Lost, the hit show from JJ Abrams (Alias) and Damon Lindelof (Crossing Jordan), is different enough that someone could find symbolism in every aspect of it. And any hardcore fan with an Internet connection knows there are tons of conspiracy and general theories floating around about what is going on in Lost, or what something might mean.
One of the first theories someone might come across is that of the island being Purgatory. And on the surface, that makes sense. In his Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri expounds on Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Dante’s Purgatory is an island-mountain, the only land around. Okay, that makes sense. Lost finds the plane crash survivors on an island in the middle of nowhere, probably in the Southern Hemisphere, much like Dante’s island. The island is also not flat, giving it a similarity to the mountain aspect in the Divine Comedy as well. But so what? There are plenty of mountainous islands with no other land in sight that actually exist on this earth.
Dante’s Purgatory is where the seven deadly sins are purged through penance from the souls who were beset by them. So what are these seven deadly sins? They are pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and slothfulness. Each episode of Lost delves into the past of one of the characters, most often showing mistakes or bad deeds they committed. It is rather easy to connect things like theft and murder to the list of deadly sins. But there are more than seven people on the island, so it doesn’t make sense in terms of the number of survivors and the terraces to Purgatory.
Heaven sits at the top of Dante’s mountain. What is interesting to note is that the seven contrary virtues — said to protect you against temptation of the seven deadly sins — are humility, kindness, abstinence, chastity, patience, liberality, and diligence. Now, what are the lessons that each of the characters on the show seem to be learning while on the island? They very well could line up with those seven virtues.
So why do I not buy the island is Purgatory theory? Well to begin, the characters cast shadows unlike the dead in Purgatory. Why would a dog be sent to Purgatory? How could a baby be born to a dead woman? And the creators of the show have adamantly declined to admit that anything supernatural or sci-fi is going on.
But then, who knows?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Justene
The pseudo-scientific dharma institute seems to belie that.
There seem to be more than one group of others. Ethan for example seemed far more civilized than those with the beards who abducted Walt.
2 - -E
Some have claimed that while the Island isn't Purgatory in a spiritual/supernatural sense, that the Hanso company in charge of the Dharma Initiative is creating a sort of psuedo-purgatory and controlling it.
3 - Jimmy
The producers of the show dismissed the 'purgatory' idea a long time ago, you would be torn to pieces posting the above on any of the LOST forums!
They don't take kindly to people digging up the purgatory theory again and again!
4 - -E
That's funny Jimmy, because the last paragraph says why I don't believe that. It was a look at one of the theories. I wasn't saying that is the way it is. Reading is a good skill to have ;)
5 - Chad
Easy, All the "Others" work for Dharma. The "wild" ones are just using make-up. They brought the plane down with some sort of weapon and are now messing with the survivors :)
6 - knowone2
OLD this theory is so old i can't belive you thought of this until now O come on. and no i don't hink its pulgatory. Its a buch of Bulshits is what it is.. and yes im a lost fan
7 - Greg
"There seem to be more than one group of others. Ethan for example seemed far more civilized than those with the beards who abducted Walt."
That can be explained by the theatrical make-up, beards and clothes that Kate found last episode. They were in a locker where Ethan had Claire before she had the baby.
8 - Jimmy
I read everything, even the last paragraph.
The point I was making is why waste time writing about a theory which is old, debunked, and no longer of any relevance to the show 'Lost'?
I could write a discussion on the theory that the earth is flat, and then end it with a paragraph about why I don't believe it to be true.....
That would also be pointless ;-)
9 - Aaman
You are all hamsters in my dream
10 - -E
I thought it was worth posting, even as an old theory, because it is an old one and many folks aren't aware of all the theories that the audience comes up with. I figured it would be a good one to start with and then, based on the response, perhaps go into some of the other more interesting theories.
Aaman, can I at least be a cute hamster with one of those plastic bubbles to run around in?
11 - -E
Then what kind are you? A dead hamster?
