The unknown Economist from the season 4 title of the same name is John Locke operating under the name Jeremy Bentham.
First some clues: Bentham is the father of socialism which is an economic system. In The Economist episode Sayid meets a woman (Elsa) and the first thing he asks her for is directions to Potsdamer Platz. Potsdamer Platz is a now thriving economic area that was ignored from WWII until the end of the Cold War because of the Berlin Wall; the wall erected to separate countries where the state controlled the means of production (socialism) from the rest of the world. Also, the person Sayid killed on the golf course was named Mr. Avellino which refers to a city in Italy named after a man who died a rather abrupt unforeseen death. This Avellino was known as the patron saint of sudden death. What death, in season 4, was more sudden and abrupt than Locke (Bentham) visiting all of the 06 and then ending up in a coffin? Finally, on the island in the Economist ep Sayid goes to visit Lockes camp to exchange prisoners. Also this is the episode where Elsa and Naomi share the same braclet ! ---and locke killed naomi.
The story plays out as such....
From This Place is Death we learned a few important things: Ben met Locke after Locke left the island and it was Ben who went to visit Locke and not the other way around. Also, remember that it is Ben carrying out the task of taking everyone back to the island even though Christian Shepard gave these instructions to Locke along with a scolding for letting Ben carry out the task of moving the island in season 4.
So there is no way that Locke would let Ben willingly perform his assignment again. So then one would assume Ben is doing this against Locke's will. So Ben having Locke killed so he could perform the assignment would make sense (further, it explains why Ben told Locke once you turn the wheel you can never come back -- that wasn't a "rule" it was Ben trying to manipulate Locke for the future).
Sayid's involvement stems from the fact that we know he was killing for Ben and that now he doesn't trust Ben but has remained conspicuously quiet about WHY that is.
Ben used Sayid to kill Locke. He did this because 1) Sayid is a killer and good at it and 2) he could then use it as blackmail material down the road. Sayid was killing for Ben because Ben convinced him that the people he was killing were responsible for Nadia's death. Whether this is true or not is really a moot point because Sayid believed him.
In the Economist Sayid meets Elsa (another female E name, damn!). Elsa works for an Economist. Sayid seems to have been instructed by Ben to track down and/or kill the Economist by Ben. Sayid does not know at the time he meets Elsa who the Economist is Locke because the name Ben gives to Sayid is Jeremy Bentham.
Elsa, we find out, was a spy as well as her and Sayid have a shootout towards the end. Elsa was aware at the very least that Sayid has weapons training. The Economist (if not Elsa) also seems to understand that Sayid has a soft spot in his heart for the ladies. Locke knows both of these things.
So it seems the Economist was looking for Sayid and using Elsa to do so, while Ben was looking to have the Economist killed and using Sayid to do so. It was implied by Ben that Widmore killed Nadia but we don't know if that's true. There's a major assumption that the Economist is tied to Widmore but there is no mention of Widmore in the Economist episode.
Most likely, after feeling incredibly remorseful about killing Elsa, Sayid kills Bentham. This goes down either one of two ways: He is does so not knowing he's Locke (from behind or something), or Sayid finds out he is Locke and then connecting Locke to multiple deaths of people close to him (Boone, Elsa and even Naomi who Sayid didn't really know but shared the same bracelet as Elsa) sets Sayid off that he brutally kills him. Either way, Sayid understands Ben used him after this happens and before the off-island present of Season 5.
It would also lead credence to the idea that Ben is having Sayid sedated with tranquilizer darts so he will be unconscious and can be taken to the Island against his will. Sayid did not let Jack or Hurley know WHAT transpired between he and Ben and I think it's because Ben has this information on him. I am not sure whether or not Ben had Niaomi killed, but I am certain he used it to his advantage.
I do now know WHY Locke started to call himself Bentham but I am assuming it was to avoid running into Ben after getting his instructions from Christian Shepard.
I also am fairly positive that what spooked Jack into believing Locke/Bentham is most certainly that his father 'says hello' --- and Locke can tell Jack what his father looks like. Ben does not know this and that is why he asks Jack why he is such a believer in all things Locke all of a sudden.
