The Island won’t let them die
+5 9 Votes
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By Irocz28
- The Island won’t let them die
- Created: Apr 15, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 14, 2008
- After episode: 4.1: The Beginning of the End
- Status: Current
- Flag this theory:
The Island won’t let Jack or Locke die.
— Irocz28
Before I go on I must start out by saying that I was never the biggest fan of the whole “The Island won’t let you die” idea. I always thought that there had to be a logical explanation between Michael and the gun not firing (i.e. Tom switching the guns during their scuffle). But for those of you who do like that idea, you might find this interesting.
Getting straight to the point: The Island won’t let Jack or Locke die.
After rewatching season four I couldn’t help but notice that at the end of “The Beginning of the End” Jack tries to shoot Locke and the gun does not fire. It reminded me a lot of Michael’s gun not firing on him. Locke tells Jack that the gun is not loaded, even though he frantically reached for it before Jack could grab it. My theory is that maybe the gun is loaded but it doesn’t fire because the island won’t let Locke die, just like Michael. And I think Locke is aware of this. He has always been more in tune with the island than everyone else.
Locke also says “You’re not gonna shoot me, Jack. Any more than I was gonna shoot…. (implied you)”. Locke was referring to when he had the gun pointed at Jack at the radio tower right before Jack made the call to the freighter. When Locke originally said this I thought he meant that neither himself nor Jack have it in them to pull the trigger on the other. But maybe Locke was implying that even if one of them pulled the trigger on the other, the guns would not fire. Because he knows that the island won’t let Jack die either. Not yet, at least.
Locke did have it in him to kill Naomi, so he is willing to kill to stay on the island. So why not kill Jack when he had the chance? And I think the gun that Jack tried to shoot Locke with was the same gun that Locke pointed at Jack at the radio tower. That gun was loaded, as we saw John take a shot at the satellite phone. So why didn’t it fire on Locke? I am not buying the explanation that it wasn’t loaded.
Locke may have wanted to pull the trigger on Jack up at the radio tower and he may have been able to pull the trigger on Jack at the radio tower. But he knew that it wouldn’t have mattered. The gun wouldn’t have fired. The only way he would have been able to stop Jack from making that call was through empty threats that he was going to shoot him.
Please expand on this theory or rip it up. Whatever boats your float.
Key characters
| Short Name | Full Name | Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack | Jack Shephard | 1.1, 1.5, 2.11, 1.11, 1.16, 1.20, 3.9, 3.22, 3.1, 4.10, 4.12, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13 | 1505 |
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | The Beginning of the End | 1-31-2008 | Hurley | 76 |
Key events
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Michael returns | 2.19 | 166 |
Key locations
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| Ayer’s Rock | 2.19 | 115 |
Its interesting, I’ll give you that.
Awesome +1
Locke’s gun may have been loaded, what’s the use of an empty gun in the jungle.
I thought the exact same thing about Locke’s gun after seeing Michael’s gun not fire. Very good job- I like it! +1
Interesting theory. Not sure I buy it, but it got me thinking.
It occured to me that Radzinsky (I think that was his name) killed himself in the hatch, so I guess you can kill yourself on the island, but not after you leave the island. hmmm…….
Anyway, plus 1
I can see why you’re saying what you’re saying, and how what you’re saying fits in with events to do with Michael… But I still don’t like it. And yet I can’t explain why. Maybe it’s because Jack and Locke are on the Island. I think maybe, if there is such a thing as an Island will, allows for whatever happens on the Island to happen on the Island (maybe it’s all fated there).
But off Island? Like Michael? That, if there’s such a thing as an Island will, is where the ‘can’t die’ idea kicks in. Perhaps the point is, if Michael is going to die then he must do so on the Island. Thus the Island exerts its force to get him back there.
Nice summary Irocz28. +1
I think the guns will not fire due to being in a timeline where they havent died yet.
Simple as that.
It’s the writers way of showing this, i mean come on, there was a talking bird so why not have a gun that doesnt fire at people who havent died in their original timeline.
I think the people that have died on the island have died in their original timeline and its the universe’s way of course correcting and the people off the island that havent managed to get back have comitted suicide due to the sickness.
u rock irocz + 1
Well, you make some interesting points irocz. I agree with the premise that there’s more than just Micheal whom the island won’t let die. And to further that, I think the island is capable of this whether said person is on or off the island.
How about the same applying to Ben? Except, he knows about this force and being the Benipulator he is, is working in conjunction with the fact that the island isn’t done with him. Considering he’s put his life in the hands of the Losties over and over and in any of those instances, he could have been killed by them. He certainly instigated all of the beatings he’s received. But the man is confident, like he knows he still has work to do. Which… makes complete sense. He’s Ben.
+1
Thanks for all the comments everyone. I will be interested to see if this is actually the case. Only time will tell i guess.
Irocz, You do make some valid points with your theory, which are difficult to ignore.
Having said that, it has been satisfactorily answered by the writers. Jack was unable to jump off of the bridge, as the accident was a diversion to that attempt. Michael’s several attempts to kill himself were unsuccessful, as well. The gun incident was not his only attempt.
Good thinking, though!
I understand why people want to believe that there is a more practical, scientific explanation to Michael not being able to commit suicide and Jack not being able to kill Locke, but what reason have we been given to distrust the much simpler, “the island won’t let them die until their work is done” explanation. I really like Katrinicity’s idea that Ben knows about the “island’s will” and uses it to his advantage. Overall a +1 from me.
Hmmmm good point dabiatchishere. I forgot about the whole accident diversion thing that stopped Jack from jumping. That may have been another example of the island not letting him die.