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(→‎Other ideas: re:Anthony Cooper, I don't understand how this fits in with the events of 3x20, considering Cooper is now dead?)
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* In [[Not in Portland]] when Juliet is looking at the monitors, there for a quick flash on a monitor is a shack and the film is slightly fuzzy. (I will do my best to get this shot on here)
 
* In [[Not in Portland]] when Juliet is looking at the monitors, there for a quick flash on a monitor is a shack and the film is slightly fuzzy. (I will do my best to get this shot on here)
   
  +
==Grey powder==
 
*The substance that surrounds the Jacob's cabin may well be gunpowder: Ben may have placed it inside and around the house in order to destroy it and anything inside if need be. However, the way it is arranged as well as the manner in which he carefully steps over it as he approaches the house evokes images of the circles used in magic to contain and command otherworldly entities. If the circle is broken, the entity can escape, and it usually seeks revenge on the person who imprisoned it.
 
**If this is true it would make sense that Jacob could not leave the circle in human form, but rather as the monster, enraged because he has been trapped by Ben.
 
**In some culture (possibly an eastern one, though I don't completely recall) it is believed that ghosts and other spirits are unable to cross a line of salt. Jacob could be a spirit of some sort, perhaps in some respect related to Ben's mother and the whispering in the jungle.
 
**Perhaps the gunpowder is what [[Rousseau]] took from the [[Black Rock]] in the previous episode. She may have been secretly following Ben and his camp and wants to blow up the shack.
 
**The mysterious substance surrounding Jacob's cabin may be "goofer dust."
 
   
 
==Jars==
 
==Jars==

Revision as of 16:02, 10 May 2007

Main Article Theories about
Jacob
Main Discussion
 Theories may be removed if ... 
  1. Stated as questions or possibilities (avoid question marks, "Maybe", "I think", etc).
  2. More appropriate for another article.
  3. Illogical or previously disproven.
  4. Proven by canon source, and moved to main article.
  5. Speculative and lacking any evidence to support arguments.
  6. Responding to another theory (use discussion page instead).
  • This does not include responses that can stand alone as its own theory.
  • Usage of an indented bullet does not imply the statement is a response.

See the Lostpedia theory policy for more details.

Identity

Specific characters

Charles Widmore

  • Pros: Seems to be at the least one of the key "powers" that a number of characters connect to (i.e. Widmore, Hanso, Paik).
  • Cons: Charles was in Scotland just before Desmond left for his race and crashed on the Island. Desmond most likely learned about the Others, whom he called "hostiles", through Kelvin - which would suggest the Others have been on the Island for a long time. Thus, it would make sense that Jacob has lived on the Island many years before Desmond arrived. Jacob lives on the Island, as shown in "The Man Behind the Curtain".
  • Conclusion: Considering Charles's stature in the "real world", it is doubtful that he resides on the Island with the Others.

Gerald DeGroot

  • Pros: Is one of the DHARMA Initiative founders, and so is directly involved with the former activities on the Island. "DeGroot" also means "the Great" in Dutch, perhaps linking to Ben's description of "Him" as "a great man".
  • Cons: DHARMA and the Others are enemies. If DeGroot was on the Island during the Purge, he could not be Jacob. He wouldn't hate technology the way Jacob does.
  • Conclusion: Despite criticism, Gerald DeGroot seems one of the more plausible theories, as we know he did for a time at least live on the Island. DHARMA and the Others were not always enemies, only since the purge.

Alvar Hanso

  • Pros: Founder of the Hanso Foundation, who funded the DHARMA Initiative, so possibly is idolized in some way by the Others. In addition, the screenshot of Jacob from "The Man Behind the Curtain" bears a striking resemblance to Hanso.
  • Cons: In the Lost Experience, Alvar is in Norway in September 2006, and says he has been held as a prisoner in his home by Thomas Mittelwerk. Plus DHARMA and the Others are enemies.
  • Conclusion: Alvar Hanso would seem like a reasonable candidate for "Him", but factual information from the Lost Experience does cast some doubt on the theory.

Magnus Hanso

  • Pros: Due to the regenerative powers of the Island, Magnus might have lived this long and taken on some of the stranger characteristics of the Island as a result. Any resemblance to Alvar Hanso could be explained. We don't know if Magnus has a middle name. Jacob hates technology like a flashlight, but oil lamps are fine. Jacob's house has chains hung throughout it, like the Black Rock.
  • Cons: Magnus is probably dead, and his "confirmed final resting place" is a part of the Blast Door Map. Although, the final resting place could very well be his cabin.
  • Conclusion: Due to the events of "The Man Behind the Curtain", this is a possible theory to consider.

