In "Meet Kevin Johnson" we learn from Tom you cannot kill yourself if the Island doesn't want you to:

Quote:

MICHAEL: Go away! (Michael turns to walk away.) TOM: I got some bad news for you, amigo. You can't kill yourself. The Island won't let you! MICHAEL: (Panting) What'd you say? TOM: No matter how bad you want to, no matter how many different ways you try, it won't happen. (Tom hands the revolver back to Michael.) MICHAEL: Give it a shot if you don't believe me. You got more work to do, Mike. When you figure that out, I'm in the penthouse at the Hotel Earle.

I was always confused about Ben's tumor. But now in the light of the fact that the island won't let you kill yourself... wonder if the island WAS TRYING to kill Ben... and that is why Ben looked so shocked to learn that he had a tumor? Is Ben worried that the Island is going to try and replace him now with someone else? Possibly John? Something made the Island be angry with Ben - even the episode title where we first begin learning about his tumor is intriguing "The Cost of Living."

__________________

you know I never thought about that, Thats an interesting idea to ponder.

I have always (well for a while now anyways) thought of the Island as a character, but I think of it as a passive character. I mean it does seem to have an affect on some of the characters, like Rose and Locke. The more we hear about the island not letting Mike kill himself or the island trying to kill Ben..... IDK I just don't like the idea. And I am not really sure why. Its weird, because like I said I do think of the Island as a character, I guess I just don't like the idea of it have a conscience.

The ability to pass judgement seems more like Jacob's doing than the Island.

Anyways..... It is a cool idea Queen, and I think it may turn out true to some degree. I am not sure how it ties into the fate theme of the show though.

__________________

Doctor playing golf. Woo, boy howdy, now I've heard everything. What's next, cop eating a donut?

Yes, the island told Ben, "YOU'RE MINE!" by giving him cancer. It was a way of reminding him that while the island can giveth (while you are working toward bettering the island) the island can also taketh away (while you are preoccupied with fertility and creepy Juliet stalking). I think the island brought the cancer to the ben. In my opinion.

__________________
...embrace the senile genius...
watch him reinvent the wheel...

I don't think the island was trying to kill Ben, it was more of a message like "I can give you this and I can take it away." Sort of showing the control it has over Ben to keep him in place. It sounds ridiculous, but this was my theory earlier when we saw the episode where Ben freaked over the tumor.

I often thought that the Island/Jacob had something to do with his cancer. Originally I thought it took the cancer from Juliette's sister and stuck it in him, but maybe not. Possible that the Island is fed up with Ben (as he has turned out to not really be "one of the good guys" as he so often proclaims.) He has been acting righteous and devine- something I'm sure would bother the Island/Jacob. Ben realized that the Island/Jacob had intensions with Locke (and possibly Hurley and Rose) and that horrifies Ben- could he be losing his stance as the token leader? Could the cycle continue and dump him on his fanny? But then again, why send Jack, a spinal surgeon, if it wanted Ben gone- unless if that were by some power other than the Island's doing.

Regardless- I have always felt there was some kind of power struggle between Ben and the Island/Jacob. Ben is always put up against hurdles, and thus far has been able to manipulate his way past them. It reminds me of the power struggle between Locke and Ben, unfortunately in the latter situation, Ben always has the upperhand.

I think people are too fixated on Ben being a bad guy. Check the record. I have always said, and will continue to say until proven otherwise, Ben is good. I would propose the following to those who feel the Island is trying to kill Ben.

When the Island wants someone dead, they die. Ref: previous attacks by smokey.

If the Island wanted to kill Ben it had plenty of opportunities. Ben has spent quite a great deal of time outside of the protective fence. Smokey could have gotten ole' Beny Boy at anytime.

__________________
"Malinois... It's kinda like a bullet. Only it has four legs, teeth, goes around corners, jumps over obsticles, and never misses."

- The DogFather

I agree with all of this- I think part of the audience out there is eager to see some light shed on the mysteries of the LOST saga, and take resort in the easy "good guy bad guy" dichotomy, that's all.

If the island has the abilities to personify itself on the basis of emotions and conscious-ridden actions, like judging, hating, loving, prioritizing one over the other etc., why "try" to kill Ben? I'd like to think of Ben's cancer in relation to possible side-effects or complications of frequent travel from/ to the island. Like folie a deux wrote before:

__________________
"Bear...? Is that you?"-- Hurley S03E4

I don't think at all that the island wants Ben to die. But I do think that he has stepped beyond his boundaries and was being reminded that the island has given him so much and that he is at it's mercy.

I think that Ben's closeness with the Island isn't what it once used to be. Richard told John Locke that he and the Others were sick of Ben focusing soley on the child conception issues instead of what was really important. Ben has been using the Island for his own selfish purpose. While solving the pregnancy problem on the Island is important, it's not the true main purpose the of the Others. I agree with you all that Ben's tumor was the Island's reminder to Ben that he is swaying from the true purpose the Island has intended for him. Just my opinion, though.

__________________
standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams...