The writers of Lost tend to be a very clever bunch. Often they force us to look past what is being said and instead look at what is meant.
Disclaimer--In no way do I ever dare to suggest I'm right. Once again I must point out without having all the clues to the puzzle, trying to piece together the big picture is useless. All we can do is offer conjecture.
I think the writers of Lost may have done a couple of things with the season finale.
The first thing I will discuss is what I believe to be a red herring.
Meaning
A deliberate misleading and diverting of attention from the real issue.
Origin
Red herrings are salted herrings that turn a reddish colour during the smoking process (was this what was Jacob was cooking during the opening?). They have come to be synonymous with the deliberate false trails that are the stock in trade of 'who done it' thrillers.
Fish was eaten by the clergy, flesh by the rich and the dried and smoked herrings by the poor. So this list of the foods eaten by all classes of society was a metaphor for 'encompassing all eventualities'.
How do we move from the actual herrings in that expression to the figurative 'throwing off the scent' meaning? One theory has it that the meaning derives from the practice of using the oily and smelly herrings to lay false trails for hunting dogs.
Another theory is that the meaning derives from a trick played on one of his servants by the wealthy English clergyman Jasper Mayne. Mayne died in 1672 and willed large sums for the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral and to the poor people of his parishes of Cassington and Pyrton. He also willed to a servant "Somewhat that would make him Drink after his Death", which was left in a large trunk. When the trunk was opened the servant was disappointed to find that the bequest turned out to be a salted herring. The will doesn't mention a 'red herring', but a report of the event in Jacob's Poetical Register, 1719, does, so we can date the 'false representation' meaning to that date at the latest.
Whatever the source, the figurative usage of the phrase was well established in UK by the early 1800s and had migrated to the USA by the middle of the century, as in this example from The New York Times, in May 1864:
But when the Emperor found that England would not join him in a war, he cleverly started the "red herring" of the Congress which he knew well enough was out of the question, but which has admirably answered his purpose of creating a diversion.
Now I don't have to point out the usage of the name Jacob in the history of the red herring, nor the trunk or the war at the end. All seems very familiar, doesn't it?
So what does this mean for the show?
Could it be during the scenes of Jacob visiting the past, trying to weave his string of fate, we weren't really seeing the time before the crash in the pilot, but instead, out of order, seeing the time before the next crash that will occur in the loop? Is this him trying to right what wrong during the series we have seen so far? Could this be the red herring?
Or.
What lies in the shadow of the statue?
I have stated in a previous theory that the title for the episode Some like it Hoth, is misleading. I have read numerous accounts where they put forth the title is meant to be taken from some like it hot. I didn't think so then, I really didn't think so after watching the final episode. For those of you who haven't had a chance to read the post, simply stated, I believe it was meant to be read as, Some like I, Thoth.
Thoth was an Egyptian god who was referee between good and evil, making sure neither side would win and maintaining the balance.
With that in mind, what about, what lies in the shadow of the statue?
Clever line.
But what if the line is a red herring? A double entendre. What if lies is meant to be read in two manners? As in lying down but also as in not telling the truth?
Who was lying the shadow of the statue? Locke. What was said in Latin to the question? He who will save us all.
Could it be meant to be read as--What LIES in the shadow of the statue, he who will save us all. As in, he who will save us all is a lie?
Just something to ponder on.
Thoughts and comments are welcome.
Disclaimer--In no way do I ever dare to suggest I'm right. Once again I must point out without having all the clues to the puzzle, trying to piece together the big picture is useless. All we can do is offer conjecture.
I think the writers of Lost may have done a couple of things with the season finale.
The first thing I will discuss is what I believe to be a red herring.
Meaning
A deliberate misleading and diverting of attention from the real issue.
Origin
Red herrings are salted herrings that turn a reddish colour during the smoking process (was this what was Jacob was cooking during the opening?). They have come to be synonymous with the deliberate false trails that are the stock in trade of 'who done it' thrillers.
Fish was eaten by the clergy, flesh by the rich and the dried and smoked herrings by the poor. So this list of the foods eaten by all classes of society was a metaphor for 'encompassing all eventualities'.
How do we move from the actual herrings in that expression to the figurative 'throwing off the scent' meaning? One theory has it that the meaning derives from the practice of using the oily and smelly herrings to lay false trails for hunting dogs.
Another theory is that the meaning derives from a trick played on one of his servants by the wealthy English clergyman Jasper Mayne. Mayne died in 1672 and willed large sums for the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral and to the poor people of his parishes of Cassington and Pyrton. He also willed to a servant "Somewhat that would make him Drink after his Death", which was left in a large trunk. When the trunk was opened the servant was disappointed to find that the bequest turned out to be a salted herring. The will doesn't mention a 'red herring', but a report of the event in Jacob's Poetical Register, 1719, does, so we can date the 'false representation' meaning to that date at the latest.
Whatever the source, the figurative usage of the phrase was well established in UK by the early 1800s and had migrated to the USA by the middle of the century, as in this example from The New York Times, in May 1864:
But when the Emperor found that England would not join him in a war, he cleverly started the "red herring" of the Congress which he knew well enough was out of the question, but which has admirably answered his purpose of creating a diversion.
Now I don't have to point out the usage of the name Jacob in the history of the red herring, nor the trunk or the war at the end. All seems very familiar, doesn't it?
So what does this mean for the show?
Could it be during the scenes of Jacob visiting the past, trying to weave his string of fate, we weren't really seeing the time before the crash in the pilot, but instead, out of order, seeing the time before the next crash that will occur in the loop? Is this him trying to right what wrong during the series we have seen so far? Could this be the red herring?
Or.
What lies in the shadow of the statue?
I have stated in a previous theory that the title for the episode Some like it Hoth, is misleading. I have read numerous accounts where they put forth the title is meant to be taken from some like it hot. I didn't think so then, I really didn't think so after watching the final episode. For those of you who haven't had a chance to read the post, simply stated, I believe it was meant to be read as, Some like I, Thoth.
Thoth was an Egyptian god who was referee between good and evil, making sure neither side would win and maintaining the balance.
With that in mind, what about, what lies in the shadow of the statue?
Clever line.
But what if the line is a red herring? A double entendre. What if lies is meant to be read in two manners? As in lying down but also as in not telling the truth?
Who was lying the shadow of the statue? Locke. What was said in Latin to the question? He who will save us all.
Could it be meant to be read as--What LIES in the shadow of the statue, he who will save us all. As in, he who will save us all is a lie?
Just something to ponder on.
Thoughts and comments are welcome.
