Yesterday, I looked at the first two flashbacks in "Cabin Fever" in search of clues we could derive about the character and purpose of John Locke within the universe that is Lost. It was truly, epically awesome, and I highly suggest you read it, if I do say so myself. But the job was only half done: as you quite rightly remember, there were four flashbacks in the episode, leaving us with two to go.

Before getting into that, though, a programming note or two. First up, tomorrow I'll be revisiting the topic of childbirth on (and off) the Island. The last few weeks have certainly brought that topic to the forefront again, and it's worth re-exploring in light of recent activity. Secondly, if there's enough interest, I'll post a "Letters from the Flame" on Thursday before Part 1 of "There's No Place Like Home." Email me your questions/comments or leave them below prefixed with the biggest WAAAAAAAALT you can muster.

With that all said and done, onto the flashbacks!

#3) Teenage Locke

You'll probably remember the tension between Jack Shephard and John Locke described in the show as the tension between a man of science and a man of faith. What we learned in this particular flashback is that John Locke is in fact neither of these things. That is, of course, if you ask him. He's not a man of science. He's not a man of faith. He's a man of action.

The seeds for such a self-identity were rooted in Alpert's visit to him as a five-year old boy, at which point the knife inspired a direction Locke sought through the remainder of his life. It's in a way pointless to wonder whether or not Locke would have gone in this particular direction had Alpert not intervened, because whether or not you believe Alpert to have employed time travel to visit Locke as a young boy, in the Lost universe the past is essentially unchangeable: Locke sees himself as a man of action from age five through his arrival on the Island.

But just as Locke instinctively shied away from the Book of Laws as a five-year old, he also shies away from his scientific aptitude as a teenager. Locke's adult identity crises can be thusly seen not as an inability to discover his nature so much as an inability to truly accept it. Through this lens, one can better understand the seemingly schizophrenic Locke we've witnessed on the Island. He's no more the all-knowing survivalist than he is a domesticated slave. He's something else entirely, something intuited by the Island and by Richard, yet still truly unknown to himself.

It's that steadfast refusal to truly look within himself that stymies John Locke, defines his shortcomings, and has unwittingly abetted his success on the Island. And maybe, in a way, it's good that he doesn't look inside, because I'm not entirely sure he would recognize what he saw. What do I mean by that? Let's get to the next flashback for a more thorough analysis, which will also lead into tomorrow's look at childbirth.

#4) Post-Fall Locke

In my recap last week, I mentioned how Richard Alpert might perform the function of the Panchen Lama, whose duty it is to find the reincarnated soul of the Dalai Lama. In this particular flashback, we also learn that Abaddon once went on his own walkabout, which he describes as a transformative experience in which he learned who he truly was. To paraphrase Ari Gold from Entourage, let's quote this out! Let's join Locke, mid-self pity, talking to Abaddon.

LOCKE: You should read my file. My spine was crushed. There's a 98% chance I'll never get any feeling back in my legs. So I don't know why I'm even trying to--

ORDERLY: As a matter of fact, I did read your file. You survived falling eight stories out of a building. That's a miracle, Mr. Locke. Let me ask you something. Do you believe in miracles?

LOCKE: No. I don't believe in miracles.

ABADDON: You should. I had one happen to me.

LOCKE: Hey, look. I just want to go back to my room.

ABADDON: You know what you need, Mr. Locke? You need to go on a walkabout.

LOCKE: Wha--what's a walkabout?

ABADDON: It's a journey of self-discovery. You go out into the Australian Outback with nothing more than a knife and your wits.

LOCKE: I can't "walkabout" anything. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a cripple.

ABADDON: Is that what you are, Mr. Locke? I went on my walkabout convinced I was one thing, but I came back another. I found out what I was made of, who I was.

LOCKE: And here you are, an orderly.

ABADDON: Oh, I'm a lot more than just an orderly, John. When you're ready, Mr. Locke... you'll listen to what I'm saying. And then when you and me run into each other again... you'll owe me one.

And just as a frame of reference, let's drop a few more lines of dialogue, this time from the previously referenced episode "Man of Science, Man of Faith":

JACK: I told her -- I made her a promise I couldn't keep -- I told her I'd fix her and I couldn't. I failed.

DESMOND: Right. Just one thing - what if you did fix her?

