John Locke is not dead. John Locke is not a manifestation. John Locke is not possessed by the MIB, Samuel, Esau, anti-Jacob, Jacob’s nemesis, or any other term we’re currently referring to this character as. These are, of course, my personal beliefs. Being a strong Locke proponent, and understanding that the series is always not what it seems.
Here’s my theory…
My initial ideas are based on the infamous deleted scene on the Season Four DVD set. For many people that scene was a great WTF moment. For others, it made no sense. Thus it’s chalked up to one of Lost’s more difficult plot points that’s beyond the every other week viewer. I’m long winded at explaining myself, so please bear with me. Trust me there is a pleasant payoff in the end. I also look forward to your thoughts and comments.
As a quick reference, this theory has “2” John Locke’s. Just as we’ve seen in cannon form during the episode, “The Incident”.
The original John Locke made his way to the Orchid Station in “This Place is Death”. He made his way down the well hole, and with the guidance of Christian, made his way to the Donkey Wheel. “You’re going to have to die.”, Christian sadistically says as John gets ready to spin the wheel of fortune. This was yet another half truth IMO.
The next time we see John Locke “alive” is the second episode from this, “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”. John wakes up in the desert surrounded by cameras approximately three years after the island moved. Is picked up rather quickly by Widmore’s people that had been waiting for his arrival. John’s experience in Tunisia is quite a departure from Ben’s arrival in “The Shape of Things to Come”. Ben’s jump was only about a year into the future, and he was welcomed by random marauders. Through “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”, Locke is aided by Widmore. Widmore gives John a ‘Carte Blanche’ to do whatever he wants while off island to ensure the success of his mission. Widmore shows genuine interest in Locke, a compassion that has been rarely seen in Widmore during the series. John ultimately “catches up” with Ben, who we find out later had already been tailing John before John was aware.
Here’s where the plot thickens…
At the end of “The Shape of Things to Come”, (which Monika had a recent theory on which was fabulous) one of the most powerful confrontations of the series took place. Ben and Widmore verbally facing off in Charles’ pale moonlit bedroom. This scene taking place say a month after Ben’s arrival in the desert. The interesting point of the conversation was Widmore’s opening line, “I was wondering when you were going to show up.” And also Widmore saying, “You and I both know I didn’t kill that girl. You did!” (Referring to Ben’s daughter Alex.)
Let’s look at things from Widmore’s point of view. His freighter lost communication after Michael thrashed the radio. This a few days before the climax of Season Four, in show time, about a year before. Of course he would assume that the Others won, destroyed his teams, etc. Widmore, by all accounts, is back to square one. So it would seem. Still looking for the island. Ben won, and he’s still in charge of the Island.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why would Charles be expecting a revenge filled Ben to show up off island, with both men knowing murder is off the table for each of them?
2. How would Charles Widmore know what happened on Island with Keamy, Alex, and Ben?
3. Who was the one person that was present for these events?
John Locke.
The series isn’t presented in a linear manner. What we see isn’t always the definitive order of events.
When Locke righted the donkey wheel, he was transported off the island. I believe a duplicate of John Locke was created as a result. But here’s the kicker: Because the time / space element isn’t instantaneous, John Locke’s doppelganger (John Locke #2) does not appear until later. A few years in fact. They were waiting for him. The John Locke double was renamed “Jeremy Bentham”. You see, John Locke #1 arrived off island soon after Ben Linus. Unbeknownst to Ben, John arrived and has spent a considerable amount of time with Charles Widmore. During that time period, John told Charles everything that had been going on since the Oceanic 815 crash through the time flashing. And Charles, in turn, protected John by keeping him off the grid, out of sight out of mind. Charles also has enlightened John in a way that Ben never could about the meaning of the island, the different philosophies of the island, the truth about Ben, Richard, Jacob, etc. Whether Charles does these thi! ngs out of sincerity or for his own gain is yet to be seen. But one thing is certain, Charles presented a serious case to John that Jacob is the enemy of the Island and has to go. We all know John has a special connection to the island itself. The producers have long claimed the island itself is alive. Perhaps, aside from what Jacob or his buddy want, the Island has a will of it’s own? And the harbinger of Island justice is John Locke? This crusade of cleansing the Island began arguably in Season One when Locke cold cocked Sayid while he was trying to triangulate the radio tower position. John has systematically destroyed many things over the course of the series. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes by coincidence.
Locke and Widmore realized that Ben Linus had hijacked Locke’s mission to move the Island (which may or may not have been the actual will of the Island. It was something Jacob wanted done). And that if Ben got wind that Locke was off Island, he would attempt to hijack his current mission and kill him. Widmore, knowing a duplicate Locke would eventually surface, wasted no time setting up surveillance on the exit site of the Island. The plan was hatched between Widmore and Locke that John’s doppelganger (John Locke #2), who has the same life experience and memories of John #1, would be the one out in the open as bait for Ben to spy on and chase. John Locke #2 was now renamed Jeremy Bentham. He would openly attempt to recruit the Oceanic Six for a return to the Island while John Locke #1 waited in the wings. Knowing what Christian had said to John about dying, Locke and Widmore decided to let #2 bite it in #1’s place. So in a very strange way, John Locke takes advantage o! f himself and uses himself as a means to an end. Not unlike how everyone else has wiped their feet off on his back throughout his life. This situation is definitely in need of a psychoanalysis.
