Like her namesake before her, Juliet's pathetic life story is one of inevitable loss, and a terrible sense of frustrated longing and dashed hope. Unlike the famous tragic heroine, it seems the seeds of her losses are rarely of her own making, further heightening the pathos of her story.
It's somewhat surprising Juliet has retained her ability to act, yet she has grown up to be a functioning, strong, and intelligent person. But there is little surprise in that she tends to allow herself moments of happiness in secret or illicit endeavors that avoid the light of day. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Juliet's first head-on collision with fatalism occurs quite early in life, when her parents tell her that despite loving each other (??), they just can't be together. Psychologists could have a field day with this line, not least of which is that love is an active verb and not just a passive noun. Nevertheless, her most significant, jarring childhood lesson was that despite all necessary ingredients, life can still dash your most intimate dreams and deny you happiness. What an effective way to teach someone never to plan or fall in love! Her parents would have served their daughters better by telling them they didn't love each other anymore.
But unlike her Capulet sister, Juliet's lesson is repeated many times. Her marriage goes the way of her parents but in an even crueler twist of fate, retains the power to deny her career fulfillment. Even when it unexpectedly happens, her career advancement is tinged with a sense of manipulation and personal guilt. What a life. At every important turn she has been taught that everything she wants will be snatched from her not long after she gets it.
It's not surprising we next find her sneaking illicit moments with a married man, emotionally and figuratively denying herself any apparent hope at long term happiness. But even that attempt fails to avoid an angry fate's scrutiny, again in the form of her boss, and ends in failure and death. Wow. One wonders at how firmly Juliet still grasps a sense of rationality.
If LOST's stories of personal redemption are inter-twined with the successful resolution of the larger plots of the island landscape, and we have every reason to believe that is exactly the case, then Juliet's life story represents perhaps the largest mountain to climb and overcome. It would seem only a miracle could convince her of a universe where she can still actively realize her dreams and plans.
Her life story also to some extent rationalizes her reluctant participation in Ben's under handed, manipulative and illegal behaviors. We can't blame Juliet if she now believes that's how you get what you want. It is also unsurprising that she finds herself identifying with a hamstrung and manipulated Jack who has been out-maneuvered far more than even he is aware. Like some viewers, we would not fault Juliet if she mistakes empathy for love, even for at least a little time. But Juliet is smarter than that.
Unfortunately her life lessons are not complete. She loses Jack, although by now it must have seemed more correct that she never had him, and her plans to escape the island are thwarted twice. Her three happy years with Sawyer must seem to her as a dream.
Amidst the looming backdrop of her life, it makes all the sense in the world that in the Season 5 Finale she acknowledges the destruction of their island escape so readily, just as she then succumbs to the fatalism of a single stare from her lover. Far from vacillating as some viewers lament, her decisions during the Finale remained inordinately consistent with the lessons she has won so painfully throughout her life.
The Finale ends with perhaps the most pathetic and heart rending scene in modern story telling. In the space of a few short hours our tragic heroine, by now a complicit actor in her own demise, finds herself transported from an impending life time with her lover, and now lies broken and alone in the dark at the bottom of a deep hole next to a bomb of unimaginable horror. We expect her sanity to spin wildly out of control, fleeing her body atop the shrill wails of her dying gasps for breath.
Incredibly, this is not Juliet's reaction. With a determination only Sisyphus could muster, Juliet embraces her fate, and strikes the very bomb that embodies not only her failure, but the final fitting chapter of the story of her life. The image is so terrible, so poignant, so tragic, that it over-shadows the major plot of the story; a vicious, developing climax of centuries of hate, all mankind in the balance.
The viewer's heart is rent by Juliet's story. We were left only a very small and subtle foreshadow, when Bernard asks so gently, "Are you sure you won't have some tea?" And with a wistful look she declined, armed only with her gun and a heavy sense of loss.
But as we ponder and flail at Juliet's fate, viewers can not but remember that this is LOST, where not everything we see is what happened, and not every law of nature is followed. In our desperation we look for an alternative to a story almost too tragic to face. Yet there are rational reasons to gird our emotions. We do have reason to believe Juliet still lives.