JACK: I didn't.

DESMOND: But what if you did?

JACK: You don't know what you're talking about, man.

DESMOND: I don't? Why not?

JACK: Because with her situation that would be a miracle, brother.

DESMOND: Oh, and you don't believe in miracles? Right. Well then, I'm going to give you some advice anyway. You have to lift it up.

JACK: Lift it up?

DESMOND: Your ankle. You have to keep it elevated. It's been nice chatting.

JACK: Jack.

DESMOND: Jack, I'm Desmond. Good luck, brother. See you in another life, yeah?

So in both cases, we have talks of miracles, from one believer to one skeptic. And more tellingly, in both cases, we have talk of meeting in at some undefined future point. Now take all of these things, add in the centuries of history hinted at on the Island, the dead's stubborn refusal to be nice and stay that way, and THEN throw in all this Panchen Lama mumbo jumbo jive talkin', and what starts to emerge is a scenario in which what's happening on Lost is merely the latest cycle in an extremely, extremely long ongoing saga.

All of this is a long way of saying the following: what if Locke's journey towards self-discovery leads not to who he is, but who he has already been?

Now, just as I mentioned yesterday about fate being a fluid thing in the Lost universe, this identity is equally as fluid. Richard Alpert might think Locke is the reincarnation of Jacob. Matthew Abaddon might think he's the reincarnation of Magnus Hanso, Charles Degroot, or a number of other people. But Locke's stubborn refusal to die, even when faced with situations that would kill a normal person, suggests not only a purpose, but an inner will yearning to hold onto life with a passion so vigorous it can only come from one that has already tasted death.

I'd even go one further and say that John Locke is not unique in his ability to inhabit a reincarnated spirit. Both Alpert and Abaddon are likely vessels for souls that have lived with beyond one lifetime as well. (Widmore, as well, seems like a possibility.) But while not singular, Locke is nevertheless unique, and thus of great interest to many parties seeking to extend their stay on this earthly plane as long as possible.

Tomorrow, I'll take this notion into the realm of childbirth and see what connections pop up. But for now, I think we'll end and get your thoughts on the matter.

What stood out in these flashbacks to you? Is death an end or merely a transitory stage on Lost? And whom might else be prime candidates to be vessels?

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

Comments

I'd say Aaron and Walt are likely candidates.

As mentioned many times before, Locke may be some sort of balance to the force so to speak. Further, maybe he and possibly one other (Jack?) are the ones that bring the balance back to the Island. Without the both of them the Island can not be at peace.

As far as death. I'd say it is more a transitory sort of thing. Almost as if they enter some sort of parallel plane that exist along side ours.

Something I just posted recently on the last thread around the time this one went up:

To me Abaddon appears to be some sort of rogue agent for Widmore. Moreover, maybe Abaddon connects Widmore with Hanso, but Abaddon is actually working for Hanso not Widmore. (Still with me?) It just seems with Abaddon picking the fantastic 4 that they are working for someone else, while Keamy is clearly working for Widmore (or is he?) I'm confusing myself. Someone please help me out.

Shaggysteve | May 12, 2008 5:03:22 PM | #

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Aww, call them the Freighter Four; it's catchy!

Anyway, I still can't explain Abbadon, his myriad appearances on the show, especially in this last episode. They'll either explain it by season's end, or else parlay it into next year like they're doing with the Freighter Four; an Abbadon-centric flash forward/backward would be really interesting.

WAAAAAAAALT!

Question for "Flame": What do you make of the notChristian & creepy Claire Cabin Variety Hour? How do you think this ties into the season premiere, when the striped-suit version of notChristian appeared in the cabin as well (apparently with Jacob still in it)?

Other Sean | May 13, 2008 1:26:03 AM | #

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Good luck, brother. See you in another life, yeah?
Love those lines.
I've been thinking about the science/faith dichotomy for awhile now, and how Locke and Jack refuse to let go of their old selves. It seems to me that neither one will ever be able to see the other's point of view until they can let go of their principles and find some common ground. Pretty much everyone on the island has drawn their own personal line in the sand and refuses to pass over it. Sawyer is a badass, and Sayid can't forgive himself, etc. Maybe they're lost in themselves and won't be found until they can let go.

