Josh's JACOB Theory

One of my blog readers, fellow Lost fan Josh, sent me this very interesting theory about Jacob today. With his permission, I am posting it below! You'll see that I have responded to a few of his points as well.

So analyze & comment away! I only ask that you do so in the same respectful, constructive manner that you do for my theories if and when you disagree. ;)

In 1974, Paul was killed by two of the Others, but we do not know what they were going to do with his wife Amy. They put a bag on her head, which made me think that they didn't want her to know where they were going to take her, not that they were going to kill her.

I believe that Amy is Jacob's mother. They mention how all pregnant women were taken back to the mainland to give birth; taken off the island because as we already know, women were unable to birth babies conceived on the island.

So whether Amy was captured by the Others or saved by Sawyer & crew, she was still going to become pregnant and give birth to a baby boy ON THE ISLAND, TWO WEEKS PREMATURE (don't forget that both Ben and Locke were born prematurely as well).

Her baby, JACOB, was the only known child to have been conceived and born on the island, making him very special. In 1974, mom Amy was captured by the Others, which may explain why Jacob becomes their leader. But Sawyer & crew intervened, so Jacob may be raised as part of the Dharma Initiative, which would then change the outcome of the PURGE or the WAR that is coming (as mentioned by Charles Widmore).

I believe that when Jacob was older, he became the first person on the island to go into the well/Orchid and travel back in time. This would explain how, in 1954, Richard Alpert recognized the name Jacob when Locke told him that "Jacob sent me." If Jacob were a time-traveler that had contacted Richard for reasons still unknown, that would explain why Locke mentioned Jacob to Richard in 1954. Only Richard seemed affected; young Widmore and Ellie did not even flinch, as if the name had no meaning. This is probably because time-traveling Jacob only spoke to Richard about what he must do to preserve the island's future.

JACOB'S CABIN

Jacob is in the cabin because he is the son of Horace (who built the cabin). Horace brought his son to the secret cabin as a young boy, which explains the entire connection!

The cabin is always moving and cannot be seen by just anyone, because it no longer exists. Jacob has passed away but remains a very powerful spirit on the island; he is held prisoner in that cabin by the ash that surrounds it. I have read so many books and seen so many movies where spirits are kept in or out by some sort of ash or brick dust. Jacob, having passed/died but still being an active spirit, has the ability to toss objects in the cabin and reanimate dead bodies on the island, such as Christian Shephard (whose body has been missing from his coffin since Season 1) and Eko's brother Yemi (who died on the island in the small plane crash).

Jacob himself can only be heard in the cabin by the people who are aware of his existence. Locke, not really believing in Jacob, heard the “help me” faintly. Ben was concerned that Locke heard Jacob and wanted to know what he had said (because he is keeping Jacob trapped there). Ben must keep Jacob contained within that ash/dust because he is so powerful, but also still needs to consult with him regarding the welfare of the island, which was Jacob’s original intent.

[Jo: we've yet to witness anyone but Locke hear Jacob speak; if he has communicated with Ben or Alpert, we've never been in on it]

Jacob is trapped in that circle of dust; he lives in a manifestation of the secret cabin he used to visit with his father as a boy. The same reason he can only be heard by the people who are aware of his existence is the same reason only certain people can see the cabin, like Locke, Ben, and Hurley for some unknown reason.

When Charlotte died, Faraday mentioned how her body moved on with the island and that they were stuck in place (living in normal time but in 1974). This would explain how the cabin was always moving before the donkey wheel was turned. Locke, who was looking for the cabin, was stuck in place (living in normal time - 24hr days, 365 days a year) but the cabin was always moving because it is exactly like the dead Charlotte (a spirit of the island moving along with it).

CLAIRE

This theory would also lead me to assume that Claire is dead, which in my opinion is the only reason she left Aaron behind and acted like she could care less about anything when spotted by Locke in the cabin. As another spirit of the island (like Christian and Yemi), Claire is being reanimated by Jacob as well,. Claire being dead and an active spirit (not nearly as powerful as Jacob) would explain why she doesn't seem concerned about Aaron. But in Kate’s dream, she is visited by Claire’s spirit, who is very concerned for the well being on her son.

CHARLIE

Charlie reappeared at the mental institution, that could have been Hurley’s schizophrenia. Jacob can use these bodies to talk with people, but can’t actually interact himself. That would also explain why, when Locke asks Christian to help him up (he has a compound fracture in his leg), he says “NO.”

[Jo: I would say that Hurley may have a mental illness or is just 'special,' but he does not necessarily suffer from schizophrenia. But I do love the idea that the deceased are being used as mouthpieces for Jacob, delivering messages to the Losties on and off the island!]

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I would like to thank Josh for sharing his detailed theory with us, and encourage all of you to do the same! Not everyone has a blog or likes to explore Lost thoughts with people via message board/forum, so feel free to email me and I'd be happy to post for all to ponder!