Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices
That, if I then had waked after long sleep,
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming,
The clouds methought would open and show riches
Ready to drop upon me that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.
The Tempest. Act iii. Sc. 2
Much of the dreamtime "mythology" features both good and evil spirits taking the form of large monsters and such creatures, which is supported by the presence of the monster on the island.
I do agree with much of what has been proposed here under the dreamtime
concept, and are not arguing the notable ties in the show to the concept,
but I'm dubious as to the relevance to any of the survivors bar Locke.
The things we know are that he was open to the concept of a spiritual
experience, along with the common belief that a miraculous occurence such
as regaining the ability to walk leaving someone in a more spiritual state
of being following the event is driving Locke towards a spiritual interpretation
of the events of the island. He is thus in turn perhaps conveying these
opinions on to others.
While this is all well and good he was not looking (in my opinion) at
the walkabout through the aboriginal viewpoint of being classically spiritual,
he saw it more of a chance to take a physical challenge to prove to himself
that he is physically capable, as much as mentally capable of facing an
adventure. It is through reaffirming to himself his physical capabilty
that I believe he hoped to gain some sort of spiritual benefit, and the
walkabout was just a convenient device for him to use to achieve this.
I also think that the link that the plane took off from australia alone
is insufficient to establish the dreamtime concept.
For these reasons I don't see there being enough of a link to the dreamtime
concept to use it as the entire basis for the show. I like the concept,
but don't think there is nearly a strong enough case for this to be the
actual caper.
Just a quick edit - the walkabout in my opinion is introduced into the
plotline just to have a survival guy on the plane for such requirements
as hunting etc. and probably doesn't have any direct spiritual meaning.
character
Character,
You are saying that a man would try to prove himself physically in a walkabout.
He could prove himself physical in a Marathon, or hike. In fact I'm sure
there are very strenuous hikes that take place in the U.S. he could have
gone on to prove himself physically. He would have not said it was his
Destiny if he wanted to prove himself physically. The only reason to go
on a walkabout is to go on a spiritual journey. That is like saying a
person takes peyote to prove themselves physically. Btw peyote is a hallucinogen
used by American Indians to go on a similar walkabout experience.
Gambit980
Agreed.
Locke himself states in "Walkabout":
" a Walkabout is a journey of spiritual renewal, where one derives
strength from the earth. And becomes inseparable from it..."
While I agree that Locke's motives might be to "prove" his worth
-- he was not going there to prove it as a physical challenge but as a
mental/spiritual one.
I will also add that the recent episodes have done very little to prove
this theory... at the same time it has done nothing to disprove it...
Gambit, you mentioned peyote... Taking peyote is indeed a very special
psychic/psyche challenge that is usually administered by a wise man/leader
to younger inexperienced initiates... Seems to be what Locke did to Boone
with his hallucinigenic pudding...
Interesting.
purrkins
I just wanted to add a slightly subtle thing.
I don't think the point of going on a walkabout is to complete a physical
challenge.
I think superficially, it would help to have some basic survival skills
and be in good physical and mental shape. But more importantly, I think
the point of it is to come out the other end a changed person: like a
shift in consciousness, or spiritual transcendence.
Let's say you survived the walkabout, but ended it the same person as
when you started, then it wasn't really a walkabout - it was a walk.
----
And in response to Purrkins, I agree it's been awhile since this theory has been illustrated. From memory, I think the last was Claire's vision in her dream of Locke with the tarot cards; and possibly Sawyer's interaction with the Boar.
sawyerhasbestlines
you guys are missing my point about locke (which is no doubt due to my terrible explanation on my point of view ... sorry about that). The point I was trying to make is that at some point Locke was no doubt in the military, or a survival nut, or something along those lines. These skills he formerly had have been taken away with his "condition" putting him into the wheelchair. People with cripling injuries often set themselves challenges to test their remaining physical ability and mental fortitude to reaffirm to themselves that they are still the same person now as they were when they were able-bodied. I think the walkabout acts for locke as such a test so that he may reaffirm himself spiritually. Once again I maintain that the walkabout concept is only there to explain a survival nut a) being in australia and b) explain why he was flying from sydney to LA. Hence the reasons Locke would have to complete a physical challenge are not physical at all and this would tie in nicely with the whole spiritual renewal concept of the walkabout.
