I recently rewatched a Disney classic, Pinocchio (a film derived from an 1880’s children book) and it got me thinking. Is there a Pinocchio narrative in Lost? I believe the answer is YES!
If you don’t remember, as I didn’t, Pinocchio (the Disney film) is about a wooden puppet that longs to be a “real boy.” Pinocchio is often tricked by others and falls into foolish traps during his journey of trying to be a real boy. In effect he often doesn’t do what he “is supposed to do.” Pinocchio is advised by Jiminy Cricket to avoid these follies, but he usually ignores the Cricket (or his conscious) to his own peril. And every time he is saved by the Blue Fairy and given another chance. Pinocchio eventually goes to “pleasure island” taken by the Coachman. On this island, the normal societal rules do not apply, and if a boy indulges in these pleasures he becomes a donkey (or literal “jackass” and slave) and sold off by the Coachman. On Island, Pinocchio is befriended by another boy named “Lampwick” in the film and named “Candlewick” in the original book. Eventually, the story ends redemptively with Pinocchio having effectively lear! ned his lessons and saves his creator, Gipetto, from the belly of a whale. In the film, Pinocchio dies in saving him, but is then revived by the Blue Fairy and becomes a real boy.
So how does this tie into Lost? Well a search on Lostpedia revealed only one reference to Pinocchio on the show, in the Episode “Tricia Tanaka is Dead,” where Sawyer calls Charlie “Jiminy Cricket.” So that’s all I got for explicit references. Remember in that episode the on-island Hurley magically makes an old Dharma van run with Charlie sitting by his side, even though after 30 years there is no way it should run.
Ok, so how does Pinocchio fit beyond that episode? Well, for one, Charlie does look a little bit like a Jiminy Cricket from the Disney movie. (So this could be a similar comedic reference like that of calling Ben “Gizmo,” and that’s all there is). I still think there is more. As to the Cricket, it should also be noted that in the original book, Pinocchio accidently kills Jiminy Cricket after first meeting him. Thus, in the book, Jiminy Cricket continues to reappear as a ghost to advise the puppet. And as was seen shortly after season 3, Charlie does seem to appear to Hurley to advise him. So I think you could roughly say that Charlie is playing essentially a Jiminy Cricket role.
Before, I start pointing out the rest of the Pinocchio themes repeated so far in the series, I want to explain one common mistake most theorist make. That is, that a character from a referenced narrative (and I think the Lost writers use many for their characters – Star Trek, Star Wars, Watchmen, Chronicles of Narnia, the Little Prince, etc.), that a common mistake is to equate a Lost character exactly with a character in these other narratives. Now, I believe that the writers will explore, with depth, the story and themes of these other narratives, but will often assign traits or actions of the referenced narratives to multiple characters on Lost. Thus, the Pinocchio will not be one character but could be made up of several, depending who is the focus of the particular episode. This does not mean that a single Lost character cannot primarily embody a character from another narrative.
Ok, so who is primarily Pinocchio? I would first go with John Locke. I have read another recent theory by Doc Jenson (See his analysis on Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham) that Locke has no soul. Locke is special for that reason, that his mind is essentially separated from his soul. And that he is looking to reunite with it (unknowingly of course) or is a person looking to be given a soul. So Locke, like Pinocchio is looking to become real, not a real boy, but a real person. Essentially, Locke plays the part of a soulless marionette. Note, the irony is that Pinocchio is a marionette with “no strings to hold him down,” but still Pinocchio is manipulated just like a marionette thoughout the story anyway, not by strings, but by lies. Once Pinocchio begins to act virtuously and not heed the liars, he dies and is reborn a real boy. This seems to be Locke’s story, he is constantly not doing “what he is supposed to do” and being led off track by Ben, and manipul! ated by others…Widemore and the Island/Christian.
Even though Locke constantly seems to get off track, he is always given another chance. For instance: (1) Locke won’t kill his Father, and Richard helps him make it happen. (2) Locke loses faith in the button, but is saved by Desmond’s failsafe key. (3) Locke lets Ben turn the donkey wheel, but the Island gives him another chance to make things right. (4) Locke fails to convince the O6 to return and loses faith and is killed, but the Island brings him back with the O6 and revives him.
On another note, Locke is the originator of “the lie.” It doesn’t lead to his nose growing, but does cause hardship for all those who left the island (and Jack’s beard growth). As I said above, Locke is mostly Pinocchio but the character can be referenced by others – Jack telling the lie off island and grows beard. And all the O6 become miserable as they live out the lie.
In fact, you could argue that all the Ocean 815’s are Pinocchios – being manipulated like marionettes by fate and those with schemes – even though they have left the world and are free from its “hooks” on the island. A big theme between them are the lies and secrets, which permeate their character. Once they seem to realize the error of this and become self sacrificial and truthful, they seem to killed., who knows?