It would also explain Jacks utter freakout over the course of his time off island and how Ben came to inquire that ring Jin gave Locke. Theory by Justin
First some clues: Bentham is the father of socialism which is an economic system. In The Economist episode Sayid meets a woman (Elsa) and the first thing he asks her for is directions to Potsdamer Platz. Potsdamer Platz is a now thriving economic area that was ignored from WWII until the end of the Cold War because of the Berlin Wall; the wall erected to separate countries where the state controlled the means of production (socialism) from the rest of the world. Also, the person Sayid killed on the golf course was named Mr. Avellino which refers to a city in Italy named after a man who died a rather abrupt unforeseen death. This Avellino was known as the patron saint of sudden death. What death, in season 4, was more sudden and abrupt than Locke (Bentham) visiting all of the 06 and then ending up in a coffin? Finally, on the island in the Economist ep Sayid goes to visit Lockes camp to exchange prisoners. Also this is the episode where Elsa and Naomi share the same braclet ! ---and locke killed naomi.
The story plays out as such....
From This Place is Death we learned a few important things: Ben met Locke after Locke left the island and it was Ben who went to visit Locke and not the other way around. Also, remember that it is Ben carrying out the task of taking everyone back to the island even though Christian Shepard gave these instructions to Locke along with a scolding for letting Ben carry out the task of moving the island in season 4.
So there is no way that Locke would let Ben willingly perform his assignment again. So then one would assume Ben is doing this against Locke's will. So Ben having Locke killed so he could perform the assignment would make sense (further, it explains why Ben told Locke once you turn the wheel you can never come back -- that wasn't a "rule" it was Ben trying to manipulate Locke for the future).
Sayid's involvement stems from the fact that we know he was killing for Ben and that now he doesn't trust Ben but has remained conspicuously quiet about WHY that is.
Ben used Sayid to kill Locke. He did this because 1) Sayid is a killer and good at it and 2) he could then use it as blackmail material down the road. Sayid was killing for Ben because Ben convinced him that the people he was killing were responsible for Nadia's death. Whether this is true or not is really a moot point because Sayid believed him.
In the Economist Sayid meets Elsa (another female E name, damn!). Elsa works for an Economist. Sayid seems to have been instructed by Ben to track down and/or kill the Economist by Ben. Sayid does not know at the time he meets Elsa who the Economist is Locke because the name Ben gives to Sayid is Jeremy Bentham.
Elsa, we find out, was a spy as well as her and Sayid have a shootout towards the end. Elsa was aware at the very least that Sayid has weapons training. The Economist (if not Elsa) also seems to understand that Sayid has a soft spot in his heart for the ladies. Locke knows both of these things.
So it seems the Economist was looking for Sayid and using Elsa to do so, while Ben was looking to have the Economist killed and using Sayid to do so. It was implied by Ben that Widmore killed Nadia but we don't know if that's true. There's a major assumption that the Economist is tied to Widmore but there is no mention of Widmore in the Economist episode.
Most likely, after feeling incredibly remorseful about killing Elsa, Sayid kills Bentham. This goes down either one of two ways: He is does so not knowing he's Locke (from behind or something), or Sayid finds out he is Locke and then connecting Locke to multiple deaths of people close to him (Boone, Elsa and even Naomi who Sayid didn't really know but shared the same bracelet as Elsa) sets Sayid off that he brutally kills him. Either way, Sayid understands Ben used him after this happens and before the off-island present of Season 5.
It would also lead credence to the idea that Ben is having Sayid sedated with tranquilizer darts so he will be unconscious and can be taken to the Island against his will. Sayid did not let Jack or Hurley know WHAT transpired between he and Ben and I think it's because Ben has this information on him. I am not sure whether or not Ben had Niaomi killed, but I am certain he used it to his advantage.
I do now know WHY Locke started to call himself Bentham but I am assuming it was to avoid running into Ben after getting his instructions from Christian Shepard.
I also am fairly positive that what spooked Jack into believing Locke/Bentham is most certainly that his father 'says hello' --- and Locke can tell Jack what his father looks like. Ben does not know this and that is why he asks Jack why he is such a believer in all things Locke all of a sudden.
It would also explain Jacks utter freakout over the course of his time off island and how Ben came to inquire that ring Jin gave Locke. Theory by Justin