Thomas Mittelwerk

  • Pros: Information from the Lost Experience suggests Mittelwerk, who took over as the Hanso Foundation leader, has a similar ethic to the Others; willing to kill in order to obtain some "greater good". Both he and the Others seem to be motivated by an "ends justifies the means" school of thought.
  • Cons: Mittelwerk is present in the "outside world" during the Lost Experience, and seems to have taken time establishing himself in the Hanso Foundation. Thus, its probable he wouldn't be on the Island in relation to the Lost time line of late 2004. Jacob lives on the Island, and Mittlewerk wouldn't hate technology the way Jacob does.
  • Conclusion: Mittelwerk does not seem the most likely candidate for Jacob due to chronology, but similarities between he and the Others is striking, suggesting Mittelwerk could somehow be connected to them on another level.

Enzo Valenzetti

  • Pros: Enzo apparently died in a plane crash, but could have actually survived and disappeared to live on the Island. As the founder of the Valenzetti Equation, his research sparked the DHARMA Initiative itself.
  • Cons: Valenzetti may have actually died in his plane crash, and so could not possibly be Jacob. Besides that, the plane crash was in Europe. Also, Rachel Blake's evidence in the Lost Experience suggested Valenzetti was in hiding in Italy.
  • Conclusion: This theory seems perfectly plausible, as Valenzetti's importance to the Island's mysteries (e.g. the Numbers) seems quite profound.

Kelvin Joe Inman

  • Pros: Kelvin could have survived Desmond's assault, being found by the Others, where he became a leader figure with his extensive CIA and DIA training knowledge. Alternatively, when leaving Desmond in the Swan, Kelvin could have been returning to the Others' camp to pass on information.
  • Cons: It seems doubtful that he could have survived the force at which Desmond hit him against the rocks. Kelvin also worked for DHARMA (the enemy of the Others), seemed depressed about his life in the Swan and there seems no simple explanation for the 3-year deception he would have had to have played on Desmond.
  • Conclusion: The idea behind this is valid, but evidence would seem to suggest that the latter part of the theory at least is unfounded, whilst the former is rather unlikely.

Jack Shephard

  • Pros: In "Stranger in a Strange Land", Jack is told in a flashback that he is a "great leader". At the end of the same episode, Isabel tells him that the Chinese symbols on his tattoo mean "he walks among us, but he is not one of us", but Jack tells her "that's what they say, but it's not what they mean". The expression on Ben's face as he looks at Jack while boarding the boat seem to indicate some reverence toward Jack. Jack's name is derived from Jacob, and the fact that he "wasn't even on Jacob's list" may indicate that Jack and Jacob are one and the same. It would also explain how Jack knows about The Others' plan to take the Losties' pregnant women, and the nessage in the brainwashing video in Room 23, 'Only fools are enslaved by time and space.'
  • Cons: 'He' was presumably already known to the Others before Flight 815 crashed, so it seems unlikely that a stranger such as Jack - who Ben admitted they were trying to "break" - would be Jacob. Ben's apparent reverence toward Jack may be due to his being grateful that Jack saved his life in spite of them being enemies. Jack was also beaten up by Ethan Rom in "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues", which wouldn't strongly suggest that he is not their leader. Jack was with Juliet when Ben and Locke met with Jacob.
  • Conclusion: Overall an unlikely candidate, since he seems to be unfamiliar to the Others (aside from them knowing things about him like they know about everyone else on the flight), and due to his confrontations with Ethan. However, the name coincidence (Jacob) and his designation as "a great leader" are good evidence for the possibility, as is the fact he refused to return to the Island with Kate and Sawyer.

John Locke

  • Pros: Given the possibility of cyclical time on the Island, Locke could also be Jacob. In this theory, Locke would need to be much older as Jacob. The potential would exist for a young Locke to meet up with an older Locke (Jacob) at some point. The biblical Jacob was a trickster, and Locke tricked Sawyer into killing Cooper. Locke was asked "are you Him" by Desmond, to which he replied yes. Locke has a special connection to the Island, which, if a cyclical time situation exists, would give him unique insight. Also, Locke has stated he has no plans to leave the Island in the event of rescue. In addition, comparing Jacob and Locke's portraits together reveal a stunning similarity.
  • Cons: The theory requires acceptance of a cyclical time stream on the Island. Locke refused to believe that Jacob exists in "The Man Behind the Curtain".
  • Conclusion: Overall, the cyclical time stream may yet be true, but Locke is probably not Jacob.

Non-specific characters

A Peter Coyote character

  • Pros: Peter Coyote is the Lost narrator for recap episodes, leading to some regarding him as the "all seeing eyes" on the Island, a quality Jacob might exhibit.
  • Cons: Jacob could be someone we have previously already encountered in the show.
  • Conclusion: There is little one can argue with this theory when there is no actual reference character, but it could certainly be possible that Coyote will be one day cast as Jacob.

