note: read with PATIENCE! it's a bit lengthy :) Please comment!
I just read Vozzeks' recap of "Namaste," and agree that the change in leadership from Jack to Sawyer is an interesting reversal.
The producers have also mentioned that reading the Bible would be great preparation for this season (or was it last season? does it matter?). I think it's very easy to compare Jack and Sawyer to two other leaders of wandering (lost?) nomads, far away from their original homes - King Saul and King David from the Old Testament. (Reading Vozzek's recap would be helpful for this theory.)
*******background
At the time of Saul and David, the people of Israel were beginning to become more "consolidated:" after wandering in the wilderness for forty years with Moses, they finally come into the Promised land in Joshua and Judges. After clearing out the land of its native inhabitants, they begin to settle and look at building a kingdom - this is where Saul and David come in, in I and II Samuel.
Saul was young, anointed somewhat unwittingly as king while performing an errand for his father. Anyway, he rose up as a successful military leader, though he was initially despised by a few "dissenters."
As he succeeded, he got ahead of himself and "reacted," just like Jack seems to do, instead of thinking. He is rash, and is rejected as king by Samuel in two separate accounts. In the second one, Saul was told to completely destroy all of the Amalekites (an enemy of Israel at the time), yet went against God's command and saved the Amelekite king and other "choice" elements instead of wiping them out. His own kingship was taken from him as a result, but not before a struggle with his successor, David. He chases David around and tries to kill him several times.
David, was more of a "thinker." He's consistently described as "a man after God's own heart," writes many psalms/music and successfully unites the very tenuously connected kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
David is not perfect - he lusts after a woman bathing on her roof, impregnates her, and to hide the pregnancy, kills her husband. However, he repents for his sin and decides to obey the Lord again (unlike Saul, who decided not to obey). David is regarded as the hero of Israel's golden age, and the Savior promised to his forefathers descends from David's line.
***********Okay - parallels time.
Jack was on an errand for his father's sake when his plane crashes on an island. He is chosen as the people's leader somewhat unwittingly, but some quick heroics and a nice speech about the "rescue boat" and boom - instant leader. Jack was initially successful, carrying the survivors through their first few weeks on the Island... then stuff starts to get crazy. And Jack reacts. He stops thinking and starts freaking out. Through all three seasons until they get taken off the Island. Locke specifically told him NOT to call the freighter, but Jack knew better. Granted, we don't know what would have happened otherwise, but still... this is about literary parallels.
My analogy breaks down somewhat here, because some people leave the Island and some stay. There really isn't a "transition" as much as confusion. However, Sawyer becomes the leader of our Losties gradually throughout seasons 4 and 5, as we see him take more responsibility. His interactions with Hurley and Claire, especially, show him changing and becoming a little more tenderhearted (which is probably why the ladies are diggin' Sawyer this season!)
Not only does Sawyer think a little better than Jack, he reads. Constantly. David was constantly writing psalms... Sawyer is constantly reading. And we know Sawyer likes the ladies as much as they like him.
***** possible implications?
As of this episode, that's all we really know... but what can we guess? If David successfully unites two kingdoms (they later split again not too long after his death), is it probable that Sawyer cons his way out of the war with the Hostiles? Why is there Dharma stuff still around in 2007 for Frank and Sun? Interesting...
Also, the Messiah was promised to come through David's line, not Saul's. There is some speculation that little Aaron Littleton might have an important role later in the series, but Aaron comes from Jack's family (... well, sort of). Sawyer and Juliet have the potential to produce a child in the near "future" (the 70's or 80's) that would be old enough to return in 2007 and save them all.
My theory's long enough already. If you want, the account of Saul/David is primarily in I Samuel 8 - into II Samuel. Please comment!!
Just a seminary student's take on things :)Theory by amy1146
I just read Vozzeks' recap of "Namaste," and agree that the change in leadership from Jack to Sawyer is an interesting reversal.
The producers have also mentioned that reading the Bible would be great preparation for this season (or was it last season? does it matter?). I think it's very easy to compare Jack and Sawyer to two other leaders of wandering (lost?) nomads, far away from their original homes - King Saul and King David from the Old Testament. (Reading Vozzek's recap would be helpful for this theory.)
*******background
At the time of Saul and David, the people of Israel were beginning to become more "consolidated:" after wandering in the wilderness for forty years with Moses, they finally come into the Promised land in Joshua and Judges. After clearing out the land of its native inhabitants, they begin to settle and look at building a kingdom - this is where Saul and David come in, in I and II Samuel.
Saul was young, anointed somewhat unwittingly as king while performing an errand for his father. Anyway, he rose up as a successful military leader, though he was initially despised by a few "dissenters."
As he succeeded, he got ahead of himself and "reacted," just like Jack seems to do, instead of thinking. He is rash, and is rejected as king by Samuel in two separate accounts. In the second one, Saul was told to completely destroy all of the Amalekites (an enemy of Israel at the time), yet went against God's command and saved the Amelekite king and other "choice" elements instead of wiping them out. His own kingship was taken from him as a result, but not before a struggle with his successor, David. He chases David around and tries to kill him several times.
David, was more of a "thinker." He's consistently described as "a man after God's own heart," writes many psalms/music and successfully unites the very tenuously connected kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
David is not perfect - he lusts after a woman bathing on her roof, impregnates her, and to hide the pregnancy, kills her husband. However, he repents for his sin and decides to obey the Lord again (unlike Saul, who decided not to obey). David is regarded as the hero of Israel's golden age, and the Savior promised to his forefathers descends from David's line.
***********Okay - parallels time.
Jack was on an errand for his father's sake when his plane crashes on an island. He is chosen as the people's leader somewhat unwittingly, but some quick heroics and a nice speech about the "rescue boat" and boom - instant leader. Jack was initially successful, carrying the survivors through their first few weeks on the Island... then stuff starts to get crazy. And Jack reacts. He stops thinking and starts freaking out. Through all three seasons until they get taken off the Island. Locke specifically told him NOT to call the freighter, but Jack knew better. Granted, we don't know what would have happened otherwise, but still... this is about literary parallels.
My analogy breaks down somewhat here, because some people leave the Island and some stay. There really isn't a "transition" as much as confusion. However, Sawyer becomes the leader of our Losties gradually throughout seasons 4 and 5, as we see him take more responsibility. His interactions with Hurley and Claire, especially, show him changing and becoming a little more tenderhearted (which is probably why the ladies are diggin' Sawyer this season!)
Not only does Sawyer think a little better than Jack, he reads. Constantly. David was constantly writing psalms... Sawyer is constantly reading. And we know Sawyer likes the ladies as much as they like him.
***** possible implications?
As of this episode, that's all we really know... but what can we guess? If David successfully unites two kingdoms (they later split again not too long after his death), is it probable that Sawyer cons his way out of the war with the Hostiles? Why is there Dharma stuff still around in 2007 for Frank and Sun? Interesting...
Also, the Messiah was promised to come through David's line, not Saul's. There is some speculation that little Aaron Littleton might have an important role later in the series, but Aaron comes from Jack's family (... well, sort of). Sawyer and Juliet have the potential to produce a child in the near "future" (the 70's or 80's) that would be old enough to return in 2007 and save them all.
My theory's long enough already. If you want, the account of Saul/David is primarily in I Samuel 8 - into II Samuel. Please comment!!
Just a seminary student's take on things :)Theory by amy1146
