Think back to season 3 when Bea Klugh gave Michael a list of names for him to bring back with him to act as a trade for his son, Walt. Those names just happened to be Jack, Kate, Hugo, and Sawyer. After being captured by Ben and the others, Ben treated them each differently. I will get to Sayid in a bit, but lets first review how Ben treated each of the ones on the list.
He allowed Kate to take a shower, and get cleaned up. He gave her a nice dress to wear, and he had a very "civilized" breakfast with her. He treated her well.
He treated Sawyer like an animal from the very beginning, and even convinced him that he had been implanted with a pacemaker that would cause his heart to explode if he got too excited. Ben was obviously exercising his power and control, albeit not physical control, over Sawyer.
He put Jack in a dark chamber, did not allow him to know where he was, or what was going on, and specifically would not interact with him himself. He had Juliet do all of the interactions instead. He would have nothing to do with Jack for quite sometime.
He let Hugo go. Apparently, Ben's purpose here was to have Hurley warn the other survivors not to come looking for them, but whatever the reason, the point is that he let Hurley go.
Now, lets think about Sayid. The majority of Ben's interaction with Sayid took place off the island, after they Oceanic 6 had been rescued, and after Ben had moved the island and landed in Tunisia.
Ben finds Sayid, mourning the recent loss of his wife, and, in his very quintessential way, convinces Sayid to avenge her death. Ben begins turning Sayid into a hitman, a hired killer, seeking the death of those on a "list," in order to "protect" his friends. This becomes Sayid's only mission in life, his only purpose. Then one day, Ben tells Sayid that his purpose is over. That there are no more names on the "list." Sayid is left not knowing what to do, and to begin where he started at his wife's funeral; only now he is so full of hatred and murder, that he is a changed man - depressed, sad, and ruined.
So, Ben ruins Sayid's life - on purpose.
Ben treats Kate with respect and what seems like thankfulness.
Ben treats Jack with deference.
Ben demonstrates control over Sawyer.
Ben releases Hugo.
Why does Ben do all of these things? Because they did all of these things to him when he was 12 years old!
Sayid shoots little Ben, changing him and his outlook forever. Ben never forgets Sayid, and always holds a grudge.
Kate tries to help little Ben when she finds out that he's been shot, and he remembers this kind treatment, and repays her with what kindness he can.
Jack won't have anything to do with helping little Ben, even though he probably will have an opportunity to help, and Ben will remember this deference showed to him by Jack.
Sawyer is the head of security, in control of everyone in Dharma, and Ben remembers this control that Sawyer had, and despises it and Sawyer for it, and decides to exercise his own method of control.
Little Ben always loved Hurley's pancakes and waffles, and recognized him as someone that was harmless and kind, and remembers this quality when he released him at the dock.
Ben remembers the survivors from his childhood when he is older because they were there when he was a kid. They were always there.
The survivors don't remember the island when they first crash because it is their future selves that go back to the 1970's.
The survivors have not changed the 1970's. They ARE the 1970's. They have CAUSED 1970's events on the island.
.... Yes this is a LONG theory and not just a question Theory by taturner
He allowed Kate to take a shower, and get cleaned up. He gave her a nice dress to wear, and he had a very "civilized" breakfast with her. He treated her well.
He treated Sawyer like an animal from the very beginning, and even convinced him that he had been implanted with a pacemaker that would cause his heart to explode if he got too excited. Ben was obviously exercising his power and control, albeit not physical control, over Sawyer.
He put Jack in a dark chamber, did not allow him to know where he was, or what was going on, and specifically would not interact with him himself. He had Juliet do all of the interactions instead. He would have nothing to do with Jack for quite sometime.
He let Hugo go. Apparently, Ben's purpose here was to have Hurley warn the other survivors not to come looking for them, but whatever the reason, the point is that he let Hurley go.
Now, lets think about Sayid. The majority of Ben's interaction with Sayid took place off the island, after they Oceanic 6 had been rescued, and after Ben had moved the island and landed in Tunisia.
Ben finds Sayid, mourning the recent loss of his wife, and, in his very quintessential way, convinces Sayid to avenge her death. Ben begins turning Sayid into a hitman, a hired killer, seeking the death of those on a "list," in order to "protect" his friends. This becomes Sayid's only mission in life, his only purpose. Then one day, Ben tells Sayid that his purpose is over. That there are no more names on the "list." Sayid is left not knowing what to do, and to begin where he started at his wife's funeral; only now he is so full of hatred and murder, that he is a changed man - depressed, sad, and ruined.
So, Ben ruins Sayid's life - on purpose.
Ben treats Kate with respect and what seems like thankfulness.
Ben treats Jack with deference.
Ben demonstrates control over Sawyer.
Ben releases Hugo.
Why does Ben do all of these things? Because they did all of these things to him when he was 12 years old!
Sayid shoots little Ben, changing him and his outlook forever. Ben never forgets Sayid, and always holds a grudge.
Kate tries to help little Ben when she finds out that he's been shot, and he remembers this kind treatment, and repays her with what kindness he can.
Jack won't have anything to do with helping little Ben, even though he probably will have an opportunity to help, and Ben will remember this deference showed to him by Jack.
Sawyer is the head of security, in control of everyone in Dharma, and Ben remembers this control that Sawyer had, and despises it and Sawyer for it, and decides to exercise his own method of control.
Little Ben always loved Hurley's pancakes and waffles, and recognized him as someone that was harmless and kind, and remembers this quality when he released him at the dock.
Ben remembers the survivors from his childhood when he is older because they were there when he was a kid. They were always there.
The survivors don't remember the island when they first crash because it is their future selves that go back to the 1970's.
The survivors have not changed the 1970's. They ARE the 1970's. They have CAUSED 1970's events on the island.
.... Yes this is a LONG theory and not just a question Theory by taturner
