[D-Roc]

Originally Posted by monster-eats-pilot

Alot like you [Joke ]

Aww i'm passionate..not stubbon

In the style of Jack and Kate: Damaged goods.

True - flawed, but still useful, yet flawed..

I guess he's been through so much he needs to believe and his beliefs will be stronger than other peoples because he's been through more and needed something to believe in then [for example walking again] and now it's happened he thinks nothing will happen to stop him believing and he thinks it wont happen until it does which knocks him off guard so he stops believing because the one thing he's put all his faith into has let him down. So I guess he is crazy in a way because when his belief/faith in something has a downside to it he'll just toss it aside and find something else to believe in

Yes, often people need something to believe in, something to make everything make sense or worthwhile. It seems that Locke's faith wasn't all it was cracked up to be (at least during S2), as his commitment paled in comparison to Eko's, for example. So this can relate to your point about Locke also being scared to believe, because if he puts all of his eggs in one basket then he's sure to be let down (that's life, right?)..and that's something that Locke cannot afford..that's something that he'd rather choose to let go of, then have it fail him and his sense of purpose - just like the button.

Good points Meppy

Originally Posted by charlierocks

Wasn't Emily Locke schizophrenic(sp)??? Perhaps there is genuinely something crazy in his genes??
I think a lot of him believing what seems odd must have been to do with his foster Mum, remember he said the story about his Sister, Jeannie?? being reincarnated as a dog?? Locke didn't seem too convincing to me when he said that the dog was just a dog. Anyway if his Foster Mum was really open minded then I would think that she passed a lot of those feelings down to him. Lets face it he seemed really settled in the drug camp, I can't remember their names, so I think he is quite a believer in signs and spirits.
But back to the question is Locke mad?? I think yes, as he is acting really irrational without thinking too much, then again I think I'd get slightly stressed there too so who blames him, it can't help that the doctor there isn't too sympathetic with him so he'd got to deal with it himself!!

Good catch re Emily suffering from mental illness - you could forgive Locke for believing that she was 'crazy' when he met her. He probably feels a bit pof stigma from that encounter - knowing that his mom is ill and wondering whether this will affect him one day?

Indeed, Locke seemed to believe that his step sister really did come back as a dog..he's so open to the possibilities and it's interesting to see him slightly shun the suggestion of reincarnation - perhaps he felt that Jack(?) would think he was..well..'crazy'

The role of mental illness on Lost is an interesting one, i feel. As you mentioned we have Emily, Locke, but also the likes of Hurley, Lenny, Rousseau and future Jack to name only a few. All of these characters do or have suffered some form of mental breakdown, and all of them either have abilities or are among the most open-minded of the characters (including Jack, who of course eventually becomes open to 'going back' etc).

We also have the 'fact' that Hugo's mental hospital friend saw ghost-Charlie before Hugo himself saw him. This 2nd-hand witness, who also happened to be 'crazy', suggests to me that the creators of Lost are trying to say that the mentall ill have the ability to 'see' things that 'normal' people can't or can on see infrequently.

Infact Hugo and Locke are two of the most interesting case studies on that island..and it will be interesting to monitor their progress

Oh, and I agree re: Jack..he's been VERY unsympathetic towards the plight of (poor) Locke and others on the island!