So it seems, coming off of this weeks episode, that Jacob not only doesn't personify the interests of the Island, but also is not necessarily the "leader" of the Others. There are several things that point to this.
First, there seems to be some discrepancy between who, if anyone, can talk to Jacob, and when they actually do. Ben stated that Richard couldn't talk to or see Jacob in season 3, but in 1977 when Richard brought young Ben into camp, Widmore confronted him and accepted his answer of "Jacob wanted it done." This implies that not only can Richard see and speak to Jacob, but Widmore was not at that time able to, despite his apparent position as "Leader". Later when Ben brings back Alex, it appears that Widmore can talk to Jacob, since he says that Jacob wanted her dead. However, in his 2007 conversation with Locke, Widmore says that he was the Leader and makes no mention of Jacob.
Second, it is clear that Jacob has been invoked even when it is clear that he had nothing to do with certain actions. Richard claims Jacob wanted Ben brought to the Other's camp, even though the entire event occurred because Sawyer and Kate brought him there. In season 3 Ben claimed that Jacob had ordered the beach raid, as well as the jamming of communications, although it seems obvious that Ben was acting alone (not to mention the obvious fact that a technology-hating recluse wouldn't know what it means to "jam communications").
Finally, it seems now that there is a question about whether or not Jacob has ever actually been leading the Others. Locke accuses Ben of never having seen Jacob, a charge that Ben does not deny. Richard seems alarmed when he hears that Locke wants to go see Jacob without talking to him first, and says that Locke could "cause trouble". To me, at least, this implied that the strict protocol in place about visiting Jacob is in place to make sure that there are no surprise visits. Possibly this is so that the Others can create the illusion of Jacob, or send a representative such as Christian, although I have no proof that this is the case.
First, there seems to be some discrepancy between who, if anyone, can talk to Jacob, and when they actually do. Ben stated that Richard couldn't talk to or see Jacob in season 3, but in 1977 when Richard brought young Ben into camp, Widmore confronted him and accepted his answer of "Jacob wanted it done." This implies that not only can Richard see and speak to Jacob, but Widmore was not at that time able to, despite his apparent position as "Leader". Later when Ben brings back Alex, it appears that Widmore can talk to Jacob, since he says that Jacob wanted her dead. However, in his 2007 conversation with Locke, Widmore says that he was the Leader and makes no mention of Jacob.
Second, it is clear that Jacob has been invoked even when it is clear that he had nothing to do with certain actions. Richard claims Jacob wanted Ben brought to the Other's camp, even though the entire event occurred because Sawyer and Kate brought him there. In season 3 Ben claimed that Jacob had ordered the beach raid, as well as the jamming of communications, although it seems obvious that Ben was acting alone (not to mention the obvious fact that a technology-hating recluse wouldn't know what it means to "jam communications").
Finally, it seems now that there is a question about whether or not Jacob has ever actually been leading the Others. Locke accuses Ben of never having seen Jacob, a charge that Ben does not deny. Richard seems alarmed when he hears that Locke wants to go see Jacob without talking to him first, and says that Locke could "cause trouble". To me, at least, this implied that the strict protocol in place about visiting Jacob is in place to make sure that there are no surprise visits. Possibly this is so that the Others can create the illusion of Jacob, or send a representative such as Christian, although I have no proof that this is the case.
