Jacob appears as...

I think Jacob appears to various people on the Island as a vision of their dead loved ones.

Richard first takes an interest in young Ben when Ben tells him he saw his dead mother. Richard thinks that makes Ben "special". The dear departed also appear readilly to Jack (who's mistrustrfull and ignores visions of his father) and to Echo and to Locke.

In the episode where Echo dies, Yemi appears to Echo. Echo first thinks that he's seeing his dead brother. But when Echo fails to express remorse over his past misdeeds, he suddenly realises the vision is not Yemi but something else. He becomes enraged, then frightened, then the monster comes in and kills him.

Finaly Locke also sees the dead Boone. But Lock's visions of the dead come with great difficuly after spending time in the sweat hut. He does not see Jacob at all the first time, an outcome Ben has apparently expected and wanted, because when Locke asks him why Ben shot him, Ben replyes "Because you heard him".

Further, Richard does test the Lock as a young child, but is clearly disapointed. To me, this indicates that Locke is a bit of false prophet. Richard's disappointment in Locke foreshadows Lockes failuire as the Leader of others.

I think there are enough hints that it is Jack who is meant to be the leader of the Island, not Locke. In the episode where Jack goes to Thailand, he's told he is meant to be a leader but he does not want this role and it makes him angry. Jack's visions of his dead father are really visions of Jacob.

Interesting thoughts.

Your focus on Jacob appearing as dead love ones probably has some holes, but could have some truth as a general statement. How do you explain that the visions also have included animals (e.g. Kate's horse), living people (e.g. Walt) and messengers (e.g. Charlie), would these be Jacob too?

You write that the "dear departed" appear to Locke but then seem to contradict yourself with the statement about Boone, sorry that confuses me. I don't think Locke loved Boone, why he barely knew him.

I particularly like the idea of Locke as a false prophet. I definitely agree that Richard's disappointment is meaningful just not sure yet why or how. I think that the idea that Jack is the true leader the island wants/needs has merit. The show starts with him and I think he is the considered the MAIN character by most interested in the show. He has such trouble, being a man of science and such reticence to the magic of the island he is primed to have a epiphany.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

I personally think they're setting up a situation where Christian figures prominently in Season 5.

But I can definitely see your theory. The island is some sort of spirit container, halfway in and halfway out of our world. This is why Miles was brought along on the "rescue mission," I assume. If we can believe Ben that Jacob is the ruler of the Others, then he knows how to control the container. How to turn it off and on, how to use it to his advantage...

One hole I see. Of course, doesn't John see Christian and Claire in the cabin? If I'm remembering correctly, then John didn't see a dead loved one -- he saw a dead stranger.

Ditto Michael on the freighter. He sees Christian just before he dies. No relation there, just a ghost summoning him to the island.

I think you're right about Locke not being the true leader of the 'Others', but I don't think Jack is either. Jack wasn't even on the list of the people Jacob wanted. Only reason he was ever with the Others is because Ben needed surgery.

Do we know who is on "the list?" I never did catch that.. must have missed it.
I mean I heard them mention a list several times but never knew who was on it.

Thanks

I agree with you about Jacob (or some other major force on the island) using the images of the dead as a tool to influence the living. But I believe that these are only illusory things, not really the souls of the dead. That would explain why Claire was with Christian even though she might not be dead (we don't know).
I just don't think there's any evidence to support the whole inclusion of souls into the LOST storyline. I mean, it's pretty complex already without bringing the afterlife and religion into it. That would be really hard to explain scientifically, which is what the creators have said-"Everything can be explained with current (if theoretical) science." They've said it a few times.

Apparitions being Jacob..Jack being the leader instead of Locke.. Island as some sort of spirit container.. Lists..

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