(Group 1: Maternity Leave) What is real?
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By jazprof
- (Group 1: Maternity Leave) What is real?
- Created: Oct 17, 2007
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 3.22: Through The Looking Glass
- Status: Current
- Flag this theory:
If the drug can influence perception such that Claire believed she was somewhere off the island (safe? in a hospital?) then that has implications about other Losties also having their perceptions altered…. If the others have access to drugs which would pacify why don’t they use them on the Losties in other situations?
— jazprof
Sorry I’m a bit late—have had a busy couple of days. Anyway, I find that I’ve actually wriiten about this episode a couple of times before so some of this is cut and paste from previous posts. I’m going to post my main idea about what was going on with Claire when she was taken below but I wanted to start with a new realization—I was thinking about the fact that Claire is so calm in the scenes with Ethan. My questions then about the drug she’s been given: is it affecting her perception of where she thinks she is and her memory (that is does she remember the crash—she does ask for charlie so maybe she does remember the crash too)? If the drug can influence perception such that Claire believed she was somewhere off the island (safe? in a hospital?) then that has implications about other Losties also having their perceptions altered. Or perhaps the drug is only influencing her emotions rather than altering her sense of the reality of where she is? Again, especially given the Skinnerian theme in the show—what are the implications? If the others have access to drugs which would pacify why don’t they use them on the Losties in other situations? Do they sometimes want to create conflict rather than pacification?
Here’s my other new thought/question about what happened with Claire. The mobile with the planes plays the music “Catch a Falling Star.” See Lostpedia for the lyrics: http://www.lost-theories.com/theories/2007/apr/10/men-factmen-fiction/
Claire tells Richard Malkin that she wants the adoptive parents to sing this song to Aaron—she reveals in this episode that Christian sang this song to her as a child. Does the fact that the others have access to the song show their source of this info on Claire is Malkin or Christian?
One last new thought about Claire and Aaron—I think Aaron’s sickness in this episode might be caused through an implant in the same way that Claire’s illness later which Juliet “cures” is. If it is an implant—it would probably suggest again that Danielle is playing along with Ben’s plan as she shows up here to tell Claire that the baby has been infected. Jack claims the baby just has roseola—however, at the beginning of the episode, in the “Previously on Lost” section, we are reminded that Jack also didn’t think that Claire’s seeing Ethan in the camp was real. So that makes me think that Jack might be wrong—however that doesn’t mean the baby has a “real” illness. I’m not sure what the purpose of having the baby get sick and having Rousseau suggest the reason might be the infection would be. But I did notice that Claire almost goes off by herself into the jungle twice as a result of thinking this—could that have been what was meant to happen? I got the end of this episode off a transcript and I think it must have left off the very ending showing what happens when Claire gets back to camp after finding the medical facility—but possibly she and Kate were meant to find that facility and the costumes?
OK—here’s my old idea about what the Benipulation of Claire/Aaron was in this ep and the link if you want to go back to look at comments: http://www.lost-theories.com/theories/2007/jul/27/ben-aaron/
Aaron is the one Ben is afraid of, but he can’t let his followers know this because to do so he would have to reveal the fact that he was not in fact born on the island. (See ProfO’s http://lost-theories.com/theories/2007/jun/10/rise-aaron/ for more about Aaron as special.) So Ben arranges with Ethan to take Claire. Only Ben and Ethan know about this—Tom questions Ethan about what he is doing and thinks that Ethan screwed up (he should have just been compiling a list). Ethan believes he is doing something to save the baby and possibly Claire as well. In fact what Ben is having Ethan do to Claire is 1) give her something which will lead to the fake illness in Season 3 and to Juliet’s successful infiltration of the camp, and 2) possibly do something to Aaron in utero which will neutralize whatever his ability he has or put it under Ben’s control. Ben then lets Alex overhear a plan for forcibly removing Aaron from Claire’s body and possibly killing Claire. This leads to Alex helping Claire escape (for Ben’s plans to work Claire has to be back at the Lostie camp). Ethan goes to get her back and is killed (I think this is part of Ben’s plan too, see: http://lost-theories.com/theories/2007/jul/24/group1-homecoming-conflict-man/ Ethan’s death covers Ben’s tracks.
