John Locke
From Lostpedia
- "John" redirects here. For other uses of "John", see: John (disambiguation)
Portrayed by Terry O'Quinn
- Former owner of Welcome Home Professional Home Inspections
- Regional collection supervisor for a box company
Anthony Cooper - Father
Emily Locke - Mother
Florence - Former Foster Mother
Melissa - Former Foster Sister
Jeannie - Former Foster Sister
Former Foster Brother
Bea Jones - Great Aunt
Johnathan Locke, more commonly known as "John", is one of the middle section survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. His paralysis was immediately healed upon crashing on the Island, which has ultimately led him to believe he has some sort of special connection to the Island. He is sometimes shown in opposition to Benjamin Linus, although they share several traits including the ability to commune with Jacob. Seen as antithetical to Jack Shephard, he and Jack are philosophical opposites and used to share leadership among the survivors. Locke had eventually separated himself from most of the camp, and led the group of his supporters to the Barracks, where they became the first Island inhabitants to be attacked by freighter mercenaries. Locke has recently established contact with Jacob through Christian, who told him about a way to ultimately save the Island.
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Before the crash
John Locke was born to Emily Annabeth Locke and Anthony Cooper on May 30, 1956. His mother was 15 years old when she gave birth and his grandmother immediatly saw to an adoption. ("Cabin Fever")
Locke was born three months premature, and survived despite numerous illnesses; the hospital nurses referring to him as a miracle. Richard Alpert was present at the hospital one day when Locke was a baby. ("Cabin Fever")
Locke was put into foster care. He had a foster mother named Florence, two foster sisters, Melissa and Jeannie, and an unnamed foster brother with whom he played mousetrap. When Locke was five, Richard visited him, telling him that he runs a "school" for very special children and he believes Locke is one of them. He asks to show Locke something special, but pauses when he notices a drawing Locke made of a stick figure being attacked by black scribbles. He shows Locke several items and asks Locke which one already belongs to him. After several moments Locke picks a knife, which Richard quickly grabs, irritated, saying that is not the right item. He leaves in a hurry, saying Locke is not ready to join his school yet. ("Cabin Fever")
Later on in his life, his foster sister Jeannie, died at a young age, from a broken neck received falling from some monkey bars. Her mother blamed herself for not looking after her. After her death, a Golden Retriever showed up and took up residence in Jeannie's bedroom. Locke's foster mother believed that the dog contained the spirit of Jeannie returning to tell her that the accident was not her fault. The dog vanished shortly after Locke's foster mother's death 5 years later. It was never to be seen again. ("Outlaws")
When Locke was sixteen, he received an offer from Mittelos Laboratories to come to their "summer camp," but Locke refused as his love of science had made him the subject of bullying and teasing. His teacher, Gellert, mentioned speaking to a Dr. Alpert about the opportunity, but Locke said he is more interested in sports and recreational activities, to which Gellert said Locke cannot do those things. Locke responded with "Don't tell me what I can't do." ("Cabin Fever")
Many years later, while working in the toy department of a superstore, John notices that he is being stalked by a mysterious woman, soon revealed to be his mother, Emily.
In their first conversation, Emily claimed he was "immaculately conceived" (although she meant that he had no father), paving the way for his special "destiny". However, the disbelieving John hired an investigator to track her down, who returned with information about his living father, and a medical record of his mother's psychiatric problems.
Acting on the information, John visited his father, Anthony, who seemed delighted to host him in his guarded house. Anthony invited the eager John on his hunting trips, where they apparently started to bond. One day, John arrived at the house, to find his father on a dialysis machine. Anthony then revealed his kidney failure and need for a transplant soon, before claiming that he hid this knowledge not to spoil their good time. Compassionately, John soon offered him his kidney, and before their surgery, spoke of his belief in their encounter to be an act of fate. However, when Locke awoke in his room, Cooper was no longer at his side. As revealed by the Nurse, Cooper had left the hospital immediately after the operation, ditching Locke.
The traumatized Locke was then visited by his mother, who confessed that their earlier meeting, and all the subsequent events, were arranged by his father, in order to con him into giving away his kidney willingly, a plan which she took part in for money.