12 - lol mumdad
haha thats the worst comeback ever!
13 - Yeah
Agred
14 - davey baby
Hi guys just wanted to let you all in, can you remember the episode where Locke didnt get to press the "button" in time and the numbers turned to red hyrogliphs? The island is a government funded experiment which as someone has already stated uses high powered nuclear and thermo-electrical forces to power new technologies. Its a stand alone island which is unknown to man for one reason so that it cannot be found and gives of high emitting gamma and electrical force which in itself brings down aircraft ships etc due to interferance with theyre gps. They are testing for chemical warfare on children from birth this is the link to baby snatching and its all one big joke as i cant believe you sad bastards have read this much!!! hahahahah! get a life its just a show, does it matter if its all in Jacks head (oops) or whether it is a planned survival expedition as theyre all US marines and its a new training scheme. its all bollox, they keep putting on repeats to string it out as you know full well the ending is not going to be as exciting as you once thought and we all know that so lets all get a life and pull out the kleenex!
15 - Gray
i think i rember reading somehwere the producers have already said this is not the story line as it was brought up a few months ago
16 - Ty
Actually, I agree with Jimmy. It's NOT worth bringing up because part of the success of Lost is the internet craze of it.
Without the internet and discussion of theories, the show would be too confusing for the people who are hardcore funs.
Simply put, most people who watch lost read/discuss theories, theremore most people who watch lost know the Purgatory thing has been discredited by the producers.
What should be discussed is this:
A few weeks ago, there was a scene where Locke was stacking books in hatch. One of them was "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce.
That story is good sci-fi, but it's not relevant to Lost.
What IS relevant is a sci-fi story called "Lost Legacy" written by a sci-fi author in the 40's about a group of people who discover their psychic powers. One of the characters in the book is in fact AMBROSE BIERCE.
Check out this link on Lost Legacy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Legacy
I firmly believe the producers read the novella Lost Legacy and created a show based on it, combined with elements of Lord of the Flies.
17 - shoe
last night they trotted out the sophist implication that the world ceases once my eyes close forever. the show implies the cast of characters are all part of an experiment to try to tap into the collective consciousness (matrix style) to try and cure em one at a time. They are all sitting, hypnotized in some room at some cutting edge pychiatric facility? or maybe they are networked together at disparate facilities? When the are cured in the fantasy world they get a pass out of the show by dying (being unplugged from the machine). Kind of creepy stuff to be filling up kids heads. Dying is the fix. Hurley almost got fixed last night but his fellow nutcase chick kept him in the game. The brother sister tandem that died off are presumably cured.
18 - Ian Kennedy
I was going to go with the purgatory theory but then could not explain the flashbacks, especially Hurley's 'world in your head' twist. I think that what we're seeing is a slowed down version of each character's life flashes before them before they pass on into the next life. Each episode weaves a flashback with their constructed imagination working through their sins and past faults.
The dog is just a collective hallucination ;-)
19 - andy
has anybody seen jacobs ladder. I think there are some definite parallels.
20 - Pooster
Has Michael become one of the others? After last week's episode I think it is possible Michael is trying to get the Lost crew to go find and fight the others and possibly lead them into a trap!
21 - Rob
It was a Gummi-Bear!!
22 - Lupey
What happens at the end of series two? I'm in OZ and want to know.
23 - TheLostHub
Hi erin,
I live your post so much. I featured you article on my website. thelosthub.com
namaste,
john
24 - Minty
There is a reason for the crash its to do with the magnetic force. The Magnet Force activates in the time of the last four Minutes, Which was able to drag the aircraft in ( Flight 815 ).I believe that the only reason they made the areoplane drag to the island is because the others made Desmon not press the button because the others had killed his key buddy.. so while desmond was trying to save his friend the 4 mintutes counted down and then BANG the place crashed.The Reason for them wanting the plane to crash was they were able to log on to oceanic website and found out there were four children on this plane at this time and they could be used as ... test.
25 - josh
wtf?