God

  • Pros: Consider: "If I tell you about them, you don't know what he'll do!", "He is a great man, a brilliant man, but not a forgiving man.", "He'll kill me!", "He" will kill him for failing his mission. Also, Ben continuously states that the Others do not kill - one of the ten commandments
  • Cons: Ben asks Jack if he believes in God. Hinted to the plane crashing with a spinal surgeon two days after he was diagnosed. Ben's mission is to get Jack to perform the surgery or Jacob will ultimately take his life through Cancer.
  • Conclusion: Seems like a bit of a stretch. Ben has shown no other likeness to being religious. Additionally, many traditions hold God to be forgiving. Besides, even if "He" were not to be divine, he could still infect Ben with cancer, possibly via radiation.

The Island

  • Pros: Has the ability to heal inhabitants (e.g. Locke, Rose), and could, as a commonly held fan theory suggests, punish survivors for their sins. It's human form as seen in "The Man Behind the Curtain" could be a figment of the individual who is seeing it's imagination.
  • Cons: The idea that the Others' leader is an inanimate piece of land seems very implausible.
  • Conclusion: The Island is undoubtedly unique in a number of ways, but too many references have been to Jacob being a man rather than an abstract concept.

The Monster

  • Pros: It was hinted in the Official Lost Podcast that the Monster was visible in Season 2, but perhaps wasn't noticeable. The Monster could possibly be watching the survivors and in contact with the Others. Jacob has unusual qualities as seen in "The Man Behind the Curtain".
  • Cons: Evidence seems to suggest that the Monster is a "security system", perhaps mechanical, so is probably not Jacob himself.
  • Conclusion: The Monster itself does not seem likely to be Jacob, but so little is known about it that it is possible it could take human form. It could also be argued that the Monster is controlled by this mysterious individual.

Other ideas

  • Jacob is a completely new character who we haven't yet met.
  • Jacob is a psychic character with powers similar to Walt, and can judge people like the Monster.
  • "Jacob" is the last name of a character we have already met.
  • Jacob is the central human deity of the Others' religious cult, analogous to Jesus, Moses, Muhammed, etc. Jacob's list of 'good people' was actually made hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago and is a prophecy. This religion has been waiting for the 'good people' to arrive for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, and the Others believe the 'good people' have been sent by divine intervention on Flight 815. In Jacob-mythology, there is a parable in which Jacob lost a toe for some reason.
  • Jacob is the author of a list of prophecies describing future events to be experienced by the Others. Jacob is a great man (he predicts that the Others will do great things), a brilliant man (his prophecies are especially precise and detailed), but not a forgiving man (the prophecies must be fulfilled exactly lest disastrous consequences occur).
  • Jacob's name is another reference to the Old Testament, specifically Jacob's Ladder. Jacob is revered because he can communicate with Angels or spirits.
  • Jacob's name is a reference to the Ladder Paradox which was being researched by DHARMA Initiative.
  • Jacob is no longer alive. His consciousness is present on the Island though, it manifests itself as a whisper.
  • Jacob could possibly refer to Jacob Vanderfield, a man, revealed during the Lost Experience, who is on the Board of Directors for the Hanso Foundation.
  • The title of the episode "The Man Behind the Curtain" seems to make reference to the Wizard of Oz. Ben could be the man behind the curtain, using the idea of Jacob to control The Others and remain in power, just as the wizard does to the people of Emerald City.
  • He is a healer -- and considering the line of Wizard of Oz references, it would be easy for a skilled and charismatic surgeon to convince people in need of leadership that he is a mystical healer.
  • Jacob is an old man who is attached to something that looks like a heart monitor. He is giving his life force for the Island's healing powers.
  • Jacob is a member of the crew of the Black Rock, possibly the captain. His clothing appears to be of that era. This could also explain his aversion to technology.
  • Jacob's non-corporeal state was caused the incident, hence his hatred of technology.
  • Jacob is a psychic manifestaion of Ben's split personality.
  • Whoever sees Jacob sees him as themself - this is why Jacob looked like Locke in "The Man Behind the Curtain".

Actions

  • The list is the Middle Section version of the list Ana-Lucia found on the dead Other, listing details about the tailies in "The Other 48 Days". It may be a list of "good" people for the Others to kidnap, which has interesting implications for Jack.
  • Sawyer and Kate aren't on Jacob's list either. They are there to con Jack.
    • We know Kate isn't on the list, but we don't know about Sawyer.
      • We know Sawyer is a self described bad person.
        • We don't know that self-described bad means your off the list.
  • Sun would actually seem to be a good original candidate for the list, but her killing of one of the Others disqualified her by Season 2.
    • She slept with another man while being married to Jin. Depending on the extent of the Others information and their opinions on relationships, she could be excluded because of this.
  • Using remote viewing, he has watched the Island the whole time, including the survivors.
  • In Not in Portland when Juliet is looking at the monitors, there for a quick flash on a monitor is a shack and the film is slightly fuzzy. (I will do my best to get this shot on here)


Jars

  • The jars on Jacob's window sill are remains from failed island pregnancies. All the fertility experiments on the island are in fact staged sacrifices to Jacob.