Enraged, Locke left his bed and drove to his father's house, but was stopped at the gate. Ignoring the warnings by the guard, Locke remained outside. He eventually left the house, but he continued to drive his car to Cooper's house and stay parked outside the gate for hours, wanting an answer for his betrayal. ("Deus Ex Machina")
Some time later, Locke decided to join an anger management group where he trivialized some of the members' problems by comparing them to his own. However, at the end of one session, he was approached by a woman from the group, Helen, who appeared to understand his state. The two of them began a relationship, which helped distract him a little from his father issues, except for the stalking habit. Around this time, Anthony had moved to another house thinking that John would stop parking outside once he did so, but he did not. Eventually, Anthony came outside to tell John to get over it and to not come back, because he was not wanted. However, he still continued to do so until he was forced to stop this habit when Helen caught him at it, and made him choose between her, or his father. ("Orientation")
After a while together, Locke decided that he would propose to her. He had everything ready, but then, his father arrived on the scene. Anthony had conned some thugs out of a lot of money, faked his own death, and hidden the money in a bank account which he required assistance in accessing. In return for Locke's aid, he would give his son $200,000 of the money. Locke did this, but it is unknown as to whether Locke kept the money or not. Shortly after retrieving the money, two men visited Locke asking about the money, but Locke denied any knowledge of it, telling Helen the same thing. But Helen found out about his involvement with the money. She turned down Locke's proposal, leaving him on bended knee in the car park of his father's motel. In this period Locke was working as Professional Home Inspector, for a company of his own called "Welcome Home". ("Lockdown")
Some time after his relationship with Helen, John joined a commune of farmers, secretly living as a family that grew and sold marijuana. During this time, he met Eddie, who was hitchhiking. John picked him up and befriended him; inviting him into this "family" he was a part of. It was later discovered that Eddie was in fact a police officer, there to investigate if the nature of the commune was criminal. In order to save his "family," John pretended to take Eddie hunting. He took aim at him, but after much negotiating by Eddie, Locke did not shoot him, and Eddie went free. It is unknown what happened to the farm after Eddie walked away from Locke. ("Further Instructions")
Having been conned by his father, turned down by the woman he loved, and losing the closest thing to a real family that he ever had, Locke went into a state of depression and began to see a therapist and receive insurance for his disability. Sometime in 2000, he is approached by Peter Talbot, whose mother was going to get married to Cooper. Locke, knowing Cooper was planning to con the family, ordered him to call off the con, threatening to expose him. Cooper initially agreed; however, Locke later learned that Peter had been killed. Upon confronting Cooper, his father claimed to have had no part in the murder. Cooper also said that Mrs. Talbot had called off the wedding. When Locke asked if he could call and verify this information, Cooper pointed him to the phone, situated in front of a glass window eight stories up.
As Locke reached for the phone, Cooper charged him and knocked him out the window, causing Locke to fall eight stories and break his back, paralyzing him from the waist down. On the day of the first time he had to go sit on his wheelchair, Locke felt that he wasn't able to do it. The nurse treating him helped him, and said to him that he didn't want him to say what he couldn't do. Locke is then placed into the wheelchair for the first time to his great dismay, Locke sadly looks at his immobile legs and breaks down into tears. ("The Man from Tallahassee")
One day, as Locke was in rehab, an "orderly" named Matthew Abaddon told him to go on a walkabout even though Locke couldn't walk, saying that he once went on a walkabout thinking he was one thing and came out as another. Locke refused, but Abaddon said that someday they will meet again and Locke will owe him one. ("Cabin Fever")
Sometime after his accident, Locke worked in a box company. He was treated poorly by his boss. Locke attempted to re-enact his relationship by involving himself with a phone sex operator (or something similar), who went by the name of Helen. He invited her to go on a trip with him, she refused, and the "relationship" was ended. It is unknown whether Locke has had any partners since Helen. ("Walkabout")
Locke has stubbornly refused to allow his disability affect the way he lives his life. He eventually decided to go on a walkabout tour in Australia to give himself a challenge. However, when he got there, he was told that he was not allowed to go on the trip, because of his wheelchair. Locke was crushed, and he angrily screamed after the tour guide, but to no avail. He was left, heartbroken, abandoned, and alone, and he watched the other people happily leave. ("Walkabout")
With no other options, he prepared to return to the States aboard Flight 815. Much to his embarrassment, he had to be carried on to the plane by flight attendants. He was seated at the end of the row, in seat 24D. He briefly encountered Rose at the airport, not knowing that later he would share a knowing moment with her about the healing properties of the Island. ("Exodus, Part 2") ("S.O.S.")
