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if Jacob is in some way a representative of God, or God-like powers, and Ben is using him (and presumably to dole out Ben’s justice?)—Is mercy trying to manifest itself through the Losties? When various eyes are shown at the beginning of episodes—is this the merciful God trying to see the island?

— jazprof

A lot of different directions to go in, but I think I found a good starting place in the scene in which Juliet says she’s showing Jack “To Kill a Mockingbird” but is actually showing him the tape with her instructions to kill Ben during the surgery. (And just to summarize on the contents of that tape & Ben taking Jack to the funeral & explaining “his plan”—I think this all falls into the Ben-Juliet Long Con of Jack category.)

“To Kill a Mockingbird”

Central quotation: the father, Atticus Finch, gives his children air-rifles and tells them they can kill as many bluejays as they want, but “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird,” when the main character, Scout asks about this later another character explains it’s a sin because all mockingbirds do is “sing their hearts out for us.” (Note: bluejays, on the other hand, steal the eggs and hatchlings of other birds—hmmmm, something familiar there….)

Quotation ties into three connected themes in the novel, justice, mercy, and the death of innocents. Atticus defends an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, on the charge of raping a white woman. Though it’s clear to everyone that Tom is innocent he is still convicted and later is killed while trying to escape. Another innocent in the novel is Boo Radley, the strange reclusive man who lives near the Finches in a wooden shack (kinda like you know who). Boo is not seen until the end of the novel, though Scout and her brother Jem communicate with him by leaving things for him in the hollow of a tree. Boo leaves the children crude wooden replicas of themselves that he has whittled for them. Very, very like the replicas of Annie and Ben. At the end of the novel, the real villian in the rape case, an abusive father named Bob Euell, attacks Jem and Scout on their way home from school. Boo rescues the children and kills him. When the sheriff and Atticus talk about what happened and how justice will be served—killing a mockingbird is used as a metaphor for what it would be like to drag Boo Radley into court. Mercy wins out over justice (which hadn’t worked too well in the court case anyway) and they decide that Mr. Euell “fell on his knife.”

That connection of Boo Radley to Jacob does make me wonder if the wooden dolls Annie had actually came from Jacob and whether she was in contact with him before Ben was.

All of those themes tie into the episode—especially in two contrasting versions of God (just/merciful) and the idea of sacrifice. One other juxtaposition about God to pull in before talking about details of the episode though—Ben says to Jack that the fact that a plane crashed with a spinal surgeon aboard is proof of God’s existence. But in captivity at the Swan, Ben tells Locke that God can’t see the island. My interpretation of that seeming contradiction is that Ben sees God in this egocentric way—as doing things for him—which makes me wonder if he’s talking about God to Jack, or is he talking about Jacob. When talking to Locke—I think he means that the merciful God can’t see the island. So two things about that—if Jacob is in some way a representative of God, or God-like powers, and Ben is using him (and presumably to dole out Ben’s justice?)—Is mercy trying to manifest itself through the Losties? When various eyes are shown at the beginning of episodes—is this the merciful God trying to see the island? In the episode when asked if he is a good man or a bad man, Eko says, “only God knows.”

Episode breakdown:

Eko and Yemi as children—Eko steals for Yemi because he is hungry. The Nun insists that hunger does not matter; he has sinned and must confess. Justice, not mercy. The same force manifested in the smoke monster and which kills Eko. Later there is a scene in the village which very closely parallels the moment from Eko’s childhood in which he was forced to join the militia (starting him on the road of sin for which he is going to be “justly” punished by Smokie). The militia shows up and demands protection money. Eko in priestly garb refuses; the militia leader shoots a blind woman. So whether he gives in to the militia or stands up to them—somone dies. Justice is blind. Also, to me, there’s a parallel being made between that harsh version of confession represented by the Nun and the extortion of money for protection by the militia guys.

Sayid asks what happened to Eko and Charlie replies “Before or after we saved him from the polar bear caves?” This fits with my idea that Eko was actually attacked before the polar bears (by smokie). (B&W allusions: Smokie/Polar Bears; Smoke/Vincent; Eko seeing black smoke/Locke saw white light.)

