In "The Cost of Living" (Episode 305), Eko encounters the black Smoke Monster. Immediately afterward, John Locke finds Eko.
LOCKE: So, what exactly did you see back there? I saw it once, you know.
EKO: And what did you see?
LOCKE: I saw a very bright light. It was beautiful.
EKO: That is not what I saw.
We have never been shown John Locke's interaction with that bright light, that island force, which I believe to be Jacob. Many now believe, like I do, that the black Smoke Monster is a form of Jacob's nemesis. It is logical that Jacob has some sort of "spirit form" as well.
The Man in Black and the Man in White are opposites: In addition to their choice of shirt color, one also believes whole-heartedly in the free will of Man, while the other cynically opposes it. Jacob's creed is free will, and though he did mark our heroes, in some way impacting their destiny, he still makes sure that those he interacts with (even his perceived enemies, like Ben) know that they are making their own choice when the time comes to act.
For this reason, I believe that if and when we are ultimately shown Jacob's interaction with John Locke, which occurred in season 1, we will be shown that this interaction was fundamentally the opposite of the interactions we have seen the Smoke Monster have with characters on the island. What we know of the Smoke Monster, above all else, is that it reads the mind of the man who stands before it; it TAKES something from them-- their memories. When it first encountered Eko, we saw his thoughts flash through the black smoke, and it later used these memories to manipulate him.
But rather than take something from John Locke, I believe Jacob GAVE John something all the way back in season 1. He gave him a choice.
This is how it happened...
John Locke walks through the jungle. He bends down for a gulp of water from a meandering stream, with no clear source or end. He picks himself up to continue on his journey, still searching for purpose on this island which, for some unknown reason, has miraculously returned his ability to walk.
John continues on his way, walking a solitary path. But he knows he is not alone now, because even though we have been led to believe that John Locke's faith was a lie, that he was simply a pawn to men and gods willing to manipulate him, this is not the truth. Just
as we all once thought, John Locke is a man with a purpose. His soul held communion with the island like no other could.
Feeling the presence, feeling the ISLAND, behind him, John stops in his tracks. He closes his eyes and breathes deeply. Will I finally know WHY? Why all of this has happened? Will I know my DESTINY?
Slowly, John turns around to face a force much greater than himself. His eyes squint gently as a bright, white light hits his right retina, and then the left. He looks up at this floating light, unlike any he has seen before or since.
The light descends on John. It grows to engulf him, and the jungle slowly fades away as white washes over it. John is inside the warmth of the light; he is in Jacob's world.
John reappears out of the white ether, his eyes hidden in the bend of his elbow, sheltered from the blinding, hot white light which saturated the jungle he once stood in. As John's pupils dilate, a man comes into focus, standing a few feet in front of him. A peaceful, wise-looking man with a blonde beard. Jacob.
"Hello, John."
"Are you... the..."
"The island?"
"Yes."
Jacob smiles. "Do I look like an island, John? I've got 10 fingers and 10 toes, just like you..."
John remains frozen in awe.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Jacob. I've been watching you for a very long time."
"Why am I here?"
"You mean on this island? Or in this magical glowing circle of light?"
John finally eases up a bit, the faintest smile flitting across his lips.
"Both, I guess..."
"Do you believe in destiny, John?"
"Yes."
"Destiny's a funny thing. You know, I think destiny is really just made up of a lot of little choices."
"That wouldn't be destiny, I don't think."
"Maybe it would. Because some people will just always choose the same thing."
"I see."
"You're here, John, because I want you to make a choice. And in making this choice, you will, I believe, fulfill your destiny. So we're both happy. You understand?"
"What choice?"
"You need to decide if you're willing to die to protect this island, John. Because someday soon, you're going to be called upon to do just that. And if you haven't chosen by then to do it for the right reasons, then you're going to die in vain."
"The right reasons... I don't know what you mean."
"There is another man on this island. A man like me, but... different. He and I don't get along. He's very dangerous, John. And I need your help to stop him."
"And to do that, I have to... to DIE?"
"I hate to break it to ya, John, but you're gonna die either way."
"No, no... That can't be true..."
"It is true. Because this man, this dangerous man... He knows your thoughts. He can... read your mind. So I'm not going to let you remember any of this, John. Once we're through, you're going to be walking the same path either way. And that path only leads to one place."
"So what will it even matter? If I won't remember, it'll all play out the same anyway. What the hell's the point?!"
"Because if you make this choice John, if you choose to die... then you died for me."
"So I'll just be a little piece in your... your GAME?? I'LL STILL JUST BE DEAD AND, and-- USELESS! WHO CARES??!"
"... The island cares."
John closes his eyes and thinks for a long time. He probes far inside himself, searching for some hint in the depths of his soul that yes-- he was meant for greater things. Finally, he opens his eyes, resolute.
"Yes. I choose to give my life for this island, that I love."
"You know, John... Those people that always make the same choice? That's because it's always the right one."