On the Island
Season 1 (Days 1-44)
After the the crash of Flight 815, Locke was shocked to discover that he had regained his ability to walk. At first, he walked gingerly, unable to comprehend what was happening. However, within seconds, he was running to Jack's aid. ("Pilot, Part 1")
Being able to walk again profoundly affected Locke, who, due to his self-expressed outlook as a "Man of Faith", believed that it was his destiny to be on the Island, and that everything was happening for a reason.
Locke was also the first Lostie to bear witness to the "Monster"; he was out tracking boar with Michael and Kate, when it seemed to be closing in on him. However we don't see this; all we have as evidence is what Locke said to Jack: "I looked into the eye of this island, and what I saw... was beautiful." He describes the "Monster" as a "bright light" to Eko in "The Cost of Living" (who only replies curtly "that is not what I saw"). As a result of this incident, he came to think of the Island as an entity unto itself with a plan for them all. ("Walkabout") This account of seeing the monster seems to be similar to what we saw between Juliet and the monster in "Left Behind".
Soon after this incident, Locke was responsible for beating Sayid unconscious and destroying his makeshift radio equipment which was being used to discover the origin of the distress signal. Locke kept what he had done to Sayid a secret for a long time until he eventually admitted what he had done to Sayid. ("The Moth")
Locke earned a great deal of respect on the Island, one reason being his varied and many skills:
- Tracking, which allowed the survivors to traverse the jungle and search for missing persons.
- Hunting, which prevented a food crisis; Locke found a sounder of boars which he successfully hunted to feed the camp.
- Perseverance; it was due to Locke that Charlie was able to quit his heroin addiction (and the two men became close as a result).
During a trail hunt around the Island for the recently abducted Charlie and Claire, he threw a flashlight towards Boone, which he failed to catch and landed on a metal surface under the soil, this led to the discovery of the hatch, an event which would turn out to be pivotal in the lives of the survivors of Flight 815. He kept it secret from the rest of the castaways, and wanted Boone to do the same. However, Boone was not quite as strong-minded as Locke; he was prepared to tell all to Shannon, his sister. Locke drugged Boone, to stop him doing so and to convince himself to give up all other attachments. ("All The Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues"), ("Hearts and Minds")
It was with Boone, also, that he discovered Claire, after her escape from the Staff. Locke showed his caring side when he built a cradle for Claire, out of materials he found on the Island. ("Special"), ("Numbers")
But Locke still wanted to get into the Hatch. After spending a long time trying to think of a way to get into it, he constructed a trebuchet in a failed attempt to shatter the Hatch door's window. Following this event, Locke had a vision. In it, he saw a Beechcraft crashing, as well as his mother pointing in its direction, and a blood-stained Boone. Also, he was confined back to his wheelchair, unable to move. The dream also mentioned a woman from Boone's past who had died from a fall. ("Deus Ex Machina")
This dream was a sign, because, with Boone, he managed to track the plane to its resting place in the canopy. His legs had appeared to steadily cease to function, reducing him to a crawl. This meant that Boone was required to climb up to the plane. Unfortunately, though, the plane tipped and fell, nose first, to the ground, and Boone was mortally injured. Locke returned to the camp with Boone's injured body, but fled back to the Hatch without telling Jack the true nature of Boone's injuries. Because he did not know the full problem, Jack was unable to save Boone, who died. ("Deus Ex Machina"), ("Do No Harm")
At the Hatch, Locke explained that the Island told him what it wanted, and what he was to do next. He begged, and sobbed, pounding the door with his hands. After he did this, a light appeared in the window, before disappearing just as quickly. This seemed to re-affirm Locke's faith. ("Deus Ex Machina")
Locke returned to camp at Boone's funeral, still wearing a shirt stained with Boone's blood. He was confronted violently by Jack who demanded some sort of explanation. He was calmed down however, and, soon after, he told everybody about the Hatch. But, the death of Boone and his deceptions cost him much of his credibility. Jack never fully trusted him again.
