LOST-Theories.com

“I’m sorry, John, that you are too close-minded to see Jacob”. -Ben Linus

“Don’t tell me what I can’t do!” -John Locke

“Let it go, Jack” - Christian Shepherd.

— jquan23

Most of these “special” characters have one thing in common. Their imaginations were unique. Imagination can open doors to the human mind. What if one of the factors to Valenzi equation is Human imagination? The world has always continued to move forward due to human inventions brought by imagination. The light bulb, car, atomic bombs, WMD, and other creations started as simple imaginations.

Ben first comes to the island as a child. His loneliness on the island brought out his imaginative side. Who wouldn’t be bored on an island where there is nothing but work and school? His imagination is somehow felt by the island, which projects them to the thinker. Ben sees his mother on the island. How does Ben know this is his mother? He was born after her death, so how could he know his mom when he sees her? Simple answer. Ben was already thinking about his mother after Ben’s father blamed Ben for her death. These thoughts of his mom manifested. When Ben runs into Richard, Ben explains that he can see his mother on the island, even though she is dead. This intrigues Richard for two reasons:

1) Ben’s imagination is strong enough to manifest images. 2) Ben actually admits seeing something that is quite impossible.

I’ll explain #2. Jack has seen his dead father walking around the island. This displeases Jack to see these “hallucinations”. He dismisses these images as tricks, and doesn’t believe he seeing his father. He feels this is impossible, which makes him have a “closed-mind”. Ben’s “open-mindedness” let anything seem possible to see or do. Oh yeah, just to tickle your brain, re-watch the episode where John Locke meets Jacob for the first time. Guess what Ben accuses John Locke after he cannot see Jacob?

This kind of attitude can be seen through out history. Many invention, such as flight, were thought to be impossible, but few individuals refused to believe this.

John Locke’s birth is a miracle. Some thought it would be impossible for such a premature baby to survive, even after his mother was hit by a vehicle. It is possible John’s mental toughness overcame his physical weaknesses, a major theme we see with John Locke. When he is visited by Richard as a young child, he performs a test to see his abilities. This is where John picks out a Knife out of the sand, compass, comic book, and glove. It is possible Richard already knows John is special, but is he “ready”. The compass and sand, both represent the imagination and exploration side of the human mind. The comic book and glove represent a normal child. If John picked one of these, Richard would just walk out, undisturbed. But since John picked the knife, which represents war, pain, fear, and anger. Qualities which has brought self-destruction to civilization. For this reason, Richard leaves with disappointment. Richard feels John is not ready at this point. When he visits John as a teenager, he leave a brochure with one of John’s teachers. This, however, is not accepted by John Locke, as you still notice this person is still bottled with anger. He leaves with a burst and yells “Don’t tell me what I can’t do!”. This quote can be explained in two meanings:

1) John Locke wants to choose his own destiny. 2) John Locke wants to do things others believe he cannot do.

Both of these meanings can be right, but I feel like he was using the 2nd meaning. This can be seen by him being picked at school for not fitting in. John wants to be the quarterback, all-star, popular kid. But he ends up a loser at a box company. This turns around, however, when he starts his new life on the island. He can walk again. He kills a boar. He has visions. Locke feels the connection with the island. However, his anger keeps him from benefiting from the island completely. You also notice when he flashes back to the days when his father steal his kidneys, John is losing his “abilities” on the island (the episode where Boone is killed). The reason the show ties in flashbacks with character is because the characters are currently thinking about it. This is the reason why many flashes tie in with what is current happening.

Another character who experiences this is Jack. When he is captured by the others on Hydra Island, he starts flashing back to when his father told him the “let it go, Jack”. Immediately after he comes back to reality, the intercom next to him quotes his father’s words. How is this possible when the intercom doesn’t work? It is Jack’s imagination which the island is projecting back to him. The island is trying to help Jack “let go”. For this reason, Jack doesn’t show his “special abilities” because he has not let go, and exhibits a closed mind. The reason Locke begins to show special abilities is when his father, the main reason for his troubled past, is killed. This brings a lot of closure to Locke, “freeing” him from his bonds, as on the others call it.

Kate and her dark horse. Walt and the polar bear. Hurley and Dave’s slipper. The pattern is constant.

This theory may not explain everything, but it is one aspect of LOST. I have a feeling there will be several theories which is used to explain Lost, which makes it so dam good to watch! =)

Key characters

Short Name	Full Name	Episodes	Theories
Anthony	Anthony Cooper		186
Ben	Benjamin Linus	3.20, 4.9, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13	1716
Emily	Emily Locke		126
John	John Locke	3.3, 2.17, 1.4, 1.19, 3.13, 3.19, 4.11, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13	1231
Walt	Walter “Walt” Lloyd	2.2, 1.14	345

Key episodes

#	Title	Aired	Central character	Theories
3.20	The Man Behind The Curtain	5-9-2007	Ben	412

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