In the latest episode, Some Like It Hoth, we learn that the mysterious question asked of Frank on the island isn't necessarily just another snowman joke to identify friendlies. We find out when Miles is kidnapped that it's reasonable that someone can come up with the solution all on their own, and the ability to ascertain the solution means one is "ready" for the secret knowledge of that group.
I'm immediately stricken by the similarities to the riddle of the Sphinx. "Which creature in the morning goes on four legs, at mid-day on two, and in the evening upon three, and the more legs it has, the weaker it be?" Of course, I had to wikipedia this and I stumbled upon an interesting tidbit... "The exact riddle asked by the Sphinx was not specified by early tellers of the stories, and was not standardized as the one given until late in Greek history."
So, if this isn't a spy vs spy type of challenge to figure out if your on the same side, but rather the original riddle of the Sphinx then it's reasonable to assume (just like Bram says) that solving this riddle is better than 3.6 million dollars.
So like the better known riddle of the Sphinx, is there a metaphor we can extract from this riddle?
What Lies In The Shadow Of The Statue?
Tackling this not as a literal interpretation, but a metaphorical one could lead us to a solution faster. I can't say for certain what the metaphor is, but here's my idea:
Instead of using the meaning we're supposed to think of for Shadow, perhaps instead it means: A supernatural being, such as a ghost.
Instead of using the meaning we're supposed to think of for Statue, perhaps instead it means: icon or memorial or representation.
And combining those two ideas metaphorically, I see this:
Shadow of the Statue == Ghost of your representation(body) == Soul
Lies can mean numerous things, but I'm interpreting it as dwells.... so for me, the metaphoric riddle means this:
WHAT DWELLS IN THE SOUL?
Well, I can't necessarily answer that question, but I know who can: Lamont Cranston aka The Shadow. See if this sounds familiar:
Cranston was kidnapped by a Tibetan order of monks and brought to their monastery. A tulku, their leader, recognizing the power of harnessing Cranston's inner darkness, reformed and trained him to use that darkness against evil rather than for it. Cranston then learned how to confuse and control the minds of others.
Wow, that "power" certainly sounds eerily similar to a certain someone we all love to hate.
But the statue question, if I'm interpreting it right isn't "Who knows..." it's a "what". What is the evil that lurks in the hearts of men? What dwells in the soul of man? What lies in the shadow of YOUR statue?
Smokey has been seen answering that question for Eko and Ben.
I'm immediately stricken by the similarities to the riddle of the Sphinx. "Which creature in the morning goes on four legs, at mid-day on two, and in the evening upon three, and the more legs it has, the weaker it be?" Of course, I had to wikipedia this and I stumbled upon an interesting tidbit... "The exact riddle asked by the Sphinx was not specified by early tellers of the stories, and was not standardized as the one given until late in Greek history."
So, if this isn't a spy vs spy type of challenge to figure out if your on the same side, but rather the original riddle of the Sphinx then it's reasonable to assume (just like Bram says) that solving this riddle is better than 3.6 million dollars.
So like the better known riddle of the Sphinx, is there a metaphor we can extract from this riddle?
What Lies In The Shadow Of The Statue?
Tackling this not as a literal interpretation, but a metaphorical one could lead us to a solution faster. I can't say for certain what the metaphor is, but here's my idea:
Instead of using the meaning we're supposed to think of for Shadow, perhaps instead it means: A supernatural being, such as a ghost.
Instead of using the meaning we're supposed to think of for Statue, perhaps instead it means: icon or memorial or representation.
And combining those two ideas metaphorically, I see this:
Shadow of the Statue == Ghost of your representation(body) == Soul
Lies can mean numerous things, but I'm interpreting it as dwells.... so for me, the metaphoric riddle means this:
WHAT DWELLS IN THE SOUL?
Well, I can't necessarily answer that question, but I know who can: Lamont Cranston aka The Shadow. See if this sounds familiar:
Cranston was kidnapped by a Tibetan order of monks and brought to their monastery. A tulku, their leader, recognizing the power of harnessing Cranston's inner darkness, reformed and trained him to use that darkness against evil rather than for it. Cranston then learned how to confuse and control the minds of others.
Wow, that "power" certainly sounds eerily similar to a certain someone we all love to hate.
But the statue question, if I'm interpreting it right isn't "Who knows..." it's a "what". What is the evil that lurks in the hearts of men? What dwells in the soul of man? What lies in the shadow of YOUR statue?
Smokey has been seen answering that question for Eko and Ben.