All the theories posted after the Variable seem to posit that Eloise is the one pulling the strings on Daniel, but I think we've got that backwards mate.
That book, delivered to Ellie in the 70's, gives specific instructions to Eloise on her part in this as written by Daniel, not Eloise. Daniel is the one who is hell bent on figuring out a way to beat WHH, and he's asked his mother for help. Yes, she pushed him into science instead of music (when it appeared she didn't want to), delivered the journal at graduation (again, didn't really look like she wanted to), and followed his instructions to the T not for *her* own benefit, but because Daniel (the freaking genius) genuinely believes he can change things. This is the path her son choose for himself, and she is strong enough to honor that.
And in fact he can change things. He may not be able to loop through time, but that book sure is. It will loop until a paradox prevents iteration. So... if he wants something changed, all he has to do is write it down in that book. The next iteration for the book will cause Eloise (and perhaps Chucky) to do things differently.
But that breaks WHH you say? I say we have WHH wrong. WHH is true from the point of view of any observer (including Daniel) in the Lostverse, because all of their expectations regarding WHH change if the timeline is changed. Say what?
Ok, stick with me. Let's say Daniel's real name isn't even Daniel. (or wasn't) What if (and it doesn't, this is only for explanation) one of the pages in the book tell Eloise what to name her son. Maybe it started off as Adam, but he picks a new first letter each iteration. Once he writes that in his book, that becomes WHH and will be what all the members of the lostverse think WHH and believe that is immutable. Basically, things only seem immutable because changing them changes their WHH memories so the new thing seems to always have been the original.
So, we are left with two temporal deliveries of future information that can be used to change (though not perceptually, whh) time. Two?
Don't forget about the compass! Once Richard figured out about the losties traveling through time, he had a shot at information delivery himself. Who knows what's engraved or stored inside that compass. It could easily be a red herring, and what's important is what's inside the compass.
So if like me you believe that course correction is being caused by two sides battling for control over time (and not by time itself) then you also believe there are two major's causing it.
Daniel and Richard... or rather Daniel vs Richard
Each one has the opportunity (which in my mind makes it almost certain) to receive instructions from their future selves. Since they change time in the past it doesn't break WHH if you believe that WHH is itself mutable, just not from anyone's point of view in the lostverse. Ben lived because "Ben always lived" OR Ben always lived because "Ben lived". Whatever Happened Happened or Feels Like Whatever Happened Happened.
That book, delivered to Ellie in the 70's, gives specific instructions to Eloise on her part in this as written by Daniel, not Eloise. Daniel is the one who is hell bent on figuring out a way to beat WHH, and he's asked his mother for help. Yes, she pushed him into science instead of music (when it appeared she didn't want to), delivered the journal at graduation (again, didn't really look like she wanted to), and followed his instructions to the T not for *her* own benefit, but because Daniel (the freaking genius) genuinely believes he can change things. This is the path her son choose for himself, and she is strong enough to honor that.
And in fact he can change things. He may not be able to loop through time, but that book sure is. It will loop until a paradox prevents iteration. So... if he wants something changed, all he has to do is write it down in that book. The next iteration for the book will cause Eloise (and perhaps Chucky) to do things differently.
But that breaks WHH you say? I say we have WHH wrong. WHH is true from the point of view of any observer (including Daniel) in the Lostverse, because all of their expectations regarding WHH change if the timeline is changed. Say what?
Ok, stick with me. Let's say Daniel's real name isn't even Daniel. (or wasn't) What if (and it doesn't, this is only for explanation) one of the pages in the book tell Eloise what to name her son. Maybe it started off as Adam, but he picks a new first letter each iteration. Once he writes that in his book, that becomes WHH and will be what all the members of the lostverse think WHH and believe that is immutable. Basically, things only seem immutable because changing them changes their WHH memories so the new thing seems to always have been the original.
So, we are left with two temporal deliveries of future information that can be used to change (though not perceptually, whh) time. Two?
Don't forget about the compass! Once Richard figured out about the losties traveling through time, he had a shot at information delivery himself. Who knows what's engraved or stored inside that compass. It could easily be a red herring, and what's important is what's inside the compass.
So if like me you believe that course correction is being caused by two sides battling for control over time (and not by time itself) then you also believe there are two major's causing it.
Daniel and Richard... or rather Daniel vs Richard
Each one has the opportunity (which in my mind makes it almost certain) to receive instructions from their future selves. Since they change time in the past it doesn't break WHH if you believe that WHH is itself mutable, just not from anyone's point of view in the lostverse. Ben lived because "Ben always lived" OR Ben always lived because "Ben lived". Whatever Happened Happened or Feels Like Whatever Happened Happened.
