LOST: Science vs. Faith
LOCKE: "It wasn't going to hurt me."
JACK: "No, John, it was going to kill you."
LOCKE: "I seriously doubt that."
JACK: "Look, I need for you - I need for you to explain to me what the hell's going on inside your head, John. I need to know why you believe that - that thing wasn't going to..."
LOCKE: "I believe that I was being tested."
JACK: "Tested?"
LOCKE: "Yeah, tested."
JACK: "I think..."
LOCKE: "That's why you and I dodn't see eye-to-eye sometimes, Jack - Because you're a man of science."
JACK: "Yeah, and what does that make you?"
LOCKE: "Me, well, I'm a man of faith. Do you really think all this is an accident - that we, a group of strangers, survived, many of us with just superficial injuries? Do you think we crashed on this place by cooincidence - especially, this place? We were brought here for a purpose, for a reason, all of us. Each one of us was brought here for a reason."
JACK: "Brought here? And who brought us here, John?"
LOCKE: "The Island. The Island brought us here. This is no ordinary place. You've seen that; I know you have. But the Island chose you too, Jack. It's destiny."
I find myself fascinated with the mysteries and themes of life. So it is only natural that I find myself similarly interested when those themes are displayed in the media around me. ABC's LOST, is easily one of my favorite shows, and for those who have not seen it, I highly suggest you do. As I have watched the show I have seen an emerging theme of Science vs. Faith, very subtley played among the characters. In fact I would say that each character could be placed in one camp or the other. Also, I would say that each character has a "counterpart" in the opposite camp. If find this way of looking at the show very enlightening, and would appreciate any opinions.
The Science Characters: These characters don't believe in fate. They trust the facts and evidence presented. | The Faith Characters: These characters are willing to believe in the impossible, and often become connected to the island through their belief. |
Jack, the uncompromising doctor Sayid, the stern soldier Sawyer, the conflicted con-man Michael, the struggling father Jin, the dedicated husband Claire, the single mother Shannon, the selfish sister | Locke, the mystic hunter Hurley, the jinxed millionaire Kate, the mysterious fugitive Walt, the insightful boy Sun, the hopeful wife Charlie, the charming addict Boone, the selfless brother [Dead] |
You will notice that each listed character is directly across from his or her counterpart. I see the counterpart as someone who is thematically similar, but effectively the opposite. Give me your comments below.
posted by The Niem @ 3:43 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Interesting insight my friend. I had not considered Science vs Faith until you mentioned it. I think the dichotomy of the island is apparent in many other places as well. For example, the monster that we never see sounds mechanical (science) yet is treated as a mythical beast. What is it really?
I just hope the series actually gives some answers before it ends. Needless to say, I look forward to the next season.
Dude, you've got some Arnzt on you.
That's got to be one of the best quotes ever. Do you think I put everyone in the right camp? Do you agree with the counterparts I set up, or would you categorize them differently?
If I were to put the characters into camps, it would not be exactly like Adam's suggestion, but rather:
Science: Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Michael, Claire, Shannon, Charlie.
Faith: Locke, Hurley, Walt, Jin, Sun, Sayid, Boone.
I'm not sure there are necessarily counterparts; but if there are, I would group them like this:
Jack - Locke
Kate - Sun
Sawyer - Sayid
Michael - Jin
Charlie - Hurley
Shannon - Boone (Danielle now?)
Claire - Walt (mystical children)
It is interesting how the two groups work together. I would not be surprised to see some characters switch camps at some point during the show.
Very interesting... I am willing to fudge a bit with Kate and Sawyer, because as far as I'm concerned, the science/faith nature of their characters is less defined, but I will need some explinations to back up these other changes.
I shall explain my choices:
Jack - Self explanatory. A man of science and fact. Life and death is a matter of his skills and not a matter of fate.
Sayid - Communications Officer. He is a man who collects evidence and facts, then follows them logically. He relies on his skills and prefers to leave nothing to chance.
Sawyer - Calculated manipulator. He manipulates people and situations in his favor, effectively controling his fate more than any other character. He feeds off the fact that other people are willing to believe his lies, willing to believe in fate. He doesn't allow himself become "cought up" in faith.
Michael - Buildings are not natural, they are created. Fate is nature. Science is artificial. Michael hates fate, and works against it. He is used to relying only in himself.
Jin - Orderly. He worked for Sun's father for so long to follow the dictates of order and to produce financial security. He never exercised faith in his relationships, always trying to create practical supports for those relationships. He relied on the favors he did to give him results.
Claire - She has said, "I don't believe in fate." She did not believe the psychic who told her about her child.
Shannon - Once again, a character who has stated blatantly, "There's no such thing as fate." She easily blames Boones death on the actions of those around her, rather than thinking fate had a hand. She relies on the people around her, not fate.
So, the descrepancy lies with Sayid, Kate, Jin, and Charlie.
Sayid: He is a logical man with exceptional skills. However, his life was dominated by love trying to find a woman (I would classify love as a faith attribute). I think most of his actions toward his lost love show his faith. Also, he did not want to open the hatch because of his faith, or superstition, toward things on the island.
Kate: She has a pretty face, but lacks any evidence of faith. Although she feels bad about her friend's death, there has been little to suggest faith attributes.
Jin: Believes that he is on the island because he is being punished for the bad things he did for Sun's father. He felt trapped by his love for Sun, and knew he would lose her if he displeased her father. He thought that risking himself on the raft to save the others would help atone for his past misdeeds. Definitely a faith character.
Charlie: Like Kate, he seems like a nice guy, but has yet to show anything more than a science-based outlook.
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