Light FLASHES in John's eyes, and he is in the jungle once more, watching a mysterious, beautiful white luminescence slip away through the trees...
LOCKE: So, what exactly did you see back there? I saw it once, you know.
EKO: And what did you see?
LOCKE: I saw a very bright light. It was beautiful.
EKO: That is not what I saw.
We have never been shown John Locke's interaction with that bright light, that island force, which I believe to be Jacob. Many now believe, like I do, that the black Smoke Monster is a form of Jacob's nemesis. It is logical that Jacob has some sort of "spirit form" as well.
The Man in Black and the Man in White are opposites: In addition to their choice of shirt color, one also believes whole-heartedly in the free will of Man, while the other cynically opposes it. Jacob's creed is free will, and though he did mark our heroes, in some way impacting their destiny, he still makes sure that those he interacts with (even his perceived enemies, like Ben) know that they are making their own choice when the time comes to act.
For this reason, I believe that if and when we are ultimately shown Jacob's interaction with John Locke, which occurred in season 1, we will be shown that this interaction was fundamentally the opposite of the interactions we have seen the Smoke Monster have with characters on the island. What we know of the Smoke Monster, above all else, is that it reads the mind of the man who stands before it; it TAKES something from them-- their memories. When it first encountered Eko, we saw his thoughts flash through the black smoke, and it later used these memories to manipulate him.
But rather than take something from John Locke, I believe Jacob GAVE John something all the way back in season 1. He gave him a choice.
This is how it happened...
John Locke walks through the jungle. He bends down for a gulp of water from a meandering stream, with no clear source or end. He picks himself up to continue on his journey, still searching for purpose on this island which, for some unknown reason, has miraculously returned his ability to walk.
John continues on his way, walking a solitary path. But he knows he is not alone now, because even though we have been led to believe that John Locke's faith was a lie, that he was simply a pawn to men and gods willing to manipulate him, this is not the truth. Just
as we all once thought, John Locke is a man with a purpose. His soul held communion with the island like no other could.
Feeling the presence, feeling the ISLAND, behind him, John stops in his tracks. He closes his eyes and breathes deeply. Will I finally know WHY? Why all of this has happened? Will I know my DESTINY?
Slowly, John turns around to face a force much greater than himself. His eyes squint gently as a bright, white light hits his right retina, and then the left. He looks up at this floating light, unlike any he has seen before or since.
The light descends on John. It grows to engulf him, and the jungle slowly fades away as white washes over it. John is inside the warmth of the light; he is in Jacob's world.
John reappears out of the white ether, his eyes hidden in the bend of his elbow, sheltered from the blinding, hot white light which saturated the jungle he once stood in. As John's pupils dilate, a man comes into focus, standing a few feet in front of him. A peaceful, wise-looking man with a blonde beard. Jacob.
"Hello, John."
"Are you... the..."
"The island?"
"Yes."
Jacob smiles. "Do I look like an island, John? I've got 10 fingers and 10 toes, just like you..."
John remains frozen in awe.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Jacob. I've been watching you for a very long time."
"Why am I here?"
"You mean on this island? Or in this magical glowing circle of light?"
John finally eases up a bit, the faintest smile flitting across his lips.
"Both, I guess..."
"Do you believe in destiny, John?"
"Yes."
"Destiny's a funny thing. You know, I think destiny is really just made up of a lot of little choices."
"That wouldn't be destiny, I don't think."
"Maybe it would. Because some people will just always choose the same thing."
"I see."
"You're here, John, because I want you to make a choice. And in making this choice, you will, I believe, fulfill your destiny. So we're both happy. You understand?"
"What choice?"
"You need to decide if you're willing to die to protect this island, John. Because someday soon, you're going to be called upon to do just that. And if you haven't chosen by then to do it for the right reasons, then you're going to die in vain."
"The right reasons... I don't know what you mean."
"There is another man on this island. A man like me, but... different. He and I don't get along. He's very dangerous, John. And I need your help to stop him."
"And to do that, I have to... to DIE?"
"I hate to break it to ya, John, but you're gonna die either way."
"No, no... That can't be true..."
"It is true. Because this man, this dangerous man... He knows your thoughts. He can... read your mind. So I'm not going to let you remember any of this, John. Once we're through, you're going to be walking the same path either way. And that path only leads to one place."
"So what will it even matter? If I won't remember, it'll all play out the same anyway. What the hell's the point?!"
"Because if you make this choice John, if you choose to die... then you died for me."
"So I'll just be a little piece in your... your GAME?? I'LL STILL JUST BE DEAD AND, and-- USELESS! WHO CARES??!"
"... The island cares."
John closes his eyes and thinks for a long time. He probes far inside himself, searching for some hint in the depths of his soul that yes-- he was meant for greater things. Finally, he opens his eyes, resolute.
"Yes. I choose to give my life for this island, that I love."
"You know, John... Those people that always make the same choice? That's because it's always the right one."
Light FLASHES in John's eyes, and he is in the jungle once more, watching a mysterious, beautiful white luminescence slip away through the trees...
