Locke has to leave the island

[in_a_days]

Alright fellow Locke believers, try to bare with me on this one. And I certainly hope I'm not violating any webelo tenants by posting this. But I was struck my some fairly interesting and terrifying speculation.

The premise that got me going was, "what if it's Locke in the coffin?" which led me to the following thought process.

Locke is the man of faith. Anybody that needs a great explanation or justification for this statement hasn't be watching. Locke loves the island, wants to protect the island, and wants to stay on the island. As a big fan of his character I really want him to have all this things. I want him to be able to stay on the island forever (assuming that's what he wants).

But that is just not the nature of this show. I don't expect a typical traditional "happy ending" for anyone, Locke not the least. Ask yourself... what would be the biggest single test of faith John Locke could possibly endure? I think his ultimate test of faith would be to leave the island. I struggle to imagine circumstances that would really lead to this happening. But what if Locke had to leave the island in order to save it? You want to talk about a test of faith... that's the big one right there.

So as soon as the idea of Locke having to leave the island for the island got into my head, I couldn't get rid of it. I mean it just seems like it would fit so naturally with the style of the show to put John in the spot to have to choose between his faith and getting to be there.

So from that I followed with speculation that he will be revealed as #6 of the oceanic six. Locke eventually kills himself and we see Jack lamenting his death in his FF from the end of last season. No one is at his funeral because he doesn't have any friends or family. Why would Kate go to his funeral after he "banished" her? Jack being the one that goes is the ultimate irony. They are rivals and enemies through a greater part of the show. But in the end Locke proves that he is only wants what is best for everyone and Jack can not get over the guilt of causing the island to be discovered, contributing to his break down and Locke's eventual suicide.

Don't hurt me... please.

EDIT: I'm thinking about it, and the irony and shock of this possibility just seems too rich to be ignored. We all recognize the use of contrast, mirror images, and opposites on-island vs. off-island. Consider the juxtapositions. On the island we have Locke pointing a gun at Jack, trying to keep on the island. Simultaneously we see Jack contemplating suicide because he can't get back to the island. In one world we see Jack literally pull the trigger trying to kill Locke, in the previous episode Jack was at the very same man's funeral mourning. I'm sure I'm reaching to justify this theory. But man... seriously... can YOU think of more compelling story telling?

[lrob]

I don't think Locke will be one of the Oceanic 6. I think mabye Locke will sacrifice himself for the island before he'd leave it.

[in_a_days]

I don't think Locke will be one of the Oceanic 6. I think mabye Locke will sacrifice himself for the island before he'd leave it.

I hear you and I thoroughly expect that some sort of "sacrifice" may well have to be made, for him, for everyone, or for the island. But, in my mind, "sacrificing" himself for the island would be 100x easier than making the conscious decision to leave the island probably never to walk or be Mr. Adventure again. I mean Locke would probably prefer death to leaving the island. So putting him in a position where that's what he has to do makes for the most dramatic television IMO.

[Brian]

The only problem I have with any one of the O6 being in the coffin is that there's so much media coverage of the O6. I mean, in Kate's episode, she was described as having "one of the most recognizable faces in America" so I would assume that's true for each of them. For that reason alone I would think that whoever is in the coffin, if it were one of the O6, there would be at least some sort of media coverage there even if no family or friends.

That said, I've often wondered what would happen if the Island suddenly demanded Locke as sacrifice. I doubt that would happen since he's more valuable to the Island alive than dead (would you want Locke working through Miles?) but you never know. I don't know what he would do if asked to make that much of a sacrifice but I guess the situation surrounding it would have a lot of impact on his decision.

I mentioned in a poll about what would be Locke's next profession in a flashforward that I don't think we'll ever see Locke in a flashforward because I believe he'll either stay on the Island forever, or die trying to.

[Homer Noodleman]

Why would the Island sacrifice its Useful Idiot?

[Locke 'n' Load]

Days, as sad as it makes me to admit it, your theory makes a lot of sense. I do believe that Locke would sacrifice himself for the island. In Locke's mind and heart, it has never been about him, but about the island. Yes, I can see this happening, and it is better for him to be a self-sacrificial lamb than to die a death that means nothing. But what would his death provide the island? How would his sacrifice help?

[ozanna]

Well, I finally made it back here - I've been trying to come up with an answer!

I certainly can't see Locke leaving the island and going meekly back to civilisization, to be killed or die and be buried with no one to care. Not for the "warrior" !

But I don't see him sacrificing himself for the island - what for ? He seems to be perfectly in tune with it and probably better off alive and looking after it. However I'm a bit nervous about someone else paying a hefty price ! We've already seen Boone as the "sacrifice the island had to have". And then there was Sawyer executing Locke's father which has formed a strange bond between the two of them.

So why do I have this feeling that Locke has Ben firmly in his sights (but not just yet) and who better than Sawyer to do it for him. Sawyer has no reason to like Ben, and I am sure nothing would give him greater pleasure than to put one between Ben's ears ! I would rather he didn't, but sadly he doesn't have a lot to lose.

If this were to happen I believe that Locke would take over, which is what I believe Locke thinks the island wants for him. But I don't think Ben is going to be too easy to kill. Ben might come up with a scheme to get Sayid to kill Sawyer, knowing that Locke more than likely does not have the "stones" to kill him himself. Now wouldn't that set the cat amongst the pidgeons ! Hmmm, I think I'd better quit while I'm ahead, but the possibilities are intriguing.

[Draco]

Locke being sent away from the Island in order to undergo a huge test of faith is a beautiful idea, it would make for great storytelling (and great scenes for TOQ)... I just cannot concile it with the man in the coffin scene.

If it is the ultimate test of faith, I would want to see Locke face it, struggling, going through it and possibly passing it. It would be nice if somehow he had to leave the island against his will, possibly to save it, and then orchestrate the O6's final return to the island to fix things, maybe from a wheelchair (although the Charles Xavier parallelisms would be a little too many! :) )

What I mean is that Locke's "off-island" test of faith would be great, but it would turn out to be a very poor ad disappointing story if it ended with Jack blubbering at his deserted funeral. A better payoff would definitely be in order for a test of that magnitude.