I would like to use recent events from 3.19 Man Behind The Curtain and
4.11 - Cabin Fever to update this theory, which I still firmly believe in.
Ben's Recruitment:
As mentioned already, it is apparent that Alpert (Mittelos/Jacob) look for specific criteria when recruiting 'chosen ones'..however there is a merked difference in their recruitment of young Ben and their recruitment of young Locke. Let's anaylyse young ben's tapping up first:
At first glance it would appear that their discovery of young Ben was more 'accidental' than their discovery of young Locke - Ben comes to the island some years after his mom dies giving birth to him. Horace Goodspeed convinces Roger to come to the island for work - was Horace aligned with Jacob/Alpert at this point? Did he believe that Ben might be special, and so invited his father to the island so they/Jacob could 'check him out'? Eitherway Alpert appeared to accidentally stumble upon Ben after he had ran away from home. Alpert asks Ben specific questions relating to what he saw - his dead mom. Alpert seems excited by the fact that young Ben was able to see his dead mom who died 'off' the island. This seems to be the crucial aspect in Alperts ascertion that young Ben was "special":
Alpert:"Did she die here, on the island?"Ben "No. When I was a baby."Alpert"Did you see her Ben, out here, in the jungle?"Ben "She talked to me."Alpert"What did she say?"Ben "That I couldn't come with her. She said it wasn't time yet."[Richard looks intrigued]
Also important seemed to be young Ben's willingness to come with Alpert..compare this to young Locke's rather passive attitude. Young Ben is so desperate to come with Alpert, to 'find his purpose'..
Alpert is pleased, but tells young Ben to be patient:
Alpert: "You should go home now. Your people will be looking for you"
Ben: "I don't want to go back there! I hate it there! Take me with you."
Alpert: "Maybe that can happen. Maybe. But if that's what you really want Ben...if that's what you want. I want you to really think about that. And you're gonna have to be very, very patient."
Locke's Recruitment:
Locke recruitment is similar in that Locke grows up without a loving mother. Unlike Emily Linus, Emily Locke gives him up (- she later tells Locke that he was imaculately conceived - there might be some truth to that). Like with Ben's recruitment, Alpert is looking for specific qualities..he wants young Locke to make the right choices with the items he places in front of him..he wants young Locke to give him some indication that he is
the one..that he is
truely special..that he is able to find his 'purpose'. Alpert immediately notices a positive indication that Locke is
the one, when he sees Locke's drawing of a pillar of Smoke and a man who looks very much like an
adult Locke - has young Locke retained some subconscious memory of a past life? Perhaps young Locke was able to interpret the future?
Alpert seems
further excited when Locke considers the 'book of Laws' (this is seemingly the item that Alpert 'wanted' Locke to choose). Alpert's excitement soon turns to disappointment when young Locke opts for the hunting knife as his weapon of choice - Locke's choice and passive attitude tells Alpert that young Locke is not ready..and perhaps that he is not the one:
So whilst Alpert leaves his meeting with young Ben 'happy'..he leaves his meeting with young Locke's in utter disappointment, despite some positive indications young Locke failed to impress Alpert.
Interestingly Alpert was present at the birth of Locke..
Does this allude to the idea that Locke was infact pre-destined as Emily Locke once told him (1.19)?
Emily Locke: "I want to tell you that you're special... very special. You're part of a design. You do realize that don't you? That our meeting... me finding you... this is a sign of things to come. Great things. "
Locke: "My father, is he still alive?"
Emily Locke: "Still alive? Oh John? Don't you understand? You don't have a father. You were immaculately conceived."
Indeed..could it be that Richard Alpert is John Locke's father? Emily was under the impression that she didn't have sexual relations with her boyfriend - who may well have been Alpert ("he's twice your age") and no Cooper. Did Alpert not only recruit Locke..but create Locke?
I've always believed that Emily Locke had told Locke the truth (1.19), and now it seems even more likely that she did. This also begs the question - if Locke is Alpert's son..is this why he is seemingly pre-destined..Alpert is ageless..which could explained why Locke is self professed 'everyman - meat and potatoes'. Perhaps he has some of Alpert's memories in his DNA..something must have been passed down?
I'm also interested in Alpert's preparedness to wait for Locke - keeping tabs on him at different intervals in his life. Alpert's patience is inkeeping with the patience that he asked young Ben to have.
Next up: "The difference in-dreams.."