I think I know what the frozen donkey wheel is: it’s Benry’s time machine. “Frozen donkey wheel” is the code name for the pivotal-climactic scene of the S4 finale because this is when we will finally get confirmation that Benry does in fact have access to a time machine. Hopefully, we’ll get to see the time machine, and if we’re very lucky, maybe get to find out how it works.
There are two parts to this theory. Let's start with the "donkey wheel.” A donkey wheel is a rather primitive form of animal powered machine, sometimes referred to as an "animal engine." A donkey is harnessed to a large wheel, usually in a mill. As the donkey walks in a circle around the wheel, it turns the wheel, which produces power to grind up grain and make it into flour. Donkey wheels can also be used to pump water. Bottom line: a donkey wheel is a method of using the energy generated by a working animal to power a machine, a very useful invention before the advent of steam and coal power, electricity, batteries, et cetera. (Reference: see "horse mill" in Wikipedia.)
Here is a picture of a donkey wheel:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Horse_mill_045493.jpg
Speaking metaphorically, any machine which converts energy produced by a living being into operating power could fairly be described as a donkey wheel. In this case, I'm hypothesizing that the ‘donkey’ whose energy is being harnessed here is Jacob and/or Smokey, who may or may not be the same entity.
The donkey wheel could also be powered by the Island itself, maybe by energy from the electromagnetic anomaly, although I’m inclined to believe Darlton created this colorful term specifically to refer to a machine powered by the energy of a living entity. In this context, the important criterion for “living” would be the ability to use energy to move objects and affect one’s environment. I’m not sure that the Island would fall into that category (though I’m far from sure that it wouldn’t!), but I’m pretty sure it would include Jacob (possibly an ‘undead’ living entity) and Smokey.
We saw Benry use the frozen donkey wheel when he entered his secret room and came out in the Tunisian desert wearing Halliwax’s parka. In other words, Benry used a time machine powered by energy from a living entity (such as Jacob or Smokey, or maybe something we haven’t seen yet), to travel in both time and space. (For a compelling argument that Benry was in fact time traveling during the 20-odd minutes he was inside his secret room, see the wonderful e’s [Erika Olsen’s] writeup on The Shape of Things to Come. For additional evidence that the hieroglyph door leads to a time machine, see DocArtz’s Update – Translation of Symbols on Ben’s door.)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NKly2MWrGBPuF0xO7MmXlMPFpWWuy7kSKAieZ38WwoL50CkzlBKyJGD-MIsKprM3U6kVfajS_q_NK43-Lhyphenhyphen4EnOhvXczFnUYSqLd2jVLZzdQ14AUxE-JpyqDpvWXmUMLTIDa/s1600-h/epi409-bens-door-with-glyp.jpg
Part two of my theory: Why is the donkey wheel frozen? We have the answer right from Benry’s mouth when he is deposited in the Tunisian desert in The Shape of Things to Come.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYOoBcNOkhuF6f0PAsX5kkRpsxo15hlU_9KuDfhTNeuAKHPmyPNSiI0xGP3xMOfABkXOug5WS9176sXmGVwHl_sSGRadrcuBnEsKPa096K1oCURQONTPDKN9VPF7rzKZVDFTm/s1600-h/dharma-lo
When Benry first opens his mouth, we see a puff of steam come out as he seems to transition from someplace very cold to the warmer desert. (Some people also think Benry’s head might have been steaming slightly due to the sudden temperature change.) This would also explain why Benry is wearing the Dharka. I won’t speculate on whether the cold place was a previous destination, a stopover point or waystation, or whether the trip itself is just really cold. What I think matters is the fact that using the time machine clearly takes Benry either to or through some frozen location. Maybe the North Pole, if, like me, you’re a fan of the Vile Vortices Theory.
So that’s my theory of the frozen donkey wheel. In closing, I would just like to say that Benry is the coolest villain ever in the history of the entire universe, even if I’m wrong and he doesn’t have a time machine.
Theory by Nan Lewis
There are two parts to this theory. Let's start with the "donkey wheel.” A donkey wheel is a rather primitive form of animal powered machine, sometimes referred to as an "animal engine." A donkey is harnessed to a large wheel, usually in a mill. As the donkey walks in a circle around the wheel, it turns the wheel, which produces power to grind up grain and make it into flour. Donkey wheels can also be used to pump water. Bottom line: a donkey wheel is a method of using the energy generated by a working animal to power a machine, a very useful invention before the advent of steam and coal power, electricity, batteries, et cetera. (Reference: see "horse mill" in Wikipedia.)
Here is a picture of a donkey wheel:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Horse_mill_045493.jpg
Speaking metaphorically, any machine which converts energy produced by a living being into operating power could fairly be described as a donkey wheel. In this case, I'm hypothesizing that the ‘donkey’ whose energy is being harnessed here is Jacob and/or Smokey, who may or may not be the same entity.
The donkey wheel could also be powered by the Island itself, maybe by energy from the electromagnetic anomaly, although I’m inclined to believe Darlton created this colorful term specifically to refer to a machine powered by the energy of a living entity. In this context, the important criterion for “living” would be the ability to use energy to move objects and affect one’s environment. I’m not sure that the Island would fall into that category (though I’m far from sure that it wouldn’t!), but I’m pretty sure it would include Jacob (possibly an ‘undead’ living entity) and Smokey.
We saw Benry use the frozen donkey wheel when he entered his secret room and came out in the Tunisian desert wearing Halliwax’s parka. In other words, Benry used a time machine powered by energy from a living entity (such as Jacob or Smokey, or maybe something we haven’t seen yet), to travel in both time and space. (For a compelling argument that Benry was in fact time traveling during the 20-odd minutes he was inside his secret room, see the wonderful e’s [Erika Olsen’s] writeup on The Shape of Things to Come. For additional evidence that the hieroglyph door leads to a time machine, see DocArtz’s Update – Translation of Symbols on Ben’s door.)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NKly2MWrGBPuF0xO7MmXlMPFpWWuy7kSKAieZ38WwoL50CkzlBKyJGD-MIsKprM3U6kVfajS_q_NK43-Lhyphenhyphen4EnOhvXczFnUYSqLd2jVLZzdQ14AUxE-JpyqDpvWXmUMLTIDa/s1600-h/epi409-bens-door-with-glyp.jpg
Part two of my theory: Why is the donkey wheel frozen? We have the answer right from Benry’s mouth when he is deposited in the Tunisian desert in The Shape of Things to Come.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYOoBcNOkhuF6f0PAsX5kkRpsxo15hlU_9KuDfhTNeuAKHPmyPNSiI0xGP3xMOfABkXOug5WS9176sXmGVwHl_sSGRadrcuBnEsKPa096K1oCURQONTPDKN9VPF7rzKZVDFTm/s1600-h/dharma-lo
When Benry first opens his mouth, we see a puff of steam come out as he seems to transition from someplace very cold to the warmer desert. (Some people also think Benry’s head might have been steaming slightly due to the sudden temperature change.) This would also explain why Benry is wearing the Dharka. I won’t speculate on whether the cold place was a previous destination, a stopover point or waystation, or whether the trip itself is just really cold. What I think matters is the fact that using the time machine clearly takes Benry either to or through some frozen location. Maybe the North Pole, if, like me, you’re a fan of the Vile Vortices Theory.
So that’s my theory of the frozen donkey wheel. In closing, I would just like to say that Benry is the coolest villain ever in the history of the entire universe, even if I’m wrong and he doesn’t have a time machine.
Theory by Nan Lewis
