Jacob = Ra = The Light = Nirvana, Nemesis = Esau = Apep = Darkness
Jacob’s Nemesis = Apep = Esau
The producers have said that viewers would need to read their Bibles in order to keep up with the
events of the last couple seasons of Lost. I think, therefore, we can at least consider parallels
between the Jacbo of the Bible and Jacob on the island.
In The Bible, Jacob was the second born of twins. He was jealous of his brother’s birthright, Esau
being the firstborn, and took advantage of him – trading food for his birthrigth when Esau was in
need. But it didn’t stop there.
As their father Isaac lay dying, he asked Esau to go and prepare his last meal: game. While Esau
was hunting, Jacob and his mother Rebecca concocted a plan to trick Isaac (who was blind) into
believing Jacbo WAS Esau (going so far as to wear animal skins to emulate hairy arms). The trick
worked and Jacob stole Isaac’s dying wish of speaking a blessing over his firstborn. Esau vowed to
kill Jacob (Gen. 27:41). He never did, though.
The Bible does not record Esau ever dying, by the way. Jacob died, though, at 147.
That sounds like something right out of Lost. How many cons have their been, and how many father/son
struggles?
But I don’t think that Jacob of the Island IS Jacob of The Bible. Not exactly.
Jacob went on to change his name to “Israel,” and father the twelve tribes of Israel. He moved his
family to Egypt, and Israel’s captivity in Egypt ensued, by the way.
I think that LOST will posit that all world religions are really describing the same eternal
struggle: the struggle of good versus evil – of truth versus falsehood.
Some religions paint this as a war. The God of the Jews warred with many people and beings, including
Satan as well as throngs of non-believing humans. Buddhism sets the battlefield with truth on one
end, distraction on the other, and suffering everywhere between. The truth, they say, will shed its
light. Their teachers are enLIGHTened.
There are obvious references to Buddhism all over lost (DHARMA is chock-full of them). Even the
“frozen donkey wheel” could be seen as a reference to the Dharmacakra.
Now, let’s not forget Egyptology. There’s obviously plenty of that, too.
The statue is (far as we know) Tawaret – the demon wife of Apep – the Egyptian god of evil –
literally the deification of darkness – and foe of Ra – the deification of light. Taweret was said
to be aided by Sobek, the crocodile (whom some think the statue actually depicts, rather than
Taweret).
So we have light versus dark – Jacob versus Esau – Ra versus Apep. I think Lost is going to say that
they are all one and the same – literally.
Okay, put all that on the back-burner for a second.
Another story.
Phillip K. Dick had a weird experience once in which he lived out an event from one of his stories
in real life, down to minute details, years after having written it and forgetting all about it.
http://www.adherents.com/people/pd/Philip_K_Dick.html
It really freaked him out. He told his priest about it, who told him, “That’s the story of Acts!”
From the book of Acts, as in from The Bible.
PKD decided that what was really happening was that he was being tricked by Satan. That we all are.
That time is an illusion, and that all of human history boils down to one actual moment. The moment
when each of us chooses good or evil – truth or falsehood. It lead him into study of Taoism and all
manner of world religions.
So, back to the island. Remember Jacob and [I’ll call him] Esau’s conversation at the beginning of the episode.
Esau says “It always ends the same.” Jacob says “It only ends once, and anything before that is
just progress.” That’s Taoism. That’s PKD’s theory.
I think Jacob and Esau are good and evil. I think the island is the Garden of Eden, that it once existed
in the Fertile Crescent (birthplace of humanity) and that now, for whatever reason, it floats in and
out of space/time (The Bible tells of Eden being closed off from Adam after the fall, and guarded by
a flaming sword and an angel, by the way). This is why “the exit” (where you go after you turn the wheel)
takes you to Tunisia. I think that in the world of Lost, all the world religions
are interpretations of the events that have taken place between Jacob and Esau (that they were re-interpreted
as Ra and Apep, Jacob and Esau, etc.).
And I think the show will end with us seeing exactly how Jack got into the middle of that bamboo wood
without breaking the bottle in his pocket. And we will know that all of this has really been one moment.
But why take on a religious theme? Isn’t toay’s audience much more suited for aliens and government conspiracies?
I also think that a religious theme might be the dominant theme of the last series.
Just looking at the name of the name of the characters should be an indication:
– Jack and John are indeed other forms of the first name Jacob
– Jack is the son of Christian (follower of Christ) and the brother of Aaron (brother of Moses)
– Jack’s last name is shepard (a reference to Moses?)
– There are also references to Adam and Eve, Jacob and Esau, etc.
however, and i have to think more about this but i feel that Jacob could be the bad guy.
He also bears a strong physical resemblance to Aaron and that made me think back to the old episode where Charlie (a man of god) tried to kill Aaron.