Colin | May 13, 2008 4:53:57 AM | #

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I have a 305 question. It's not related to this post, but this is the best place to ask it.
When Lapidus first took Sayid and Desmond away, he was following a bearing of 305. When Ben told Michael how to leave, it was 312.
But, when Desmond left the freighter, the captain said to follow the 305 bearing to get back to the island. How can you follow the same bearing FROM and TO a place?

Joe cool | May 13, 2008 5:22:54 AM | #

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Ever notice that bearing 305, when you add it up 3+05=8. and 312 when you add 3+12=15.
Don't know it that's anything but, I thought it was interesting and also it really shows that I have way too much time on my hands today.

WAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAALLTT!!!!!!!

Ryan, for letters from the flame, please, pretty please with sugar on top and a sweet bing cherry with whipped cream...........answer me this:

How does Benjamin Linus go from this island raised boy to "others" leader to uber spy/assasin/time travellin' man? Was he trained at Richard Alpert's school for the insanely special chosen kids? How does this little man know so much about manipulation and psychology and technology? He didn't just pop out of Emily this way so, how did he learn all this stuff?

Chris | May 13, 2008 6:19:48 AM | #

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Michael's bearing was 325, not 312. 3+2+5=12, which makes me unhappy. Then again, 4+8=12, so, VICTORY. Or, you know, something.

Ryan | May 13, 2008 6:31:17 AM | #

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Oops!!! My bad, should have remembered that, so, a big DUH to myself!!! LOLOLOL!!!!

Chris | May 13, 2008 6:33:42 AM | #

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I am getting scared. All this "its happened before, it will happen again" stuff is scaring me. Its the Matrix explanation, which is already going on over on BSG! Can you imagine? My two favorite shows end up with the same explanation, that everything is a cycle? This isn't the Lion King and the Circle of Life!

Michael Scorn | May 13, 2008 6:56:55 AM | #

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Michael: You're gonna be really upset once Walt returns to the island and starts signing "I Just Can't Wait To Be King", then.

Ryan | May 13, 2008 6:58:45 AM | #

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My question, which may be entirely apropos of nothing, but which has been on my mind lately: What, if anything, does it mean that Horace built the Crooked Cabin? Was it 'tessaracted' by him, or did that happen after the Jacobean Occupation? Inquiring minds want to know...

I'm guessing the Horace connection is purely incidental - I mean, he can't be Jacob, can he? He's all dead-like after all - but how/why did it then become Jacob's Lair?

I guess my curiosity around this whole piece of the last episode is that nothing on Lost is ever entirely 'incidental'.

DanC | May 13, 2008 7:01:47 AM | #

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Oh well...I guess I'll dig out my Harry Chapin CD and enjoy the ride.

Michael Scorn | May 13, 2008 7:04:16 AM | #

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There's no way Horace could be Jacob if Jacob was the one who ordered the Purge.

That's going on the assumption that Jacob was the original leader of the Hostiles.

Jeff | May 13, 2008 8:22:57 AM | #

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3+2+5 is still equal to 10 not 12. Stay after school and clean my erasers.

Ryan's 1st Grade Teacher | May 13, 2008 8:58:06 AM | #

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Wow, yea. Math is hard.

Ryan | May 13, 2008 9:07:15 AM | #

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i was JUST about to ask if math works differently on this blog like time works differently on the Island...

;-)

mri | May 13, 2008 9:11:38 AM | #

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It's a darn good thing that they don't have me recap "Numb3rs" for this site.

Ryan | May 13, 2008 9:21:06 AM | #

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I've got a feeling the "chosen one" theory is different dependant upon the specific person and the specific situation. Ben may have been the chosen one for the Age of the Purge. Locke may be the chosen one for the Age of Butterworth. Walt may be the chosen one for the Age of Enlightment, or whatever. Maybe young Ben, picking the knife, wasn't the "chosen one" needed at that point in time. Maybe, at that time, the island needed a boy being born on the side of the road to an Also, in regards to Science v. Faith, I think you're on to something when you realize that it's more of a Matrix argument of Free Will v. Destiny. Who's to say that Benjamin didn't violate his own "rules" when he extorted Jack into doing the surgery on his back?

Brian of the North | May 13, 2008 9:42:05 AM | #

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Wow, I think I deleted the end of a sentence up there somewhere!

