Has Ben turned into an evil paranoid warlord, concerned only with preventing outsiders taking his territory? Or is he obeying the will of the island for some greater purpose? Does he now act only to preserve that vision, grasping all the threads of that future until it becomes a mighty rope?
Ben told Locke of a ‘box’, where he could see anything he wanted. Perhaps there is some kind of oracle on the island were possible futures can be glimpsed.
It might explain Ben’s decisions and reactions in some episodes. When the Others witnessed the Flight 815 crash, Ben’s instant orders to Ethan and Goodwin either showed great leadership skills, or that he had been expecting a plane crash, and had already planned for it. Perhaps the ‘box’ had given him a vision of an aircraft breaking up over the island.
When posing as Henry Gayle, Ben had to be pretty confident that he would not be killed, considering the 815ers' fear of the Others at that time. Especially as his captor Danielle was insisting he was not to be trusted. It was either a brave gamble, or skilled management of a vision as it became reality. Ben risked his life and endured beatings during his captivity so that he could manipulate Locke, and set him on a course other than entering the numbers. Getting to Locke appeared to be more important to the Others than preserving the Swan hatch.
If the box/oracle exists, it must be at one of the island’s electromagnetic hot spots. Could even be in that temple we’re all waiting to see. Maybe specially selected ‘Others’ get to use the oracle, or perhaps only one is chosen. If the visions from the oracle become reality every time, it is inevitable that the Others will trust the judgement of their leader in all matters. Loyalty and dedication to a common cause strengthen their resolve.
The oracle would not offer a comprehensive download from the future.org. More likely a jumbled sequence from BlurredVisions.com. Several different outcomes could be possible, and the Others would try to achieve the desired ending. This might involve hard choices, killing, kidnapping, even dying for the cause to prevent the wrong outcome.
However, overexposure to those unique electromagnetic waves seems to have its price. Consider those still in the Swan Hatch before Desmond turned the key. Visions of Charlie’s death aside, Des is hanging on to his sanity by virtue of his constant, Penelope. Otherwise his visions of past and future will loosen his grip on reality and destroy him.
Locke is like a terrorist, blowing up hatches, submarines, mortally wounding Naomi, convinced it is the will of the island, but without a long term plan. Remember Locke’s dream of a blood covered Boone soon after the Swan Hatch cover was found. Also his sweat tent meditation when Eko had polar bear issues. Eko dreamt of question marks, not long after he had first entered the hatch. After his rescue from the bear, Mr Eko became tormented. Perhaps he was in denial of the visions given to him, probably of Yemi and black smoke.
So did Jacob use the oracle? Does the oracle take something away from those who use it, eventually condemning them to a spirit form? Could Jacob even be the oracle, passing on his visions to Ben, or even Locke?
Despite Ben’s apparent evil, manipulating, cruel nature, perhaps we have read him backwards. Maybe he is the only one who can handle the visions and retain his sanity. The only one prepared to do what has to be done to protect the island, and whatever part it will play in the future of humankind.
Theory by Dishyvaeda
Ben told Locke of a ‘box’, where he could see anything he wanted. Perhaps there is some kind of oracle on the island were possible futures can be glimpsed.
It might explain Ben’s decisions and reactions in some episodes. When the Others witnessed the Flight 815 crash, Ben’s instant orders to Ethan and Goodwin either showed great leadership skills, or that he had been expecting a plane crash, and had already planned for it. Perhaps the ‘box’ had given him a vision of an aircraft breaking up over the island.
When posing as Henry Gayle, Ben had to be pretty confident that he would not be killed, considering the 815ers' fear of the Others at that time. Especially as his captor Danielle was insisting he was not to be trusted. It was either a brave gamble, or skilled management of a vision as it became reality. Ben risked his life and endured beatings during his captivity so that he could manipulate Locke, and set him on a course other than entering the numbers. Getting to Locke appeared to be more important to the Others than preserving the Swan hatch.
If the box/oracle exists, it must be at one of the island’s electromagnetic hot spots. Could even be in that temple we’re all waiting to see. Maybe specially selected ‘Others’ get to use the oracle, or perhaps only one is chosen. If the visions from the oracle become reality every time, it is inevitable that the Others will trust the judgement of their leader in all matters. Loyalty and dedication to a common cause strengthen their resolve.
The oracle would not offer a comprehensive download from the future.org. More likely a jumbled sequence from BlurredVisions.com. Several different outcomes could be possible, and the Others would try to achieve the desired ending. This might involve hard choices, killing, kidnapping, even dying for the cause to prevent the wrong outcome.
However, overexposure to those unique electromagnetic waves seems to have its price. Consider those still in the Swan Hatch before Desmond turned the key. Visions of Charlie’s death aside, Des is hanging on to his sanity by virtue of his constant, Penelope. Otherwise his visions of past and future will loosen his grip on reality and destroy him.
Locke is like a terrorist, blowing up hatches, submarines, mortally wounding Naomi, convinced it is the will of the island, but without a long term plan. Remember Locke’s dream of a blood covered Boone soon after the Swan Hatch cover was found. Also his sweat tent meditation when Eko had polar bear issues. Eko dreamt of question marks, not long after he had first entered the hatch. After his rescue from the bear, Mr Eko became tormented. Perhaps he was in denial of the visions given to him, probably of Yemi and black smoke.
So did Jacob use the oracle? Does the oracle take something away from those who use it, eventually condemning them to a spirit form? Could Jacob even be the oracle, passing on his visions to Ben, or even Locke?
Despite Ben’s apparent evil, manipulating, cruel nature, perhaps we have read him backwards. Maybe he is the only one who can handle the visions and retain his sanity. The only one prepared to do what has to be done to protect the island, and whatever part it will play in the future of humankind.
Theory by Dishyvaeda