OK—what about the plan to take Walt. Supposing the others know that there is a special child (and this is why they keep taking children)—but Ben doesn’t want them to take Aaron. So he distracts them with the plan which ends with Walt being taken. Walt being taken also allows him to manipulate Michael.
Last, what about Ben’s interest in Mother’s giving birth on the island. Maybe his interest is not in a successful birth, but in controlling the abilities of the special child/children born on the island, and it is his attempts to control those abilites which are killing the mothers/children, not the fact that they were conceived on the island. So it is vital for him to have pregnant women under his care—that is why he wants Sun (and possibly Kate as well).
Other plot—Ben, Locke, Eko
Interesting that Eko confesses here to Ben as he doesn’t confess later to Vision-Yemi. Does this suggest that whatever Smokie is it’s on an opposing side to Ben?
Ben uses the Dostoevsky/Hemingway comparison to manipulate Locke. I also find it odd that Jack and Locke do an exact reversal on whether Ben might be lying from the previous episode. I had a theory which referenced the Brother’s Karamazove allusion here—I’ll just cut and paste that part of it, but the entire theory is here: http://www.lost-theories.com/theories/2007/apr/10/men-factmen-fiction/
The book Locke gives Ben to read is The Brother’s Karamazov. Several of the men could be lined up with one of the brothers: Dimitri-the passionate sensualist (Sawyer), the atheist/realist Ivan (Jack & Sayid), the believer Alyosha (Locke, Desmond?), the illegitimate son Smerdyakov—who pretends to be obsequious & humble and is really a manipulator (Ben). One of the sons kills the father—Dimitri is accused and imprisoned for the murder, but it is eventually discovered that Smerdyakov is the murderer. Smerdyakov implicates Ivan in the murder as well though, since Ivan’s atheism, Smerdyakov says, helps convince him that there is no such thing as good and evil. I am not sure where this lining up of characters leads except that instead of seeing the men as polar opposites (as I did above)—it links them together as brothers (can’t help but notice what Desmond calls all of them). It makes me wonder if the two sides outlined above will have to unite against the “illegitimate” brother (Ben). Since Desmond was saving “Our Mutual Friend” to be the last book he ever read, will he wind up being the balancing force or connecting link of all the “brothers
Key characters
| Short Name | Full Name | Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claire | Claire Littleton | 2.15, 2.12, 1.10, 1.15, 1.21, 3.12 | 385 |
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.15 | Maternity Leave | 3-1-2006 | Claire | 118 |
Hi jaz…
Long time poster..first time commenter… (ok I lie)
I don’t think Aaron is going to play a big role anytime soon on the island; even if there is three years left to go.
The ideas are cool, but it’s projecting his importance in the story (TV wise) too far into the future.
Maybe, maybe if we are patient. He could be part of a flash forward?
Now that would be cool.
Other than that thumbs up and great observations. :)
i always enjoy reading your posts. very informative. i like the part especially with Ben being afraid of Aaron. That makes alot of sense since Aaron was born on the island and Linus was not. Though i’m pretty sure there is more to be afraid in Aaron then just he being born on the island. I also find this to be one of my favorite episodes. I believe this is the first episode where the flashbacks occur in the island, though I really don’t consider it flashbacks just Claire remembering what happened during her 2 weeks or so missing. Flashback or not? +1
Jaz…It makes so much sense that Ben would want the pregnant women because he wants to control the abilities of the children.And i wouldnt be at all surprised if it turns out that Ben is somehow causing the deaths of the mothers.
I don’t think Claire tells richard malkin about the song.I think she tells the couple who want to adopt her baby.But perhaps the soliciter or the couple were attempting to get Aaron to the island.Its been a while since i saw the episode but i think it was the couple she told.
Great post +10
A little off topic here… but I recommend a program called “Connections”. It’s very educational.
TV Links has it… http://www.tv-links.co.uk/listings/9/7938
Kids born on the island have abilities… interesting…
Ooooh, Miss Jazzamatazz! How, I love your observations! You did an outstanding job with your analysis. The injections given to “the losties”, may have been given to them to alter their perception. Also, I think it’s plausible that Ben does have a reason for wanting the children, and also, could be responsible for no “on island” births, for reasons, only known to him!
The book shared between Locke and Ben, is certainly significant! It certainly fits in with the theme, of good vs evil, or light vs dark.
