One of many questions we should be asking ourselves this hiatus: what is death?
I’ve always thought of death as the termination of one’s life. Lately, with the influence of the show, I find myself altering my simplistic view into one that is more complex. What is death, but a new state of being?
This seems more relevant than ever with the events of the past season. Speculation now rages as to which characters are dead, and which are alive. Before we are able to answer either of those questions, however, we must ask a much more elementary one. What does it mean to be dead on Lost? I once thought it was an all-encompassing term which referred to states of both physical and mental being. Now, however, I find myself forced to reconsider. The show, as it always has, pushes me to redefine within the confines of the Lost universe those terms which once seemed clear as day.
So, let’s take the most obvious example, Christian Shephard. Fans and theorists have been pondering his state of being since early in season one. The empty casket at first left us all wondering if he was actually alive in a physical sense on the island somewhere. Then, his appearance in Jacob’s cabin led us all toward a more complex line of thinking. I think that Christian is both alive and dead, depending on how you personally define death. It seems that as a physical entity, he’s more of an illusion, or some type of manifestation. But his mind is as alive as it’s ever been, and freshly enlightened by Jacob and Jacob’s way of thinking. The fact that Sawyer was not awakened by Claire and Christian’s communication lends further evidence. It would appear that, like Jacob and other visions on the island, Christian is part of a spiritual world that is not sensed by just anyone. Rather, it can only be sensed by those to whom it is specifically revealed, or those who are “special”.
Explaining Christian’s presence is easy compared to explaining Claire’s. She appeared physically alive, for all intents and purposes, right up until the point when she left Aaron in the jungle and went off with Christian. Some speculate that she actually died in the house explosions in Othersville, and this very well may be correct. Or, she might have still been alive. Regardless, it would appear that she too now belongs to this same separated sphere of existence as Christian. She too must be a recipient of some information from Jacob.
The definition of death is a highly subjective topic. Let us know your opinions on how to define death within the context of the show, who is dead and who alive, and any other thoughts you have, by stopping by the forums.