Showing posts with label Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stories. Show all posts
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Locke
John Locke is one of the most beloved characters on LOST, not least because of the often fantastic acting of Terry O'Quinn, who plays the role.
Locke, abandoned at birth by his fifteen year old mother, and later conned out of his kidney and later pushed out an 8 story window by his own father Anthony Cooper, has two central life stories that drive his actions. Both are arguably first line descendants of being an orphan.
First, he has always been attempting to find a home for himself, and often can be heard to say, "Don't tell me what I can't do." This response began cropping up as he was tested as a young orphan, even by Richard of the Others, and later in school when his classmates heckled and denigrated him for being a geek and an outsider. Arguably he ventured off on many questionable treks in his life in an effort to fit in.
His second life story is connected to the first. If his father was a first class con man, Locke is a first class pigeon. In an effort to find a home he often naively opens himself to others who eventually take advantage him. Beginning with the school children, and then on to his foray with a commune, people use and abuse him without ever giving him the respect he so dearly desires.
The two worst episodes, though, were dire. In middle age his father contacted him and convinced him to donate a kidney, after which he promptly abandoned him again. Rather than seek restitution, Locke often waited forlornly on the street outside his father's house, hoping to meet him again. Eventually, Cooper threw him out a window to his death in order to have done with him. Remarkably, Locke lived, although as a paraplegic. The tragic story of Cooper's cold hearted use of Locke is in many ways a fitting emblem of his totally unremarkable life up to that time.
But the latest manipulation in his life is by far the worst. When he landed on the island, Locke felt he had finally found his spiritual destiny. First, his legs were miraculously healed, and after spending a couple days pondering this strange turn of events, he decided he had become a "Man of Faith", and believed that it was his destiny to be on the Island, and that everything was happening for a reason. ("Pilot, Part 1")("Exodus, Part 2")
And clearly the island was communicating with him. He could sense when it was about to rain, and he was not only the first person to see the Smoke Monster, but one of the few to survive it. He survived accidents which would have maimed or killed another man, and his faith lent him a calm and self-assurance he never possessed.
Unfortunately his blind faith eventually led him down his life long path of the coerced. So sure that the island was a source of the benevolent spiritual kinship he always wanted, awash in the sense of destiny of his newfound condition and growing influence and power, Locke failed to consider that not all influences are positive. Eventually he fell prey to Dark, Jacob's adversary, and after multiple meetings he became the island's biggest patsy, literally used body and soul by the Dark forces in
the manner from which he's run all his life.
While Locked thought he found his destiny, it turned out it was the same tired story he'd been victim to all his life. He was used and coerced to accomplish the exact opposite of what he would have wanted, if given the eyes to see.
But we have a feeling that not all is finished regarding the story of John Locke. As sometimes friend Jack says, "I wouldn't count him out." Neither would we. We have two reasons to hope; first, we have a time traveling Locke, and second, don't ever tell him what he can't do. We're hoping that's exactly what Dark did the last time they met.
Locke, abandoned at birth by his fifteen year old mother, and later conned out of his kidney and later pushed out an 8 story window by his own father Anthony Cooper, has two central life stories that drive his actions. Both are arguably first line descendants of being an orphan.
First, he has always been attempting to find a home for himself, and often can be heard to say, "Don't tell me what I can't do." This response began cropping up as he was tested as a young orphan, even by Richard of the Others, and later in school when his classmates heckled and denigrated him for being a geek and an outsider. Arguably he ventured off on many questionable treks in his life in an effort to fit in.
His second life story is connected to the first. If his father was a first class con man, Locke is a first class pigeon. In an effort to find a home he often naively opens himself to others who eventually take advantage him. Beginning with the school children, and then on to his foray with a commune, people use and abuse him without ever giving him the respect he so dearly desires.