Later, when the first raft was burnt, Locke gave a rousing but dishonest speech to the group blaming the Others even though he suspected Walt. He was eventually able to get Walt to confess to him. But Locke did not tell anyone else in the camp that Walt was responsible for burning the first raft. ("The Greater Good")
When Jack, Kate, Hurley and Rousseau traveled to the Black Rock to recover dynamite to blow the Hatch open, Locke was also part of the team. During this trek, Locke was seized by the "Monster" and was almost pulled into a pit by its smoky tendrils. The "Monster" was only repelled by Kate throwing dynamite into the pit, which caused the "Monster" to flee. During this event, Locke had asked Jack to allow the "Monster" to pull him in; he believed nothing would happen. ("Exodus, Part 1"), ("Exodus, Part 2")
When they eventually reached the Hatch, armed with the dynamite, Locke was the one who lit the fuse, despite Hurley's protests. The Hatch door was blown open, and Season One ended with Locke and Jack staring down into the Hatch. ("Exodus, Part 2")
Season 2 (Days 44-67)
Upon entering the newly opened hatch (discovered to be the the Swan Station of the DHARMA Initiative), Locke was briefly held captive by Desmond, the operator of the station. When Desmond fled, Locke continued his job of entering the Numbers and pushing the button, which he believed was extremely important. He believed the button was so important he helped establish a rotation of the castaways for pushing the button, so it could be done efficiently. ("Man of Science, Man of Faith"), ("Adrift"), ("Orientation")
Later in the series he discovered that Charlie had been hoarding heroin-filled statues from the Beechcraft, upsetting him because he considered it a breach of trust. Shortly after, he severely beat Charlie following Charlie’s kidnapping of Aaron, instigated by a series of delusions and subsequently became quite close to Claire in a fatherly manner (and made Charlie jealous of his good relationship with Claire). ("Abandoned"), ("Fire + Water")
On day 49 following the crash, Locke was passing Paulo on the beach as Paulo appeared to be burying something (the diamonds). He provided some more words of wisdom about the island, stating that "things never stay buried", and offering some advice on where to bury whatever he was burying further inland or up to beach, due to beach erosion. ("Exposé")
Due in part to the subtle manipulations of "Henry Gale", a member of the Others that the castaways were able to capture, John found himself at odds with Jack for "leadership" of the group and the role of decision-maker. He initially believed Ben's assertion that he was not one of the Others and called on Gale’s help when his leg was impaled by a blast door during an impromptu lockdown in the Hatch. He consequently promised to protect Ben from the other survivors. While he was impaled he discovered a hidden map drawn of the Island on the blast door. ("One of Them"), ("Lockdown")
Following the revelation of Ben's deception, Locke was thrown into a state of self-doubt when Ben claimed that he never pushed the button and that nothing happened, though his faith in the Island's abilities was bolstered a bit with a conversation with Rose, who made it clear that she was also aware of the Island's healing properties. ("S.O.S.")
Shortly after "Henry"'s escape from the Swan, Eko had a dream in which Ana Lucia and his brother Yemi told him to help Locke and to go to the "question mark". Eko asked Locke to help him find the escaped prisoner, but later in the jungle he told Locke that they are really in search of the "question mark." Locke refused to tell Eko what the question mark is, so Eko knocked him out with a headbutt. When Locke awoke, he showed Eko his sketch of the blast door map, and Eko decided that they must find the question mark as shown on the map. Then, they arrived at the Beechcraft in which Boone died. Locke mocked his past ideas and implied that he still blames himself for Boone's death. ("?")
That night Locke had a dream involving Yemi and Eko climbing the nearby cliff. He told Eko about it, thus making Eko climb the cliff and see a question mark in the salted ground below. Realizing that the question mark sign is indicating that the plane is on the spot where something is hidden, the two men dug under the plane and found another hatch. ("?")
The new hatch was another DHARMA station called the Pearl, containing a film which suggested that the act of pushing the button was nothing more than a psychological experiment. This information (along with Henry Gale's false claim that he didn't push the button and nothing happened) shattered Locke's faith in the Island, while due to Eko's dream, Eko took away the opposite belief - that pushing the button was essential. ("?")