I am still considering that there could be a deeper connection between Ben and Locke.
Good thoughts! +1
I’m not sure we can leap to the drug as the cause of all of her post-traumatic symptoms. She was knocked unconscious, dragged through the woods, and sedated for weeks…it seems likely to me that she was merely disoriented.
Somewhat related, I’m not convinced that children can’t be born on the island or that any children have died. Seems like a system of control to me. Have we ever seen a grave? Or a mourning parent? Ben & Juliet’s word isn’t enough for me to believe it.
Also, one would think Aaron will play a significant role in the rest of the series, it’d be a waste of too many possibilities to ignore him(and I’m still convinced that Aaron’s father/Claire’s boyfriend Thomas is Ben’s son).
Good observations, Rise!
Perhaps, the room the mothers are being kept in, is a temporary place until they give birth. The babies could be sent elsewhere, unbeknownst to “the others” I know that leaves speculation about Juliette’s whole purpose for being on “the island”, but I don’t think we should trust her or Ben, either.
Good thoughts, on Thomas being Ben’s son!
jaz: Well done as usual! I really like your take on the implants/drug altering the viewers preceptions. If Claire had ‘put’ herself in another more safe location it truly could open up some new angles. Just how far and or widespread could this altered perception could be used for is interesting. My immediate thought go to the room on the other island where mental perception were also possibly being altered. Could the suggestive thought video work hand in hand with drug induced perceptions? Mind Bending seems to be a tool of choice whether drug induced on though hypnosis. Good stuff here!
Hey Kat, nice to see you… …as for your points, how do we know Ben isn’t sabotaging every pregnancy as a result of the psychological damage caused by his guilt for his mother’s death? It’s at least possible that babies can be born but Ben is stopping it from happening. Perhaps there’s a prophecy involving a child born on the island, so he’s ensuring that a child is never born on the island. It’s impossible to know what’s possible at this point…every attempted birth has Ben’s fingerprint on it, he could be manipulating the outcome in either direction, and his word isn’t enough evidence to believe babies can or can’t be born on the island.
As for cheeseburgers, I think they represent something you can’t get on an island. They imply a connection with the rest of the world. Also, I would think a cheeseburger would be at the top of their list if you asked 20 parolees.
rise… so good to see you, my friend. :-)
Hey Guys—thanks for the positive feedback and discussion.
wtf-yeah I couldn’t find that but assumed that since Malkin was the contact with the couple that Claire told him.
dab: Jack/Locke line up really well with the Science/Faith division in Brothers K—they’d be Ivan/Alysoha, except maybe that Ivan is Russian for John (though Jack is a version of the name John isn’t it?)—but I find it interesting that the Ben like character claims that part of the responsibility for the murder rests with Ivan (Jack’s) inability to believe.
rise: Hey good to see you! What you said about mourning parents made me think—what about the fathers in these pregnancies? The pregnant mothers die—so who were the fathers and why don’t we see them mourning the loss as you suggested?
Kat: the scene in which we see Juliet trying to save a pregnant woman (Sabine)—Juliet leaves the room which I remember thinking might support my old idea about the deaths being a hoax. Not sure whether that idea still holds, but here’s a c&p from my second pregancy hoax theory:
When Sabine “died,” it was either Goodwin or Ethan who announced that she was dead to Juliet. Juliet then walks out of the room in frustration. Does this indicate that the death may be a trick played on Juliet?
Juliet’s expertise before coming to the island was to make pregnant, people (or animals) who it could not conceive. But on the island conception supposedly is not a problem at all. Why, then, was Juliet chosen to come to the island? Is it in fact to aid in conceptions as this is her specialty and the stuff about higher sperm counts is more b.s.? What did they actually implant in Sawyer when they told him it was a pacemaker? Some kind of fertility enhancement? Maybe there’s even a kind of joke here—cause Sawyer become convined he’ll die when he sees the rabbit die. Well “the rabbit died” used to be a euphimism for learning that one was pregnant.
Perhaps all the women impregnated on the island are taken away from the island and sent back to the real world. The Others are told that they’re dead, meanwhile they’re raising Losties.
Kat - I think Sarah said ‘don’t worry, it’s negative’ to Jack because their relationship was falling apart and a pregnancy would’ve been a nightmare.