But there’s a difference between the two John Locke’s.
This situation reminds me of an episode of Star Trek’s Original Series. (A franchise Lost heavily borrows from, besides the King references.) The episode entitled, “The Enemy Within”, has a transporter malfunction that produces two Kirk’s. One that’s very passive and the other that is highly aggressive. If you think about it, with all of his weaknesses taken away and a clear path set before him, this is what John Locke #1 on Island reminds me of in Season Five. Whereas Jeremy Bentham is like the passive, weak minded one that was ready to commit suicide within a few weeks of recruiting failure. Not the confident guy that was on Island just weeks before. That is why I, and I know a lot of you, had issues with “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”. The main complaint was sloppy writing. But I think the fact was that many felt Locke’s character was mishandled in the episode. Falling too fast, too soon. Locke refused to get into a wheel chair again on the Island,! opting for crutches instead. Off Island he jumps right back into a chair, and it’s off around the world with he and Abbaddon playing out a 21st century “Driving Miss Daisy”. The suicide setup at the end. Very uncharacteristic of John Locke Seasons 3-4. But if viewed in this light, it would make more sense.
I’ll go one step further and challenge with this theory:
John Locke #1 did not return to the Island aboard Ajira Airlines flight 316.
Locke, just like the freighter bunch, came back in another way. As proven in Season Four, you don’t have to be a passenger of a major airline to get to the Island. Locke didn’t show up until a later time on the beach, while Jeremy Bentham’s body was dead as a doornail in the cargo hold.
Now, if it wasn’t for the first few minutes and the last few minutes of, “The Incident”, this would have seemed initially plausible. But “the other person” telling Jacob he wanted to kill him, and then Locke subsequently telling Jacob, “You don’t know what I had to go through to get here.” It’s completely assumed that these words are from the same guy. I really feel this is a false lead. I think those words are from John Locke himself. John is completely free of other people holding him down. His path is clear. Locke’s done with the riddles of Linus, the hide and seek games with the cabin, getting the run around from Jacob’s spokespeople, etc and so on. Locke is on a mission to clean up the Island. He communes with the Island. He’s doing the will of the Island, and enjoying it.
Here’s my theory…
My initial ideas are based on the infamous deleted scene on the Season Four DVD set. For many people that scene was a great WTF moment. For others, it made no sense. Thus it’s chalked up to one of Lost’s more difficult plot points that’s beyond the every other week viewer. I’m long winded at explaining myself, so please bear with me. Trust me there is a pleasant payoff in the end. I also look forward to your thoughts and comments.
As a quick reference, this theory has “2” John Locke’s. Just as we’ve seen in cannon form during the episode, “The Incident”.
The original John Locke made his way to the Orchid Station in “This Place is Death”. He made his way down the well hole, and with the guidance of Christian, made his way to the Donkey Wheel. “You’re going to have to die.”, Christian sadistically says as John gets ready to spin the wheel of fortune. This was yet another half truth IMO.
The next time we see John Locke “alive” is the second episode from this, “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”. John wakes up in the desert surrounded by cameras approximately three years after the island moved. Is picked up rather quickly by Widmore’s people that had been waiting for his arrival. John’s experience in Tunisia is quite a departure from Ben’s arrival in “The Shape of Things to Come”. Ben’s jump was only about a year into the future, and he was welcomed by random marauders. Through “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”, Locke is aided by Widmore. Widmore gives John a ‘Carte Blanche’ to do whatever he wants while off island to ensure the success of his mission. Widmore shows genuine interest in Locke, a compassion that has been rarely seen in Widmore during the series. John ultimately “catches up” with Ben, who we find out later had already been tailing John before John was aware.
Here’s where the plot thickens…
At the end of “The Shape of Things to Come”, (which Monika had a recent theory on which was fabulous) one of the most powerful confrontations of the series took place. Ben and Widmore verbally facing off in Charles’ pale moonlit bedroom. This scene taking place say a month after Ben’s arrival in the desert. The interesting point of the conversation was Widmore’s opening line, “I was wondering when you were going to show up.” And also Widmore saying, “You and I both know I didn’t kill that girl. You did!” (Referring to Ben’s daughter Alex.)
Let’s look at things from Widmore’s point of view. His freighter lost communication after Michael thrashed the radio. This a few days before the climax of Season Four, in show time, about a year before. Of course he would assume that the Others won, destroyed his teams, etc. Widmore, by all accounts, is back to square one. So it would seem. Still looking for the island. Ben won, and he’s still in charge of the Island.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why would Charles be expecting a revenge filled Ben to show up off island, with both men knowing murder is off the table for each of them?
2. How would Charles Widmore know what happened on Island with Keamy, Alex, and Ben?
3. Who was the one person that was present for these events?
John Locke.
The series isn’t presented in a linear manner. What we see isn’t always the definitive order of events.
When Locke righted the donkey wheel, he was transported off the island. I believe a duplicate of John Locke was created as a result. But here’s the kicker: Because the time / space element isn’t instantaneous, John Locke’s doppelganger (John Locke #2) does not appear until later. A few years in fact. They were waiting for him. The John Locke double was renamed “Jeremy Bentham”. You see, John Locke #1 arrived off island soon after Ben Linus. Unbeknownst to Ben, John arrived and has spent a considerable amount of time with Charles Widmore. During that time period, John told Charles everything that had been going on since the Oceanic 815 crash through the time flashing. And Charles, in turn, protected John by keeping him off the grid, out of sight out of mind. Charles also has enlightened John in a way that Ben never could about the meaning of the island, the different philosophies of the island, the truth about Ben, Richard, Jacob, etc. Whether Charles does these thi! ngs out of sincerity or for his own gain is yet to be seen. But one thing is certain, Charles presented a serious case to John that Jacob is the enemy of the Island and has to go. We all know John has a special connection to the island itself. The producers have long claimed the island itself is alive. Perhaps, aside from what Jacob or his buddy want, the Island has a will of it’s own? And the harbinger of Island justice is John Locke? This crusade of cleansing the Island began arguably in Season One when Locke cold cocked Sayid while he was trying to triangulate the radio tower position. John has systematically destroyed many things over the course of the series. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes by coincidence.
Locke and Widmore realized that Ben Linus had hijacked Locke’s mission to move the Island (which may or may not have been the actual will of the Island. It was something Jacob wanted done). And that if Ben got wind that Locke was off Island, he would attempt to hijack his current mission and kill him. Widmore, knowing a duplicate Locke would eventually surface, wasted no time setting up surveillance on the exit site of the Island. The plan was hatched between Widmore and Locke that John’s doppelganger (John Locke #2), who has the same life experience and memories of John #1, would be the one out in the open as bait for Ben to spy on and chase. John Locke #2 was now renamed Jeremy Bentham. He would openly attempt to recruit the Oceanic Six for a return to the Island while John Locke #1 waited in the wings. Knowing what Christian had said to John about dying, Locke and Widmore decided to let #2 bite it in #1’s place. So in a very strange way, John Locke takes advantage o! f himself and uses himself as a means to an end. Not unlike how everyone else has wiped their feet off on his back throughout his life. This situation is definitely in need of a psychoanalysis.
But there’s a difference between the two John Locke’s.
This situation reminds me of an episode of Star Trek’s Original Series. (A franchise Lost heavily borrows from, besides the King references.) The episode entitled, “The Enemy Within”, has a transporter malfunction that produces two Kirk’s. One that’s very passive and the other that is highly aggressive. If you think about it, with all of his weaknesses taken away and a clear path set before him, this is what John Locke #1 on Island reminds me of in Season Five. Whereas Jeremy Bentham is like the passive, weak minded one that was ready to commit suicide within a few weeks of recruiting failure. Not the confident guy that was on Island just weeks before. That is why I, and I know a lot of you, had issues with “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”. The main complaint was sloppy writing. But I think the fact was that many felt Locke’s character was mishandled in the episode. Falling too fast, too soon. Locke refused to get into a wheel chair again on the Island,! opting for crutches instead. Off Island he jumps right back into a chair, and it’s off around the world with he and Abbaddon playing out a 21st century “Driving Miss Daisy”. The suicide setup at the end. Very uncharacteristic of John Locke Seasons 3-4. But if viewed in this light, it would make more sense.
I’ll go one step further and challenge with this theory:
John Locke #1 did not return to the Island aboard Ajira Airlines flight 316.
Locke, just like the freighter bunch, came back in another way. As proven in Season Four, you don’t have to be a passenger of a major airline to get to the Island. Locke didn’t show up until a later time on the beach, while Jeremy Bentham’s body was dead as a doornail in the cargo hold.
Now, if it wasn’t for the first few minutes and the last few minutes of, “The Incident”, this would have seemed initially plausible. But “the other person” telling Jacob he wanted to kill him, and then Locke subsequently telling Jacob, “You don’t know what I had to go through to get here.” It’s completely assumed that these words are from the same guy. I really feel this is a false lead. I think those words are from John Locke himself. John is completely free of other people holding him down. His path is clear. Locke’s done with the riddles of Linus, the hide and seek games with the cabin, getting the run around from Jacob’s spokespeople, etc and so on. Locke is on a mission to clean up the Island. He communes with the Island. He’s doing the will of the Island, and enjoying it.