(Black Smoke) Yemi appears to Eko. (From now on referred to as BS Yemi). Insists on confession—FB scene that follows is one that immediately precedes real Yemi refusing Eko’s confession. Real confession is not a punishment (justice), but a sign of repentence and mercy. BS Yemi is carrying a lighter—kind of odd. Shortly after the hut is on fire and this diverts everyone while Eko wanders off. So I’m thinking, lighter—Jacob doesn’t like technology—Smokie and whoever is controlling him (Ben) are not technophobes.

Ben takes Jack to the funeral—another fire. Funeral combines Hindu (dressing in white), Christian (baptism), Pagan (burial at sea and fire). Others burn bodies. Yemi’s body might have burned in the plane fire. Don’t know what happened to Christian’s body. BS Yemi might have been trying to burn Eko. Do Ashes have some special power? Is this tied to whatever is around Jacob’s shack?

Locke & Des & Sayid talk—Locke and Des both gesticulating with knives in their hands. Hunters. Locke says about going after Eko: “We’re all going to the same place.” (an example of Mercy—Justice, in contrast, divides where people will go based on punishment.) Later Locke invites everyone who wants to to go with him—’cause it’s a free island. Hurley says, if it were Jack, he’d go alone or take Sayid or Kate. Mercy is freely given to all; Justice is a meritocracy.

Locke says to Desmond “Don’t mistake coincidence for fate.” Think this is very important so just want to draw special attention: Des’s turn to try to learn how to deal with his gift. Did he in fact make that mistake? By doing so, did he ‘cause the death of an innocent—Charlie. (Charlie as mockingbird—someone who wanted to sing his heart out for us?)

Flashback—Eko returns as priest with Yemi’s blood on his hands. Sees Christ on the cross. Eko’s sin, but also the way in which sin is washed away by mercy/grace. Eko is later rebuked by the choiboy (the same one who appears in the vision, for washing the blood away with holy water. The choir boy says that he shouldn’t do that, that’s not what holy water is for. Isn’t that exactly what its’ for? (Plot question, how does Eko so easily substitute for Yemi with no one asking questions?)

In the present: Eko in the jungle being led by Smokie (Smokie leads people to judgement for their past vs. Vincent—leads people to unfolding of future). Eko takes up a new stick (lacks the cross and his Jesus stick).

At the river—think this is the same river that Locke and Sawyer cross in “The Brig” (Sawyer with bloody feet)—the river Jordan? Symbolizes transitions of slavery/freedom, sin/purification, life/death. This is then followed by the FB moment about the militia which I referred to above. Mercy and Justice juxtaposed.

Chummy scene between Juliet and Jack—she brings him a hamburger on a platter with a big silver dome atop it—kinda like pictures from the comic book where there’s an island with a dome atop it (axis mundi). Yup, if only we knew how to lift up that there dome we’d be having all the cheeseburgers we could eat, and, oh yeah, maybe God’d see the island. Ben says to Jack that his plan got “shot to sunshine.” “Sunshine”? Isn’t it usually something like shot to pieces, shot to smithereens, shot to hell? “Sunshine” makes me think of the “sunshine” laws which mean you can look at secret files the government has on you. Ben doesn’t like sunshine; he likes secrets. Jack on the other hand says he doesn’t like mysteries.

At the Pearl—the wiring only goes one way? And yet Mikhail sees them, seeing him?

Final confrontation with BS Yemi—field of red flowers. Made me think of the poppies in the Wiz of Oz—Eko is being deluded. BS Yemi says “You speak to me as if I was your brother”—Eko thought he was speaking to a representative of God (his brother) when he said “I am not sorry for this…”—But it wasn’t God.

What “cost” does God demand for life? Doesn’t God in fact give his own life for the lives of others—the sacrifice of an innocent is the cost for our lives. If a cost is being demanded of us (as in the confession the Nun demands, or in justice)—is this really God making the demand?

Key characters

Short Name	Full Name	Episodes	Theories
Ben	Benjamin Linus	3.20, 4.9, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13	1713
Eko	Mr. Eko	2.21, 3.5, 2.7, 2.10	287

Key episodes

#	Title	Aired	Central character	Theories
3.5	The Cost Of Living	11-1-2006	Eko	139

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