Lost A Multiverse of Existence

My theory about what is actually happening on Lost involves a concept not yet introduced by the show. The concept to which I refer is the existence of a multiverse (or meta-universe, metaverse) consistent of parallel universes and/or alternative realities.

In short, time and space are not the only things the Losties are traveling through. It seems to me that the “pocket of energy” (and that’s as specific as anyone can be about what it actually is) and anything charged with this “energy” (The Island, The Losties, etc) can not only transcend time and space, but the very fabric of the multiverse. Remember when Daniel Faraday theorizes about the amount of “exposure” relative to people’s flashes? He’s talking about people being charged with whatever this “energy” is.

Notice that in all the time spent on the island by the survivors of the Oceanic flight before the Oceanic 6 left, no one saw anything indicative of any of them having already been there in the 70’s. That’s because in that reality none of them lived in the 70’s. Additionally it seems just as likely that those that landed in the present as a result of their return trip did not return to their reality of origin. “The island is always moving”. That’s why there is only present evidence of any Losties having lived in the 70’s in season 5.

Remember Desmond’s visions of Charlie’s death? We already know from certain episodes where it’s made quite plain that some characters’ consciousnesses can travel back and forth through time. Now apply this idea to alternative realities as well. It’s just as likely if not more so that Desmond’s consciousness flashed to other realities in which Charlie dies different ways. Remember Desmond saying “in another life, brother?”

He was more or less right. More accurately it should have been “in other lives”.

It seems to me as well that the multiverse of Lost consists of the realms of the living and the dead. This is why some of the dead people on Lost return. They’re not alive and yet they can exist amongst the living. The opposite is also true. Some of the living exist among the inhabitants of the death realm. I figure anyone exposed to enough of the “energy” (on one plane of existence or another at any time) falls into this category. Why couldn’t Michael kill himself? Life and death no longer apply to him because he probably already died. That’s why. He now transcends both life and death as many of the characters likely do especially if they spent an extended amount of time in close proximity to the “pocket” and/or have died. I say “on one plane of existence or another” because it appears that any you in any reality can become charged with the “energy” thereby charging all yous (?) on every other plane where you exist.

This is why protecting the island and keeping the energy under control is so important. If they don’t, they risk destabilizing the entire multiverse. More and more exposure would lead ultimately to less and less separating all the planes of existence.

Everything would become utter chaos as all the alternative realities converge. This convergence seems to be the goal Jacob is working toward. “It only ends once.” His nemesis seems to be trying to contain the “energy” thus preserving the multiverse and its ifinite realities. Look at Jacobs’ tapestry. There are a few people on the bottom. There are more just above them, and then there’s a giant glowing orb above them. This could represent people from one reality meeting themselves from other realities. This would have the appearance of people multiplying wouldn’t it? Jacob says “They’re coming.” The orb at the top of the tapestry likely represents the ultimate convergence of all realities into one.

Jacob and his nemesis could likely be human just like everyone else. The only reason why Jacob’s nemesis can’t kill him is because Jacob’s nemesis is already dead and Jacob isn’t. Notice that many of the characters on Lost have killed people for one reason or another, but none of the dead people have killed anyone after returning. The agelessness of Jacob and Richard is merely caused by transcendence of time. They could have both lived without aging for hundreds if not thousands of years without aging if the rules of time don’t apply to them. The more you’re exposed, the less the rules apply.

However, though it seems people can transcend life and death on Lost, that doesn’t mean that any of the characters are immortal. The smoke monster that has “judged” multiple characters appears to be a possible ultimate terminus. If the smoke monster judges against you, you are not only killed, but ended. Your existence on all planes is done.

Some knowledge of the island, the energy, the islands inhabitants, etc has undoubtedly found its way into the normal world throughout history resulting in myths and legends that have spread world wide as they’ve evolved and/or taken different forms. In this way Echo’s church he was building is likely just like the giant statue built by Egyptians. They are monuments to an interpretation of what’s going on. Many religious scholars note incredible similarities between ancient Egyptian religion and the region of Christianity. The same can be said of other religions as well. This often is attributed to possible basis in commonly observed astronomical phenomena. The Lost multiverse simply adds another piece to this puzzle of common yet vastly differing myths.

Lastly it seems that love plays a very important role in the Lost multiverse, as it links characters across all the realities. Notice that Hurley (arguably the show’s most lovable character) is the one most visited by the deceased. Jacob assures Hurley that this is not a curse. I wouldn’t call love a curse either though I’m sure at times it can seem that way to us all. This is undoubtedly why the show often focuses heavily on the role of love or lack thereof in the character’s lives.

Anyway… My little theory doesn’t exactly account for all the mysterious aspects of Lost yet, but I think it is probably damn close to accurate. I’m open to reader’s thoughts or questions.