Locke overreaction to Henry's barb?

Okay, Henry senses the power struggle between Locke and Jack, and hits the nail on the head of Locke's insecurity / problem with being in weak or secondary positions.

Remember, when Locke first asks Jack to push the button, he kind of begged him, saying he did not want to be alone, almost a child to Daddy.

But still, do you think Locke is just plain losing it?

He certainly surprised me when he lost his temper and punched out Charlie.
And now, his fit in the hatch kitchen.

Where did Mr. calm philosopher go? Very odd, if you ask me.

Locke is in a position that would baffle any calm philosopher. He knows that he is the right person for being the leader of the losties, but Jack the Doc and cute guy is in the way.

I am not suprised about Locke loosing his temper (I guess he still gets angry), We get the advantage of looking at this from the outside, and we get a week to think about one or two island days. They have had henry for only 2 days.

Imagine yourself in that position, imagine yourself in Jacks, Henry's. What would you choose to do?

Ooo, I knew Henry was an Other the minute he planted that seed of doubt in Locke's head. Evil!

Do you remember what Locke's foavorite thing to say last season was? "Don't tell me what I can and can not do!" Mr. Oz's little barb was like saying to Locke "You are not in control and, Jack is. You are just Jacks faithful puppet and he pulls the strings. Yes that's going to tick him off.
I think that is exactly what he wanted to do. create a riff and turn them on each other.

I've been thinking about Locke vs. Jack a bit more, and there have been several occasions when Jack plows right over Locke. Locke is smart and has a lot of knowledge and skills, but he is not a leader.

In season 1, Locke says to Jack "Let me be the hunter, you go back and be the doctor" (approximately) and Jack ignores him.

When they are looking for Michael, Locke suggests turning back and Jack overrides him.

When they are tracking Ethan and the trail splits in two, Locke suggests they all follow the wrong path, while Jack insists on splitting in two and he is the one who ends up on the right trail with Kate's help.

Locke suggests drawing straws to give Kate a change to carry dynamite, but Jack ignores the result and carries it.

etc.

Several times, Locke put his own desire to get into the hatch, and thus find a role to appease 'the island', ahead of others. Jack is the one that gives the group hope at the caves when they are afraid the Others are coming. Locke sends Boone up to the plane and Kate down into the hatch, almost dropping her.

When the computer in the hatch was broken, Locke asked if he could help, and Desmond pointed out he was useless in that situation. Sayid had to come and fix it.

I don't have Locke figured out, these are just some observations. I think he wants to feel competent and important, and when that does not happen, he gets very angry. He also has no interest in getting off the island as his previous life was so pathetic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuinceTheCarpenter

I don't have Locke figured out, these are just some observations. I think he wants to feel competent and important, and when that does not happen, he gets very angry. He also has no interest in getting off the island as his previous life was so pathetic.

I think you hit it exactly right with this... Locke has probably struggled for years to be recognized as a leader - as being important - and it frustrates him that young Jack has come along to take his assumed leadership away.

In one of the previous seasons episode didn't Locke go off whenever one of his coworkers told him he couldn't do something? I vaguely remember something of this.

He also got mad when the walkabout leader wouldn't let him go because he was handicapped. That made him mad, too.

Dont tell me what I cant do!!!!

What did I say?

This is not a overreaction on Lockes part. This is a typical reaction by Locke. He has always been this way. You tell him he can't do something and he blows up. Mr.Oz pushed that Button..... HUM? Pushed that button. LOL