LOST-Theories.com

We know the theory “Jacob can either be seen and not heard or heard and not seen”

Yet people don’t believe this on the basis of the fact Ben is having a conversation with Jacob. Easy answer? Ben can see him, he can see Jacob talking, suggesting Ben can read lips if he can have a conversation with him. Ben doesnt need to hear Jacob to know what he’s saying. Which is why Locke can hear but not see him. You don’t need to see someone to hear them!

If it has been already said, I apologise.

Key characters

Short Name Full Name Episodes Theories
Ben Benjamin Linus 3.20, 4.9, & 3” href=”/episodes/theres-no-place-home-parts-2-3/”>4.13 1728

Key episodes

# Title Aired Central character Theories
3.20 The Man Behind The Curtain 5-9-2007 Ben 414

Key locations

Theme Relevant Episodes Theories
Jacob’s Cabin 4.1, 3.20 166

Comments

  1. AngeloComet Apr 16, 2008 9:12 a.m. Comment: 1

    Was Ben’s concern (on learning that Locke had heard Jacob say “Help me”) not because he was unable to hear Jacob at all, rather it was because he didn’t hear Jacob speaking to Locke? That, for whatever reason, Jacob had communicated directly with Locke and left Ben out of the loop whilst he had been in the room?

  2. ozzig Apr 16, 2008 9:16 a.m. Comment: 2

    When it comes to the paranormal, some people claim to be able to see what others cannot, some to be able to hear what others cannot, some both. For the hearing business with Jacob, first with Ben and then Locke, I’d think telepathy, they can hear Jacob with their minds not their ears. What we heard might have been not actually physically spoken, but something for the audiences benefit, to enable us to hear what Locke heard.

  3. Katrinicity Apr 16, 2008 9:46 a.m. Comment: 3

    Yeah Angelo, it appears that Ben was awe-struck because he didn’t hear Jacob speak to Locke. Meaning, if Locke hadn’t asked “what did you say?” Ben wouldn’t have known.

  4. sitting_in_trees Apr 16, 2008 12:29 p.m. Comment: 4

    Although I am a long-time reader of the site it´s my commenting debut. First and foremost forgive the grammar and spelling mistakes, which will occur eventually. I’m not a native English speaker.

    In that specific scene in “The Man Behind The Curtain”, when Ben and Locke visit Jacob, we, the audience, can only hear Ben´s part of the conversation. One phrase he made, can give us some hint how a colloquy with Jacob works. It´s hard to understand, because Locke is also speaking.

    However: Ben [Speaking to the chair]: “Jacob please I can’t hear him if you’re gonna talk over what he’s saying…”

    That leads me to the same conclusion ozzig has - Jacob uses telepathy when talking to someone. Therefore I have to disagree with your assumption, that Ben lipread Jacob´s part of the dialogue.

  5. Giles Apr 16, 2008 12:56 p.m. Comment: 5

    theres a virginia woolf novel called ‘jacobs room’ in which the main character, ‘jacob flanders’ is presented entirely by the impressions of other characters.

    i think the jacob of lost may appear as a dead relative, an imaginary friend, angry black smoke, or in the case of john locke, himself? or perhaps john is one of the few who can see him as he actually is. either way it depends whos looking at him, so when ben and locke go and see him hes imperceptible to locke as he converses with ben, then when ben turns his back he adresses john and is imperceptible to ben.

    either way jacob is completely subjective, to some with a lot of demons and emotional baggage it could be a bad idea to meet him, mr eko for example, this may explain why those on the lists had to be free of insecurities and guilt, why the others have all made sacrifices to be there.

  6. MidnightDraven Apr 18, 2008 4:25 p.m. Comment: 6

    ok, i am now swayed into thinking that telepathy is the communication of choice between jacob and ben/anyone else.