Later that day, Locke witnessed Charlie hurling the remaining heroin statues into the ocean. He also finally ripped off the splint supporting his leg, having fully recovered from his injury in the Swan station.("Three Minutes")
Locke became determined to prove that the button was meaningless. He entered into a partnership with the returned Desmond who triggered a lockdown that shut Eko out of the Hatch, intending to wait until the countdown ended on the assumption that nothing would happen. While waiting for the timer to run out, Desmond read printouts from the Pearl and realized that the whole thing was legitimate due to a systems failure he remembered causing two months ago. When he then attempted to push the button, Locke smashed the computer in protest. As the countdown ended and the electromagnetic energy beneath the station began to build up, Locke spoke only three words—"I was wrong"—to Eko, who had made his way into the computer room. ("Live Together, Die Alone")
Season 3 (Days 68-91)
After the implosion of the Swan Locke woke up in the jungle with a bad headache and no voice. He made his way back to the beach and, with Charlie's assistance built a sweat lodge on the site of Eko's church. There he underwent a vision quest where he was reunited with a vision of Boone.
Boone took John on a vision quest through an airport where he saw many of the people on the Island, continually telling John he must "Clean up his own mess." John soon realized that what Boone was trying to tell him was that he had to save Mr. Eko, since it was his opposition to Eko that caused the Hatch to implode. After his vision, Locke became able to speak again and convinced that Eko was carried off by a polar bear somewhere. Together he and Charlie found and rescued Eko.
After Hurley told them about Jack, Kate and Sawyer's capture, Locke made a speech declaring his intent to rescue them. ("Further Instructions") Locke's later behavior cast doubts as to whether anything he said in the speech was honest.
Locke, Sayid, Desmond, Nikki and Paulo then went after Eko to the Pearl station, to see if there was any opportunity to watch any other stations on the monitors, and perhaps locate Jack, Sawyer and Kate. They got signals on one of the monitors, and it showed a one-eyed man in a DHARMA suit (later revealed to be Mikhail Bakunin), in a room which contained a computer and other electrical equipment. The man understood they were watching, and turned the camera off, right before John said "I guess he'll be expecting us" - meaning he will find this possible station. ("The Cost of Living")
After that Locke, Desmond, Sayid, Nikki, and Paulo heard the Monster and went out to find Eko who has been attacked by the Monster. Eko died in John's arms after telling him "You're next".
Locke decided to bury Eko at the spot where he died. When Nikki asked why, Locke explained that there has been a lot of deaths and the other survivors can't take another one. Locke explained that he believes "the "Monster"" killed Eko for a reason, and he wants to find out what that reason is. Locke retrieved Eko's Jesus stick from the jungle in order to place it as a marker on Eko's grave. When the group buried Eko, Locke looked at Eko's stick and took special note of one particular bit of scripture carved on it: "Lift up your eyes and look north. John 3:05." Locke interpreted this as a message to himself and determined to go north on a bearing of 305 degrees. Though skeptical, Sayid accompanied him, as did Kate and Danielle. ("I Do") ("Tricia Tanaka Is Dead")
The compass bearing eventually lead the team to the Flame station, where the group met Mikhail Bakunin, who initially claimed to be the last member of Dharma Initiative, but was soon revealed to one of Others. Locke quickly became absorbed in a computer chess game at the station, even leaving the subdued Mikhail unguarded to play it. Locke won the game and unlocked a sequence of commands. He entered "77" into the computer, ostensibly in response to an incursion by the "hostiles"; as a result soon after the team left the Flame with Mikhail as prisoner, the entire facility exploded. ("Enter 77")
Locke continued with Sayid, Kate and Danielle (with prisoner Mikhail in tow) toward the Barracks. When they encounter the sonic barrier, Locke decided to test it by pushing Mikhail between the posts. Mikhail thanked Locke and then got wounded by the sonic waves. Locke's decision to test the fence which resulted in Bakunin's apparent death (it is not yet known whether or not Locke intended this to happen) and could potentially have alerted The Others of their approach without consulting anyone created tensions within the remaining members of the expedition, particularly Sayid, who considered Mikhail his prisoner.