Brian of the North | May 13, 2008 9:52:03 AM | #

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WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALT:

Why can't the "chosen ones" be raised by their true parents. Starting with Ben, his mother died as soon as he was born and he never had a good relationship with his father. Then Locke is raised by adoptive parents. Thow in Walt being separated from Michael both pre and post crash, and Aaron without Claire, and a pattern starts to form. What's up with that?

A-Rob | May 13, 2008 9:55:41 AM | #

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I just wish Locke would get his sh!t straight and decide if he's going to be Ben's wishy-washy little b!tch or is he going to be the confident guy that forges his own path that we've seen him to be.

I LOVED when Locke told Hurley (WAAAALT: How many names does Hurley have? Is that a nickname? I'm sure it was explained in Season 1 or something, but I spend too much time on the computer and not enough time refreshing my Lost memory) that Ben happened to the Dharma Initiative.

I also LOVED Hurley and Ben sharing the chocolate bar. That was so cool. They kinda looked like kids on the playground sitting there; or kids on the curb waiting for mom to come pick them up after school.

And it was kind of refreshing to see Ben (of all people) looking surprised and stunned for half the show. I mean, let's face it, it's Ben Freaking Linus, the most prepared man in history. What could possibly shock him? Except maybe realizing he's washed all his tidy whities with one red sock.

Oh... one thing I was wondering, and I think this was mentioned before, does the woman that tell Claire she must raise her baby (or something like that) actually say that? Or does she say the baby must not be raised by another? Orrrr... does she say the baby must not be raised by "an Other?" Maybe I should have prefaced that with a WAAAALT too.

AdSlinger | May 13, 2008 10:02:07 AM | #

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Hurley's real name on the show is Hugo Reyes. I think the name "Hurley" was given to him the first time he was in the Mental hospital with the guy who gave him the numbers (his name escapes me at the moment). Maybe because he hurled a lot?

Chris | May 13, 2008 10:23:06 AM | #

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Is it conceivable that Ben and Widmore are going to be replaced by Locke and Jack.
Widmore has to get back to the island...as Jack has to get back to the island from his bearded future. Was Widmore once an island dweller, until forced to leave...as Jack leaves along with the rest of the Oceanic Six?

Michael P | May 13, 2008 10:43:09 AM | #

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A-Rob, they have no parents because that's a big part of the timeless hero mythic archetype.

Most classic heroes start out as orphans. Everyone from Moses to Oedipus to King Arthur to Robin Hood to Aragorn, heck even Luke Skywalker (in a sense) and Harry Potter. It's a fundamental part of what starts them on the hero's journey.

Jeff | May 13, 2008 11:15:55 AM | #

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AdSlinger, to answer your question about "raised by another", I refer you to the transcipt of (what else) "Raised by Another".

MALKIN: I can tell you, this is important.

CLAIRE: Okay.

MALKIN: It is crucial that you, yourself, raise this child.

CLAIRE: You mean with Thomas? Is he..

MALKIN: The father of this child will play no part in it's life, nor yours.

CLAIRE: So what exactly are you saying?

MALKIN: This child parented by anyone else, anyone other than you -- danger surrounds this baby. . .

CLAIRE: Danger?

MALKIN: Your nature, your spirit, your goodness, must be an influence in the development of this child.

CLAIRE: If Thomas and I don't get back together I'm putting this baby up for adoption. I just wanted to find out what would give the baby the happiest life.

MALKIN: There is no happy life -- not for this child, not without you.

CLAIRE: I don't. . .

MALKIN: It can't be another. You mustn't allow another to raise your baby.

Jeff | May 13, 2008 11:21:19 AM | #

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That quote, and more about Aaron in general, can be found in my recap of "Something Nice Back Home":

http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2008/05/lost-the-great.html

Ryan | May 13, 2008 12:00:33 PM | #

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Ryan: And I totally read that, too. It's the old age, I tell ya. My mind is like a steel sieve.

I wonder if I have mad cow. I have been kinda twitchy lately. I just assumed it was the coffee.

So, ok, points for clearing that up. So, incidentally, is Aaron's last name Hitler, cause I have this feeling like some bad mojo is about to hit the rotational wind device.

