There is no doubt that Time has already and will continue to reamin a major factor in the unraveling of LOST's innumerable mysteries. But consider this, what exactly is so important about Time? This may seem like a pithy way to address the notion of Time on LOST, but it nevertheless can, shall I say "course correct" my theory in the right direction.
Consider this first idea, the notion of Time is relative only to whom or what "experiences" it. Basically, every human character on LOST (with perhaps the exception of Richard Alpert)"experiences" Time in some fashion. So then, what doesn't "experience" Time? What or who is "outside of Time" -- to quote Billy Pilgrim from Slaughter-House Five. Two answers come to me immediately based on what we know about these things so far: the Smoke Monster and Jacob. Let's suppose for instance that the ISLAND has had a really long "history" -- which is semi-confirmed based on the infamous 4-toed statue. Would it be far-fetched to assume that Jacob or the Monster didn't "exist" in some form back then? If it is possible for either of these entitles to have existed back then, would they have existed if we went further back in time? Ultimately, I'm arguing that both the Smoke Monster and Jacob seem to have no apparent beginning (that is if you believe the Smoke Monster was created by DHARMA,! which I have issue with). The rules of time travel outlined by Faraday are clear: YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE FUTURE. Thus, I cannot confirm that Jacob or the Monster will exist in the very near future (or maybe they do in some other "Form"). Let's look at this from the ISLAND'S perspective; Jacob and the Monster are inhabitants of the ISLAND. Jacob is not the ISLAND'S creator. But could the opposite be true, could the ISLAND HAVE CREATED (by virtue of "manifestation") JACOB AND/OR THE SMOKE MONSTER? It may seem strange at first, but there has to be a "constant" for the rules of time travel to apply. The island is the vessel. The vessel is the constant. We know now what makes that vessel move -- a large frozen wheel. Time is part of the what the ISLAND is. Time doesn't matter so much to the ISLAND itself, but rather matters more to its inhabitants.
Here's where things get complicated: How does crashing on a island, not knowing where you are affect you? Well, it can lead people to do some crazy, if not interesting things -- like kill Ana-Lucia and Libby in search for your son, see a ton of hallucinations like Dave and Kate's large black horse, and even clash with the doctor about how this is all "destined" to happen ... oh, and blow up a few hatches along the way. What's interesting is that the LOST audience is a lot like the DHARMA INIATIVE. Every evening at 9/10pm we gather to OBSERVE a "social experiment in progress" in which the subjects have NO CLUE that THEY ARE BEING OBSERVED. But the D.I. failed right? Well, not exactly. They managed to have at least one member still alive down in the Swan -- a man named Kelvin. The whole cycle of the Kelvin finds Desmond story is what leads me to this point: If the characters on LOST could turn back time, would they? And, what exactly would they change? Would Locke have refused! to give up his kidney? Would Desmond had never left because of Widmore? Would Claire have signed those adoption papers and never have raised Aaron? This list of questions could go on for each and every single character including Ben. LOST is now beginning to complete its cycles for all of our characters we knew about since the show began. It was very telling in this year's episode "Cabin Fever" in which Abbadon tells Locke to go on a Walkabout -- thus planting the seed for what was about to come.
The importance of Time on LOST is ultimately based around the notion of what one should have done in order to change the direction of one's life. But does that necessarily mean that one can change the past? How can that be possible without a bit of science, without the contribution of the DHARMA INITIATIVE? Moreover, when does Time cease to be a just a number? As Faraday says to Charlotte, "if you don't come with me for now... it could be forever". The entropy associated with the predicament of Time and time travel will certainly modify the way in which LOST will conclude its story. But one thing, I know, is certain to happen... Despite everywhere and everywhen the Losties go, they're still LOST!
Theory by chrisisLOST
Consider this first idea, the notion of Time is relative only to whom or what "experiences" it. Basically, every human character on LOST (with perhaps the exception of Richard Alpert)"experiences" Time in some fashion. So then, what doesn't "experience" Time? What or who is "outside of Time" -- to quote Billy Pilgrim from Slaughter-House Five. Two answers come to me immediately based on what we know about these things so far: the Smoke Monster and Jacob. Let's suppose for instance that the ISLAND has had a really long "history" -- which is semi-confirmed based on the infamous 4-toed statue. Would it be far-fetched to assume that Jacob or the Monster didn't "exist" in some form back then? If it is possible for either of these entitles to have existed back then, would they have existed if we went further back in time? Ultimately, I'm arguing that both the Smoke Monster and Jacob seem to have no apparent beginning (that is if you believe the Smoke Monster was created by DHARMA,! which I have issue with). The rules of time travel outlined by Faraday are clear: YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE FUTURE. Thus, I cannot confirm that Jacob or the Monster will exist in the very near future (or maybe they do in some other "Form"). Let's look at this from the ISLAND'S perspective; Jacob and the Monster are inhabitants of the ISLAND. Jacob is not the ISLAND'S creator. But could the opposite be true, could the ISLAND HAVE CREATED (by virtue of "manifestation") JACOB AND/OR THE SMOKE MONSTER? It may seem strange at first, but there has to be a "constant" for the rules of time travel to apply. The island is the vessel. The vessel is the constant. We know now what makes that vessel move -- a large frozen wheel. Time is part of the what the ISLAND is. Time doesn't matter so much to the ISLAND itself, but rather matters more to its inhabitants.
Here's where things get complicated: How does crashing on a island, not knowing where you are affect you? Well, it can lead people to do some crazy, if not interesting things -- like kill Ana-Lucia and Libby in search for your son, see a ton of hallucinations like Dave and Kate's large black horse, and even clash with the doctor about how this is all "destined" to happen ... oh, and blow up a few hatches along the way. What's interesting is that the LOST audience is a lot like the DHARMA INIATIVE. Every evening at 9/10pm we gather to OBSERVE a "social experiment in progress" in which the subjects have NO CLUE that THEY ARE BEING OBSERVED. But the D.I. failed right? Well, not exactly. They managed to have at least one member still alive down in the Swan -- a man named Kelvin. The whole cycle of the Kelvin finds Desmond story is what leads me to this point: If the characters on LOST could turn back time, would they? And, what exactly would they change? Would Locke have refused! to give up his kidney? Would Desmond had never left because of Widmore? Would Claire have signed those adoption papers and never have raised Aaron? This list of questions could go on for each and every single character including Ben. LOST is now beginning to complete its cycles for all of our characters we knew about since the show began. It was very telling in this year's episode "Cabin Fever" in which Abbadon tells Locke to go on a Walkabout -- thus planting the seed for what was about to come.
The importance of Time on LOST is ultimately based around the notion of what one should have done in order to change the direction of one's life. But does that necessarily mean that one can change the past? How can that be possible without a bit of science, without the contribution of the DHARMA INITIATIVE? Moreover, when does Time cease to be a just a number? As Faraday says to Charlotte, "if you don't come with me for now... it could be forever". The entropy associated with the predicament of Time and time travel will certainly modify the way in which LOST will conclude its story. But one thing, I know, is certain to happen... Despite everywhere and everywhen the Losties go, they're still LOST!
Theory by chrisisLOST