The Pinocchio theory also can explain the roles of some of the other enigmatic characters (outside of Charlie, Locke, Desmond):
(1) Marvin Candle/Edgar Halliwax/Wickman – Pierre Chang Character – I think this is the only other explicit reference to Pinocchio – with Chang’s aliases seem to strongly resemble the name of the Pinocchio character “Lampwick/Candlewick” in the film/book of Pinocchio and likely this reference explains why he has chosen these names. He plays that role. His films have greatly influenced Locke. He is apparently the mouth piece for all the Dharma experiments. Dharma represents the bad boys of pleasure island. They are indulging in all the things they would not be allowed to (adult things or things beyond their understanding) in the regular world, but did it turn them into Donkey’s? Arguable it lead to their destruction in the purge.
(2) Charles Widmore – He is the Coachman. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was behind Dharma. We already know he got Locke to the Island, twice. First, we are told that Widmore owned Oceanic, so his airline literally carried Locke and the others there. We also know that Abannon, as Widmore’s instrument, got Locke in position to go to the Island by putting the Walkabout. Arguably, you could say Abannon was the Coachman – as Locke’s literal driver in Jeremy Bentham. In fact Abannon, says that his job is to get people where they need to go. Still he was an instrument of Widmore.
(3) Island/Christian – The Island is most likely playing the role of the Blue Fairy. Having magical powers to do almost anything – including granting wishes. The Island is the one that brings Locke back from getting on the wrong path. The Island has mystical and unexplained powers and apparently has an agenda. The function of the Blue Fairy was first and foremost to grant the wish of Gipetto and Pinocchio, that he would become a “real boy.” Essentially, the Blue Fairy served to fix a very big father issue. The island may be doing the same.
(4) Jacob – Gipetto – Gipetto was the maker of Pinocchio, and Jacob is possibly the “maker” of Locke. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jacob was the one who drove the car that hit Locke’s mother when she was pregnant. Jacob is trapped somehow, like Gipetto was in the whale, and Locke has been tasked with helping him. Helping him do what? I think it is to escape this prison. The cabin was similar to the workshop. This could also explain why the writers put him in 1700-1800 garb as a tip of the hat. I’m also of the theory that Jack will become Jacob. But that is a theory for another day.
So there you go.
This doesn’t get into any of the sci-fi minutia that has gotten thicker on the show. I think the writers essentially came up with the character narrative first, and then used Sci-fi/time travel/ancient mysticism to add layers and make the magic of Pinocchio more plausible to today’s audience.
Please let me know if you love it or hate it. Theory by Jon Sharpley
If you don’t remember, as I didn’t, Pinocchio (the Disney film) is about a wooden puppet that longs to be a “real boy.” Pinocchio is often tricked by others and falls into foolish traps during his journey of trying to be a real boy. In effect he often doesn’t do what he “is supposed to do.” Pinocchio is advised by Jiminy Cricket to avoid these follies, but he usually ignores the Cricket (or his conscious) to his own peril. And every time he is saved by the Blue Fairy and given another chance. Pinocchio eventually goes to “pleasure island” taken by the Coachman. On this island, the normal societal rules do not apply, and if a boy indulges in these pleasures he becomes a donkey (or literal “jackass” and slave) and sold off by the Coachman. On Island, Pinocchio is befriended by another boy named “Lampwick” in the film and named “Candlewick” in the original book. Eventually, the story ends redemptively with Pinocchio having effectively lear! ned his lessons and saves his creator, Gipetto, from the belly of a whale. In the film, Pinocchio dies in saving him, but is then revived by the Blue Fairy and becomes a real boy.
So how does this tie into Lost? Well a search on Lostpedia revealed only one reference to Pinocchio on the show, in the Episode “Tricia Tanaka is Dead,” where Sawyer calls Charlie “Jiminy Cricket.” So that’s all I got for explicit references. Remember in that episode the on-island Hurley magically makes an old Dharma van run with Charlie sitting by his side, even though after 30 years there is no way it should run.
Ok, so how does Pinocchio fit beyond that episode? Well, for one, Charlie does look a little bit like a Jiminy Cricket from the Disney movie. (So this could be a similar comedic reference like that of calling Ben “Gizmo,” and that’s all there is). I still think there is more. As to the Cricket, it should also be noted that in the original book, Pinocchio accidently kills Jiminy Cricket after first meeting him. Thus, in the book, Jiminy Cricket continues to reappear as a ghost to advise the puppet. And as was seen shortly after season 3, Charlie does seem to appear to Hurley to advise him. So I think you could roughly say that Charlie is playing essentially a Jiminy Cricket role.