While I like the idea of the whole show fitting to the dreamtime ideology,
the point I'm trying to make is that I can't see enough evidence to make
it happen and I think you're really reaching to make your point. If it
was to form the basis for the show there would be more than a flashback
in 1 episode mentioning a walkabout. I think the spiritual ties of the
show are on a much more general concept personally as I haven't seen anything
which can be explained by dreamtime theories, and none of the other vast
array of spiritual and religeous beliefs out there.
character
'm not sure about Lost fitting exactly in with the Dreamtime. But it's an intriguing idea, nonetheless; it's the exchange of ideas that's important, for me. I wouldn't be surprised if the writers used some ideas from aboriginal culture in the mix of the supernatural elements on the show.
As far as Locke goes, I think he could be military (based on the flag
and paraphernalia in his apt.) and he certainly has some survivalist skills.
However, I still have a hard time reconciling a military Locke with the
Locke who was a lonely and abandoned/orphaned child, working in that office,
playing at war, blurring the line between phone sex and a relationship,
and longing for a destiny that eluded him.
In any case, I was looking for something about weather prediction trying
to understand how Locke might be able to figure out that it would rain
down to the minute. From what I read it doesn't seem possible. But in
that search I found a site that talked about shamanism. Trinobobina talked
about shamanism earlier in the thread, and SHBL has talked about Locke
as the Magician in the tarot, so I thought I would add a couple of things
that reminded me of Locke:
A shaman is a person who moves between the natural world and the spirit
world – who gains power in the spirit world and brings it back to
use in the "concrete here-and-now tasks like healing, counseling,
art, and restoration of community harmony... The shaman is not a saint,
but a conduit, an ambassador, a go-between familiar with the interior
polarities, bright and dark, that generate power.” I like the idea
that the shaman is not a saint. It’s easier to see Locke in a more
down to earth role where his motives can be questioned, or where he makes
mistakes. He seems like more of a meat and potatoes kind of spiritual
leader.
The article also talks about the shaman as having a calling and states
that “The call often comes in the form of a mental or bodily crisis
incurable by normal methods... the initiate must cure himself. During
this process, the cure symbolizes a kind of death, particularly the death
of a part of himself the initiate tended to identify with.” I can
see a parallel with Locke in that he was only cured after the crash --
“a kind of death.” Having a calling fits in with the idea
that Locke has of his Destiny. He also seems quite different than he was
in his previous life. If there's any validity to the idea of Locke as
a sort of Shaman, I wonder if his old self is going to come into conflict
with his new island-self.
Also from the article, there are recurring themes in the life a shaman
that seem to pertain to Locke:
- Lifelong sense of oneself as different; inability to fit in completely;
an intuitive or spiritual take on life that feels more intrinsic than
learned.
- Chosen by the shamanic call rather than choosing it, the call manifesting
as a life-altering event of intense personal meaning and numinosity
- Long spell of physical or psychological illness incurable by traditional
methods: if the potential shaman can heal himself by reaching far enough
into himself, he has passed the real initiation, whatever minor ones he
undergoes later.
- Tattooing, piercing, scarification, or other kinds of marking may signify
a key life lesson, healing or initiation.
I'm not sure if the writers are really using these shamanistic elements
as a template for Locke, but I thought it was interesting. You can read
the article here.
spooky
Spooky,
I just posted something about the weather prediction here.
Sorry, I didn't realize you were also looking into this.
Coyote1066
I don't think Dreamtime explains Lost, but clearly Locke sent Boone into
Dreamtime in "Hearts and Minds." In my opinion, Locke was transformed
into an aboriginal Spirit Guide during the crash. No amount of training
or studying can explain his uncanny if not magical skills. How did he
become skilled parenting, for instance?
LostinWilderness