I think Jacob and the Man in Black represent control of life or death. The reason why Jacob bring people to the island is to test them to see if they are worthy of his secrets to master death and to live forever. As of yet, no one has passed Jacob's test.
The closest to come to passing the test would be Richard, which is why he never ages. But he never fully passes the test; instead he is assigned to be the "ageless helper," waiting until someone more worthy figures out the test.
Others have been summoned to the island for testing. All so far have failed. They kill and war against each other. But Jacob patiently waits for someone who can figure out the secret.
Obviously, as the master of death, the Man in Black wants to do nothing else but to kill Jacob, which will in turn doom mankind to a finite life. He must be the one possessing the bodies of those who have gone to pass; Christian, Claire, Locke. More people dead = more people he has control over.
Ben was never brought to Jacob personally because he was tainted. When he was shot as a child, Richard brought him to see the Man in Black, causing something in him to be unfit for Jacob's presence.
My prediction: the castaways will arrive to participate in Jacob's test, and will fail...thus the tests continue...
The closest to come to passing the test would be Richard, which is why he never ages. But he never fully passes the test; instead he is assigned to be the "ageless helper," waiting until someone more worthy figures out the test.
Others have been summoned to the island for testing. All so far have failed. They kill and war against each other. But Jacob patiently waits for someone who can figure out the secret.
Obviously, as the master of death, the Man in Black wants to do nothing else but to kill Jacob, which will in turn doom mankind to a finite life. He must be the one possessing the bodies of those who have gone to pass; Christian, Claire, Locke. More people dead = more people he has control over.
Ben was never brought to Jacob personally because he was tainted. When he was shot as a child, Richard brought him to see the Man in Black, causing something in him to be unfit for Jacob's presence.
My prediction: the castaways will arrive to participate in Jacob's test, and will fail...thus the tests continue...