Before, I start pointing out the rest of the Pinocchio themes repeated so far in the series, I want to explain one common mistake most theorist make. That is, that a character from a referenced narrative (and I think the Lost writers use many for their characters – Star Trek, Star Wars, Watchmen, Chronicles of Narnia, the Little Prince, etc.), that a common mistake is to equate a Lost character exactly with a character in these other narratives. Now, I believe that the writers will explore, with depth, the story and themes of these other narratives, but will often assign traits or actions of the referenced narratives to multiple characters on Lost. Thus, the Pinocchio will not be one character but could be made up of several, depending who is the focus of the particular episode. This does not mean that a single Lost character cannot primarily embody a character from another narrative.
Ok, so who is primarily Pinocchio? I would first go with John Locke. I have read another recent theory by Doc Jenson (See his analysis on Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham) that Locke has no soul. Locke is special for that reason, that his mind is essentially separated from his soul. And that he is looking to reunite with it (unknowingly of course) or is a person looking to be given a soul. So Locke, like Pinocchio is looking to become real, not a real boy, but a real person. Essentially, Locke plays the part of a soulless marionette. Note, the irony is that Pinocchio is a marionette with “no strings to hold him down,” but still Pinocchio is manipulated just like a marionette thoughout the story anyway, not by strings, but by lies. Once Pinocchio begins to act virtuously and not heed the liars, he dies and is reborn a real boy. This seems to be Locke’s story, he is constantly not doing “what he is supposed to do” and being led off track by Ben, and manipul! ated by others…Widemore and the Island/Christian.
Even though Locke constantly seems to get off track, he is always given another chance. For instance: (1) Locke won’t kill his Father, and Richard helps him make it happen. (2) Locke loses faith in the button, but is saved by Desmond’s failsafe key. (3) Locke lets Ben turn the donkey wheel, but the Island gives him another chance to make things right. (4) Locke fails to convince the O6 to return and loses faith and is killed, but the Island brings him back with the O6 and revives him.
On another note, Locke is the originator of “the lie.” It doesn’t lead to his nose growing, but does cause hardship for all those who left the island (and Jack’s beard growth). As I said above, Locke is mostly Pinocchio but the character can be referenced by others – Jack telling the lie off island and grows beard. And all the O6 become miserable as they live out the lie.
In fact, you could argue that all the Ocean 815’s are Pinocchios – being manipulated like marionettes by fate and those with schemes – even though they have left the world and are free from its “hooks” on the island. A big theme between them are the lies and secrets, which permeate their character. Once they seem to realize the error of this and become self sacrificial and truthful, they seem to killed., who knows?
The Pinocchio theory also can explain the roles of some of the other enigmatic characters (outside of Charlie, Locke, Desmond):
(1) Marvin Candle/Edgar Halliwax/Wickman – Pierre Chang Character – I think this is the only other explicit reference to Pinocchio – with Chang’s aliases seem to strongly resemble the name of the Pinocchio character “Lampwick/Candlewick” in the film/book of Pinocchio and likely this reference explains why he has chosen these names. He plays that role. His films have greatly influenced Locke. He is apparently the mouth piece for all the Dharma experiments. Dharma represents the bad boys of pleasure island. They are indulging in all the things they would not be allowed to (adult things or things beyond their understanding) in the regular world, but did it turn them into Donkey’s? Arguable it lead to their destruction in the purge.
(2) Charles Widmore – He is the Coachman. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was behind Dharma. We already know he got Locke to the Island, twice. First, we are told that Widmore owned Oceanic, so his airline literally carried Locke and the others there. We also know that Abannon, as Widmore’s instrument, got Locke in position to go to the Island by putting the Walkabout. Arguably, you could say Abannon was the Coachman – as Locke’s literal driver in Jeremy Bentham. In fact Abannon, says that his job is to get people where they need to go. Still he was an instrument of Widmore.
(3) Island/Christian – The Island is most likely playing the role of the Blue Fairy. Having magical powers to do almost anything – including granting wishes. The Island is the one that brings Locke back from getting on the wrong path. The Island has mystical and unexplained powers and apparently has an agenda. The function of the Blue Fairy was first and foremost to grant the wish of Gipetto and Pinocchio, that he would become a “real boy.” Essentially, the Blue Fairy served to fix a very big father issue. The island may be doing the same.
(4) Jacob – Gipetto – Gipetto was the maker of Pinocchio, and Jacob is possibly the “maker” of Locke. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jacob was the one who drove the car that hit Locke’s mother when she was pregnant. Jacob is trapped somehow, like Gipetto was in the whale, and Locke has been tasked with helping him. Helping him do what? I think it is to escape this prison. The cabin was similar to the workshop. This could also explain why the writers put him in 1700-1800 garb as a tip of the hat. I’m also of the theory that Jack will become Jacob. But that is a theory for another day.
So there you go.
This doesn’t get into any of the sci-fi minutia that has gotten thicker on the show. I think the writers essentially came up with the character narrative first, and then used Sci-fi/time travel/ancient mysticism to add layers and make the magic of Pinocchio more plausible to today’s audience.
Please let me know if you love it or hate it. Theory by Jon Sharpley
