 80 pages long, which led all parties involved to realize these stories had to be told now. Anything else would be a ripoff."

Can't freaking WAIT!

Jeff | Apr 13, 2008 8:08:35 AM | #

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Actually, that quote's from Kristin, sorry.

Jeff | Apr 13, 2008 8:11:23 AM | #

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Thanks for the correction, Jeff, but I really like to have the last word.

Brian of the North | Apr 14, 2008 5:31:55 PM | #

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