Locke - from a superman to just a man..

Presto! · 05-31-2006, 06:13 AM

In the season 2 finale, Locke showed us a part of his character we had not seen on the island since he temporarily lost his legs.... true and utter humanity. The only difference now is that there is no hiding behind the facade of a superman anymore. When he utters "I was wrong" to Eko, his expression is of true and utter regret and horror. A tired and dishevled old man who who may have killed everyone with his choice...

When he first arrived, he acted as the superhero he had fantasized about becoming. He thought the island had somehow granted his wish like a genie in a magic lamp. He truly thought he was more than human. His curiosity, however, reminded him just how fragile he was... he followed a dream and discovered his cryptonite: the hatch.

From that moment, the magic aura was slowly removed.. his fantasy life became reconnected to the context of the man-made world. The once wonderous mysteries of the island started having a cold, mechanical face. The loneliness and desperation of his past caught up with him. Even when the island gave him reasons to keep having faith (the door map, the dream of Eko's brother, etc.), his strength was deteriorating. Eventually, all Locke became was a powerless mortal who needed a hero to save him.

In contrast, each discovery of the Dharma Initiative strengthened Eko's faith. The cold mechanical face gave him more reason to believe that there was purpose beyond what his eyes could see. Eko became the superhero and John was the man he was saving.

Perhaps season 3 will give us a Locke seeking redemption. Will he reclaim it? I can't wait to find out. I miss my favorite superhero!

juice · 05-31-2006, 08:37 AM

i do go back and forth between these two characters for who is my favorite (locke and eko). the faith thing has been the primary draw -- faith and redemption.

so, yeah, i'd like to see locke get his mojo back next season.

nerium · 05-31-2006, 10:26 AM

I like the idea of getting Locke back to form, but I think he still has a lot in front of him. Not sure I like the Superman comparison that much just because Superman is such an icon for the potential of humanity, all the good, self-sacrificing stuff we could do if we just got past our own nature, whereas I always caught Locke as having ALWAYS been the everyman who is mistakenly percieved as a Superman. Doubt and despair are his kryptonite- after all, he's always talking about Destiny, but if you really truly believe you have a destiny then you're going to have to believe that you can accomplish it. So I think Locke needs have faith in destiny and all the other things that make him great will sort of fall back into place.

juice · 05-31-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nerium

I like the idea of getting Locke back to form, but I think he still has a lot in front of him. Not sure I like the Superman comparison that much just because Superman is such an icon for the potential of humanity, all the good, self-sacrificing stuff we could do if we just got past our own nature, whereas I always caught Locke as having ALWAYS been the everyman who is mistakenly percieved as a Superman. Doubt and despair are his kryptonite- after all, he's always talking about Destiny, but if you really truly believe you have a destiny then you're going to have to believe that you can accomplish it. So I think Locke needs have faith in destiny and all the other things that make him great will sort of fall back into place.

locke is a superman, ala Nietsche (not the Siegel and Shuster creation for DC Comics®), and so is a self-actualized man (at least on the island). he is as he sees himself, and not seeing himself strong and wise makes him weak and foolish.

not-henry played with that fact of his self-image/being.

nerium · 06-01-2006, 07:03 AM

Okay, much better distinction and I should have recognized it. My only excuse is that I've seen the 'Returns' trailers too much lately.

Jack'sLover#! · 12-27-2006, 04:06 PM

I actually like how Locke doubted himself, even though he was wrong. I hate the decitful man Locke is. So, when I saw doubt, I saw a humanity.

05-31-2006, 06:13 AM	#1
Presto! Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 30	Locke - from a superman to just a man.. In the season 2 finale, Locke showed us a part of his character we had not seen on the island since he temporarily lost his legs.... true and utter humanity. The only difference now is that there is no hiding behind the facade of a superman anymore. When he utters "I was wrong" to Eko, his expression is of true and utter regret and horror. A tired and dishevled old man who who may have killed everyone with his choice... When he first arrived, he acted as the superhero he had fantasized about becoming. He thought the island had somehow granted his wish like a genie in a magic lamp. He truly thought he was more than human. His curiosity, however, reminded him just how fragile he was... he followed a dream and discovered his cryptonite: the hatch. From that moment, the magic aura was slowly removed.. his fantasy life became reconnected to the context of the man-made world. The once wonderous mysteries of the island started having a cold, mechanical face. The loneliness and desperation of his past caught up with him. Even when the island gave him reasons to keep having faith (the door map, the dream of Eko's brother, etc.), his strength was deteriorating. Eventually, all Locke became was a powerless mortal who needed a hero to save him. In contrast, each discovery of the Dharma Initiative strengthened Eko's faith. The cold mechanical face gave him more reason to believe that there was purpose beyond what his eyes could see. Eko became the superhero and John was the man he was saving. Perhaps season 3 will give us a Locke seeking redemption. Will he reclaim it? I can't wait to find out. I miss my favorite superhero! __________________ Hm, I zoomed in on the foot... do you see anything?

05-31-2006, 10:26 AM	#3
nerium Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11	I like the idea of getting Locke back to form, but I think he still has a lot in front of him. Not sure I like the Superman comparison that much just because Superman is such an icon for the potential of humanity, all the good, self-sacrificing stuff we could do if we just got past our own nature, whereas I always caught Locke as having ALWAYS been the everyman who is mistakenly percieved as a Superman. Doubt and despair are his kryptonite- after all, he's always talking about Destiny, but if you really truly believe you have a destiny then you're going to have to believe that you can accomplish it. So I think Locke needs have faith in destiny and all the other things that make him great will sort of fall back into place. __________________ "Where's the beer?" -Nero Wolfe

06-01-2006, 07:03 AM	#5
nerium Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11	Okay, much better distinction and I should have recognized it. My only excuse is that I've seen the 'Returns' trailers too much lately. __________________ "Where's the beer?" -Nero Wolfe

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-31-2006, 08:37 AM	#2
juice Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 69	i do go back and forth between these two characters for who is my favorite (locke and eko). the faith thing has been the primary draw -- faith and redemption. so, yeah, i'd like to see locke get his mojo back next season.

12-27-2006, 04:06 PM	#6
Jack'sLover#! Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 78	I actually like how Locke doubted himself, even though he was wrong. I hate the decitful man Locke is. So, when I saw doubt, I saw a humanity.