This seems to me to be contrary to what the Island might want. Why would Jacob want Aaron and Claire separated? If Aaron's going to be some uber-baddie in the end, wouldn't Jacob want to prevent that, assuming Aaron is one of the next in line to be a protector or something?

That only serves to add to the creepy "something's not right in the Emerald Kingdom" feeling I had with nC and Claire in the cabin. I'm still left to wonder if Jacob is tied up in the basement or something.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

AdSlinger | May 13, 2008 1:10:05 PM | #

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When are we going to talk about moving the Island?!

Jeff | May 13, 2008 1:27:52 PM | #

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Agreed! Moving the island is a topic of WAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLTING proportions!!!

| May 13, 2008 2:02:32 PM | #

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I'm finally caught up on all of the LOST blogs! WOO HOO!

I always seem to get behind a day or two on the blogs and as a result all I have to add has been said.

WAAAAALLLT!

Since the upcoming ep(s) is/are called "There's No Place Like Home", I'm wondering how much "The Wizard of Oz" metaphors do you think we'll see in the ep(s)?

I'm particularily interested in your (and others) opinions on what will represent Kansas and Oz respecitively? Will Kansas be represented by the island or the rest of the world? Ditto for Oz.

As an aside, who will represent the main chars in Oz? i.e. Dorothy, The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion and Witch.

Thanks.

Rishi | May 13, 2008 3:37:05 PM | #

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Here's another WAAAAAAAAAAALT:

Do you predict an upcomming Widmore/Alpert scene? Alpert always seems to be popping up around the island's saviors. Since they've hinted Widmore has been on the island before, could he have been the original island protector (even before Ben)?

A-Rob | May 13, 2008 4:10:40 PM | #

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* SNEAK PEEK *

For those interested, below is a link to a sneak peak of this Thursday's episode. By the looks of things there is going to be a lot happening. I can't wait. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E04Ximfcx50

Shaggysteve | May 13, 2008 4:42:31 PM | #

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a couple points- first the invading mercenaries have to follow a compass heading. Move the island (time-compressed plate techtonics) and that heading won't work.
Second point in the flash forward Ben tells Widmore You had my daughter killed I am going to kill yours and it comes out that both the daughter and the island are hidden (presumably because the island moved)

W_Hubbell | May 13, 2008 5:11:33 PM | #

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I realized that Locke's test by Alpert — selecting items that might belong to him — is unlike the Dali Lama search in one important particular. The potential Lama is asked to identify items that were his in a past life. Locke is being asked to pick items that will be his later in his current life.

Sand, compass and knife may have been the correct choices, or not. There may have been a school Albert would have taken him to, or not. Perhaps Albert was just making certain he was the one, and left when that was clear.

William Robinson | May 13, 2008 5:59:47 PM | #

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William Robinson-

I see your point, but what if John is a reincarnation of someone on the Island (i.e. Jacob?) Hence, John IS trying to remember items from his past life.

Shaggysteve | May 13, 2008 6:14:30 PM | #

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I really loved that this Locke centered episode came after that Jack centric one, because it just served to show us Locke is much more important to the island and to the show than Jack, wich makes me happy. I just hate Jack's character.

PS: Horace is not Jacob, He was killed in the purge. If I recall it, we see Ben closing his eyes when he is dead, over at the barracks.

sin laden | May 13, 2008 6:44:06 PM | #

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Sin Laden-

I'm with you about Jack. At first I liked his character, and couldn't understand why he was originally written to be killed off in the pilot. I had felt he was the kind of leader they needed at the time. However, now he is just stubborn. It's his way or the hell with you. He's just proven recently that he has no character.

Shaggysteve | May 13, 2008 7:05:49 PM | #

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I love Jack. It wouldn't be Lost without Jack. Locke and Jack are the main characters, as Damon and Carlton has stated in recent interviews.

Patricia | May 14, 2008 5:22:17 AM | #

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"The potential Lama is asked to identify items that were his in a past life. Locke is being asked to pick items that will be his later in his current life."

That's not right, he was asked which items were his "already".

While watching the episode, it immediately made me think of reincarnation - it seemed like he was presenting him with objects from a potential previous life. I think Alpert thought Locke might be a reincarnation, and I'd guess someone like Magnus Hanso based on the objects he showed him.

milo | May 14, 2008 12:42:22 PM | #

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