The two worst episodes, though, were dire. In middle age his father contacted him and convinced him to donate a kidney, after which he promptly abandoned him again. Rather than seek restitution, Locke often waited forlornly on the street outside his father's house, hoping to meet him again. Eventually, Cooper threw him out a window to his death in order to have done with him. Remarkably, Locke lived, although as a paraplegic. The tragic story of Cooper's cold hearted use of Locke is in many ways a fitting emblem of his totally unremarkable life up to that time.
But the latest manipulation in his life is by far the worst. When he landed on the island, Locke felt he had finally found his spiritual destiny. First, his legs were miraculously healed, and after spending a couple days pondering this strange turn of events, he decided he had become a "Man of Faith", and believed that it was his destiny to be on the Island, and that everything was happening for a reason. ("Pilot, Part 1")("Exodus, Part 2")
And clearly the island was communicating with him. He could sense when it was about to rain, and he was not only the first person to see the Smoke Monster, but one of the few to survive it. He survived accidents which would have maimed or killed another man, and his faith lent him a calm and self-assurance he never possessed.
Unfortunately his blind faith eventually led him down his life long path of the coerced. So sure that the island was a source of the benevolent spiritual kinship he always wanted, awash in the sense of destiny of his newfound condition and growing influence and power, Locke failed to consider that not all influences are positive. Eventually he fell prey to Dark, Jacob's adversary, and after multiple meetings he became the island's biggest patsy, literally used body and soul by the Dark forces in
the manner from which he's run all his life.While Locked thought he found his destiny, it turned out it was the same tired story he'd been victim to all his life. He was used and coerced to accomplish the exact opposite of what he would have wanted, if given the eyes to see.
But we have a feeling that not all is finished regarding the story of John Locke. As sometimes friend Jack says, "I wouldn't count him out." Neither would we. We have two reasons to hope; first, we have a time traveling Locke, and second, don't ever tell him what he can't do. We're hoping that's exactly what Dark did the last time they met.
The Power of Life Stories
One of the most foundational themes in LOST is the hugely powerful roles that stories play in our lives. That is not surprising, since it's true in real life, perhaps more than most people suspect. An entire branch of psychology has arisen and developed surrounding this phenomenon, including therapy and treatment approaches. There's another interesting characteristic of the survivors' stories on LOST. They all involve father figures.
Stories, good and bad, have characteristics. They tend to be generational, passed on from father and mother, to son and daughter. At the least our families heavily influence our stories; victims of abuse become abusers, doctors raise doctors, and alcoholics tend to raise alcoholics. It's also interesting that if the son or daughter chooses to break from a dominant family story, they tend to do so in a very strong and powerful, reactive fashion.
JACK'S STORY
In LOST for example, Jack becomes a doctor like his father, yet disdains his father's abuse of alcohol. One of Jack's most powerful stories is avoiding being like his father in that way. It is surprising then, that he abuses both alcohol and drugs later in S5. This is a questionable digression by the writers. But Jack's most powerful story is proving his father wrong about being weak, and not up to the hard choices in life. He's been told he doesn't have what it takes all his life. Jack works hard to measure up, and to be better than his father at everything he does. While that drive makes him a performer, it also leads to stridency, control, and dogmatism at times. To reach his potential, he must stop fighting his father's words, and develop enough self-confidence to listen. This affliction is a common story of leaders.
Some life stories are more popular than others. It has been researched and demonstrated that fairy tales are ageless because they are collections of the most popular life story lines. The story of Little Red Riding Hood, wherein the girl is attracted to the scary bad boy but then is saved by the hero, is argued to be one of the most common woman story in existence.
SAWYER'S STORY
Sawyer represents two stories. The first is more personal. As a boy, Sawyer watched his father gun down his mother and then shoot himself, after a con man cuckolded him and swindled his wife. Sawyer holds great rage for the con man, but then grows up to be the person he hates, playing the con man himself. Consequently he cares only for himself, feeds off others, and lies and steals until he is forced to run.
There is another very popular branch of the Little Red Hiding Hood story; girl falls in love with bad boy, who redeems himself (preferably with the girl's help) and they live happily ever after. This is clearly the story of Sawyer. The question on LOST has been which girl it will be. It had already played out with Juliet. At the end of S5, we don't know if she is dead.
