Saturday, December 1, 2007

"Random Quirky Mystery - Part 3 "

Once in a while bloggers will bring up the subject of why Ben can't or won't leave the island, especially in light of the fact that he was sick and needed treatment. I think that this is a very interesting question, also since Ben doesn't seem to have any friends on the island -- through his own fault or that of his circumstances. He's pretty much a man alone in a crowd which he expressed with his quote from "Of Mice And Men" to Sawyer.

We know that Ben was not too happy as a child living on the island with his dad, and as an adult he seemed to be as disgusted with the DIs as his father was, albeit maybe for different reasons. Assuming that people actually can come and go from the island, as we witnessed Richard doing, why doesn't Ben leave? Is it because on the island he is a very important big fish in a little pond, and back in the world he would be a nobody in a big pond? Or could Jacob possibly kill Ben from afar, like he supposedly healed Juliet's sister, if he jumped on the sub and ditched his island responsibilities?

I suppose that there is the chance that Ben really did come to love the special island where fate (or Mrs. Hawking?) placed him as a child. Or he might have grown a close sympathy for the island's indigenous people who love the island, and he wants to help them to keep it sacred. Worst case scenario, he really wants to leave but he is Jacob's (or Hawking's) island puppet and has no choice at all. That explanation might also reveal why he has no sympathy for others like Juliet who are trapped there-- because if he can't leave, why should they be able to? This is another case where I hope that we can look back and see the light about this mystery before the end of the series comes.

10 comments:

maven said...

This is such a good question, Capcom, and one that is central to the mystery of LOST. I think we can speculate ad infinitum, but we still are missing pieces to this puzzle. Ben seems to be in control of other people, but not of himself. This question better be on TPTB's agenda! LOL

Capcom said...

You're right, I hate to complain, even though I do it so often haha, but this should definitely be one of the points that TPTB reveal in the future. :-)

It would also be interesting if it turns out that Ben was "meant" to be on the island like Dez. Maybe there are similar reasons why they are both stuck on the island.

memphish said...

I think Ben probably is meant to be on the Island just like Dez Capcom. And for some reason Ben actually knows and understands why this is. Why he won't share that information is getting infuriating. I'm guessing Juliet is also "meant" to be on the Island which is why Ben won't let her leave either. Possibly also Locke and Walt. I'm so ready for S4 to start even if we only get 8 episodes.

Capcom said...

Interesting thought about Juliet! Kind of gives some substantial meaning to the thoughtful glare that she gave Dez when she was setting up her new beach tent. That is, as if she senses that there is something between them that they share but she doesn't know what....namely, a lifetime of covert manipulation by Mrs.Hawking.

Or, she was just wondering about the Scottish guy that they had no info on. :-)

memphish said...

You'd think in Desmond's 3 years in the Swan that Ben's group would have seen him and compiled data on him, wouldn't you? And yet he seems to be a wildcard when it comes to the Others. Hmmmm.

Capcom said...

Right Memphish, it is. Unless, he never really felt that inclined to tell Kelvin much about himself, except for how he got there. Then even if the Others did monitor them, they might not learn enough to get a starting point for collecting data for a dossier on him. Just a guess.

Do we know how much time Dez spent with Kelvin and then by himself after Kelvin died? If Kelvin died soon after he got there, there would be no one for Dez to talk to about himself for the remaining time anyway, and then no conversations for the Others to get info from.

Capcom said...

P.S. on the theory of Dez and Juliet being meant to be there, they have both been on the island 3 years, right?

Paula Abdul Alhazred said...

I think it's really clear that those who have a communion with the island do not want to leave. The island seems to be far preferable to the outside world, in their minds. (Ben, Locke, Rose, etc). Plus, Ben seems to know just how important the island is in the grand scheme of things, and is willing to do whatever he can to protect it. He's willing to sacrifice whoever necessary in order to keep this island safe. If he's that devoted, there's no reason for him to want to leave.

Besides, in the real world he'd be nobody. On the island, he gets to be a president and a prophet. Not bad, eh?

memphish said...

Capcom, Kelvin knew Des. was in the British army and kicked out. I'd guess they shared at least some of their stories. It would just depend on if anyone was watching when they did.

It seems inconsistent that the Others could get dossiers on the 815 survivors, but not Desmond. Unless Kelvin was working with them and he was handling it. Maybe Kelvin just told Desmond they were Hostiles for his own escape plans. It seems like he and Mikhail were recruited in a similar fashion. I know TPTB have said that Kelvin was DI, but maybe he still was part of the Others.

Desmond was only by himself for the amount of time the 815ers were on Island. Remember, he caused their crash on the day he "killed" Kelvin.

Capcom said...

Oh, yeahyeahyeah, duh! Heheh. :o)