Is there a possibility (timeloop theory or anything) that Jacob was in fact Aaron? I have no idea what i’m talking about but the obsession of the others with pregnant women, babies and children may have something do with it. Also, the fact that the father is CHRISTian, that we see the birth of Aaron several times and that Jack is his brother make me think this could be a possibility.
But this is only a gut feeling
wow :O amazing info and theories
Because aliens and government conspiracies aren’t universal human themes. The questions of good vs. evil that LOST is exploring and that tqbrady theorized on ARE universal human themes that have been discussed and written about throughout all of human history. Stories of aliens and conspiracies, time travel and bombs, plane crashes and crimes, are all merely vehicles used to explore and explain the meaning of human existence. That is, they make for good stories, but ultimately, what the stories mean on a deeper level are much broader and deal with topics that all world religions have been wrestling with since man realized that he was mortal. And yes, religions do seem out of fashion these days since moral relativism has taken over. BUT there is still such a thing as a moral good, and by extension, evil also exists, and mankind can only survive when good triumphs over evil. If evil should win in LOST, then it will be a very sad ending.
By the way, tqbrady, I really like your post! I especially like your comment on Jack waking up in the bamboo jungle with the bottle intact! I never made that connection before, and I’ve watched that pilot episode at least 3 times!!
Thanks! Yeah, the Jack in the bamboo thing was pointed out to me by a friend. I didn’t notice either!
Great theory! I have no objections for this theory at this moment!
Without breaking the plastic bottle in his pocket?
moli-LOVE your theory on Aaron being Jacob but why would Jacob be called Jacob? Not saying your theory isnt true I would love it if it were but I have to wonder that. One thing though I thought that Christian is Clair’s father, making Jack Aarons Uncle?
Speaking of Clair, still dont know what happened to her and it still bothers me.
tqbrady, Now this is how you write a theory!
You created a story that is believable and incorporated all the mythology, including how it directly references Lost!
You substantiated your claims. Whether this turns out to be the case, or not, you did a very good job at selling it! Kudos for that!
The writers have stated that we will need to know our bibliography for the final season.
I am certain they will use many metaphors and the symbolism will be worked into the story.
Nice work!
Thanks!
Interesting theories. I agree this definately has something to do with good vs evil, way back in season one when locke teaches walt backgammon he holds up the two pieces… one white, one black.
Then in the most recent episode with Jacob and Esau for lack of a name, notice Jacob is wearing a white shirt and Esau is wearing a black shirt.
I dont think Jacob is the bad guy because he tells linus despite what locke or Esau has told him he still has a choice… which is god’s thing… freewill.
Despite agreeing with the good evil thing i disagree with your egyptian theory that the statue is Taweret. I believe it is Anubis, Taweret has a big belly and no Ankh. Anubis was known for embalming and he was also the protector of the dead and carried the dead into the afterlife. Consequently he was also the one who would weigh the heart against the feather of truth or Judge… like the black smoke?? If you google Anubis, i think most would agree it is he and not Tawaret.
One thing i do find wierd is, Linus was judged by the black smoke, after which his daughter told him to do whatever Locke (esau) told him, which turns out to be, to kill jacob. Then again the smoke is black? not really sure what to make of it. Season 5 definately was awesome and I’m really looking forward to season 6.
Also I cannot remember which episode it was and which character exactly, although i believe it was hurley and it was when they had left the island and people were trying to convince them to come back. There is a van that approaches Hurley(if it was hurley) and the guy in the passenger seat says “we are the good guys” and they are telling him to go back. That guys is the same guy carrying the real locke(corpse) with that girl who asks Richard Alpert the riddle what lies in the shadow of the statue. Same guy also tells Lapidis they are the good guys. And who can deny Hurley is a good guy?
anyways, not that this has anything to do with anything, the answer Richard gives in Latin is “He who will save us All” and the thread that Jacob is making in the beginning of the episode reads in Greek something to the extent “What the God’s giveth, They can taketh away.” which is pretty interesting and probably deserves its own thread.
This saying comes from the Book of Job. Job was a righteous man who Satan challenged god saying he was only that way because his life was good. God accepts the challenge and lets Satan torment him by removing his wealth, killing his family members and plaguing him with boils etc. Job never blasphemes God, and in the end God rewards him even more so than he had previously. The interesting thing is, That it was always Locke who said his faith was being tested… like when he could not open the Hatch, so i find it somewhat strange that it is Locke (although the fake one) who ends up back in that room with Jacob. not sure this had anything to do with anything.
Lastly, Did anyone notice that when the show normally ends, as we have always seen it, its been a black background with the white lost logo and the noise, and when the season 5 finale ends it is the opposite? A white background with a somewhat black logo? I thought that was strange.