Post by thepragmatist on Jun 26, 2009 10:42:53 GMT -5
I think the show is putting forward the argument that there is no such thing as Good or Evil -- there is only duty. People do their jobs. Play their parts.
There are Leaders, Liars, Judges, Cowards, etc. It's when people deny these given roles that all hell breaks loose.
Charlie is supposed to take care of his family -- that's his job, but he becomes a selfish drug addict and only finds redemption by returning to his true calling. A caretaker. He uses his death as a means to be a caretaker.
Sayid is a killer. On the golf course, in Russia. Here a kill. There a kill. Everywhere a kill-kill. But man, when this guy falls in love? Watch out ladies.
Jack has to take care of something. His ex-wife recognized this before all this island stuff.
Locke's whole back-story is a struggle to not be who -- and what -- he is.
When Kate tries to play house she can't do it. She can't be Aaron's mom. She can't be all wifey with Jack. It's not her density.
When Carl was getting brainwashed one of the flashing screens says "God loves you because that's his job." Apart from assuming God is either male or female, I think it gets to a central argument of the show.
There is no good or evil. There is only duty. Dharma, itself, means something like 'duty.'
Therefore, I don't think the goal is the vanquishing of Good forever or of Evil forever. It's not only not possible, it's not desirable. Both sides need the other to maintain the order of the world. Contentment, balance, happiness will come from acceptance -- the handing out of jumpsuits with your job emblazoned on them encapsulates this cosmic process nicely.
There are Leaders, Liars, Judges, Cowards, etc. It's when people deny these given roles that all hell breaks loose.
Charlie is supposed to take care of his family -- that's his job, but he becomes a selfish drug addict and only finds redemption by returning to his true calling. A caretaker. He uses his death as a means to be a caretaker.
Sayid is a killer. On the golf course, in Russia. Here a kill. There a kill. Everywhere a kill-kill. But man, when this guy falls in love? Watch out ladies.
Jack has to take care of something. His ex-wife recognized this before all this island stuff.
Locke's whole back-story is a struggle to not be who -- and what -- he is.
When Kate tries to play house she can't do it. She can't be Aaron's mom. She can't be all wifey with Jack. It's not her density.
When Carl was getting brainwashed one of the flashing screens says "God loves you because that's his job." Apart from assuming God is either male or female, I think it gets to a central argument of the show.
There is no good or evil. There is only duty. Dharma, itself, means something like 'duty.'
Therefore, I don't think the goal is the vanquishing of Good forever or of Evil forever. It's not only not possible, it's not desirable. Both sides need the other to maintain the order of the world. Contentment, balance, happiness will come from acceptance -- the handing out of jumpsuits with your job emblazoned on them encapsulates this cosmic process nicely.