STORY COLLECTIONS
Earlier we saw that fairy tales are collections of popular stories. Mythology is arguably an even stronger source, since the best stories include general life identities, such as good vs. evil. The story of Sobek is often the story of Cain and Abel, or even the origins of God vs. Satan. When we understand the power of stories, it is not surprising that we find popular stories mirrored across religions and philosophies. Almost everyone is aware of the story of Oedipus, who loved his mother. The term Oedipus Complex, in Freudian (another branch of psychology) derives from this popular boy story of penis envy on the way to man hood.
I believe the most astounding collection of life stories ever written is the Bible. Many non-believers denigrate the Bible by accusing it of being impossibly literal, unbelievable, or inconsistent. Wherever you are on the religious scale, the Bible teaches us the outcomes of a vast array of stories, and gives us examples of successful stories if we exercise our free will to live by them. And certainly Jesus, whether you believe in him or not, or his ability to perform miracles or rise from the dead, is one of the greatest life stories ever told.
Stories, good and bad, have characteristics. They tend to be generational, passed on from father and mother, to son and daughter. At the least our families heavily influence our stories; victims of abuse become abusers, doctors raise doctors, and alcoholics tend to raise alcoholics. It's also interesting that if the son or daughter chooses to break from a dominant family story, they tend to do so in a very strong and powerful, reactive fashion.
JACK'S STORY
In LOST for example, Jack becomes a doctor like his father, yet disdains his father's abuse of alcohol. One of Jack's most powerful stories is avoiding being like his father in that way. It is surprising then, that he abuses both alcohol and drugs later in S5. This is a questionable digression by the writers. But Jack's most powerful story is proving his father wrong about being weak, and not up to the hard choices in life. He's been told he doesn't have what it takes all his life. Jack works hard to measure up, and to be better than his father at everything he does. While that drive makes him a performer, it also leads to stridency, control, and dogmatism at times. To reach his potential, he must stop fighting his father's words, and develop enough self-confidence to listen. This affliction is a common story of leaders.
Some life stories are more popular than others. It has been researched and demonstrated that fairy tales are ageless because they are collections of the most popular life story lines. The story of Little Red Riding Hood, wherein the girl is attracted to the scary bad boy but then is saved by the hero, is argued to be one of the most common woman story in existence.
SAWYER'S STORY
Sawyer represents two stories. The first is more personal. As a boy, Sawyer watched his father gun down his mother and then shoot himself, after a con man cuckolded him and swindled his wife. Sawyer holds great rage for the con man, but then grows up to be the person he hates, playing the con man himself. Consequently he cares only for himself, feeds off others, and lies and steals until he is forced to run.
There is another very popular branch of the Little Red Hiding Hood story; girl falls in love with bad boy, who redeems himself (preferably with the girl's help) and they live happily ever after. This is clearly the story of Sawyer. The question on LOST has been which girl it will be. It had already played out with Juliet. At the end of S5, we don't know if she is dead.
STORY COLLECTIONS
Earlier we saw that fairy tales are collections of popular stories. Mythology is arguably an even stronger source, since the best stories include general life identities, such as good vs. evil. The story of Sobek is often the story of Cain and Abel, or even the origins of God vs. Satan. When we understand the power of stories, it is not surprising that we find popular stories mirrored across religions and philosophies. Almost everyone is aware of the story of Oedipus, who loved his mother. The term Oedipus Complex, in Freudian (another branch of psychology) derives from this popular boy story of penis envy on the way to man hood.
I believe the most astounding collection of life stories ever written is the Bible. Many non-believers denigrate the Bible by accusing it of being impossibly literal, unbelievable, or inconsistent. Wherever you are on the religious scale, the Bible teaches us the outcomes of a vast array of stories, and gives us examples of successful stories if we exercise our free will to live by them. And certainly Jesus, whether you believe in him or not, or his ability to perform miracles or rise from the dead, is one of the greatest life stories ever told.
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