This tension was heightened even further when they discover that Locke had sneaked some C-4 out of the Flame (even though he claimed that he had no knowledge of it beforehand, which is why he entered 77 into the computer). It became clear to everyone else that Locke wasn't trustworthy, had repeatedly lied to them and taken actions by himself without consulting the rest of the group which resulted in destructive and fatal consequences. ("Par Avion")
At the Barracks, Locke went off to look for Ben leaving Kate and Sayid to rescue Jack by themselves.
He confronted Ben for the first time since their last talk in the Swan Station. Ben revealed that he knew everything about Locke including how he ended up in a wheelchair. Locke asked Ben about the submarine that he had heard about from Mikhail, but was interrupted by Alex, whom he held as a hostage in Ben's closet as Richard Alpert came in to tell Ben that the Others had captured Kate and Sayid. After Richard leaved, Locke ordered Alex to retrieve the bag Sayid was carrying. Ben discussed Locke's former paralysis with him, asking him "Did it hurt?". Locke interpreted this as a reference to the fall that broke his back. Upon learning that Locke had been to the Flame, Ben realized that John may have brought the C-4 with him in the bag, and that he planned not to escape on the submarine but to blow it up in order to ensure that nobody will ever leave the Island.
Once again Ben started to manipulate Locke in a number of ways. First, he falsely took Locke into his confidence and told him that the Submarine was important to his position as leader thus encouraging Locke to blow it up. He then started to share information about the Island with John, knowing how that will motivate Locke even further. Ben asked Locke to imagine a "magic box," that could make any of his wishes come true. Locke sarcastically responded to Ben that he hoped it's big enough for him to wish himself a new submarine. Ben gradually shared other information with Locke. He told him that the submarine was about to depart in a few hours and that it will not be able to come back. He explained that the only thing Locke will accomplish by destroying it is to keep Jack on the Island. As a result Locke went through his plan and destroyed the submarine, after what he was soon captured by the Others.
Ben eventually revealed to Locke that destroying the Submarine was a dream come true for him. That he wanted to keep Jack on the Island but had no way to do it by himself. He described Locke coming out of the jungle within hours of Jack leaving as the answer to his dreams. Ben arrived with Richard, and the two free Locke, bringing him to a concrete door. Ben told Locke that he is special because of his relationship with the island and that Ben wants to help him to know more about the island. Ben told Locke that when he earlier asked about whether or not "it hurt," he was referring to if it hurt knowing his own father tried to kill him. He also told Locke that he believed John destroyed the submarine because the Island was the one place his father could never reach him and cutting the Island off from the outside made this more certain. Ben then asked if Locke is ready to see what was in the box, and opened the door, revealing a bound and gagged Anthony Cooper. ("The Man from Tallahassee")
Locke was soon after released from captivity and decided to join the Others on a journey to an unspecified location. He went to say goodbye to Kate, who was held in the game room at the Barracks. After Kate told him that he can't trust the others if they promised to take him home, Locke responded that he did not want to go home. He then told Kate that he had made a strong case for her to stay with the Others but "forgiveness is not one of their strong suits". He left the Barracks along with all of the Others. ("Left Behind")
Accompanying the Others, Locke made way to the ruins, where Cooper was being tied to a large pillar. Cindy revealed to Locke that the Others were very "excited" about him being there, and that they have been waiting for him. Later, Ben told John that he is special and the minute he arrived, he began to feel pins & needles in his previously numb legs, but to show his commitment (and in turn have Ben reveal the island's secrets), Locke must kill his father. That night Ben brought Locke to the pillar, giving him a knife and taunted him in order to try to make him kill Cooper in front of the rest of the camp. When Locke didn't follow through, Ben announced that he isn't who they thought he was. Richard gave a file to Locke the next day, saying that Ben was trying to make him seem weak, and suggesting that there may be another way to kill Cooper.
Locke has later read a file on another survivor inside Black Rock. Locke encountered Sawyer at camp and told him that he has kidnapped Ben, and that he wanted Sawyer to kill him. Locke took Sawyer to the Black Rock and led him inside to the brig, where Sawyer was locked inside by Locke, and discovered that it is not Ben whom Locke was holding captive, but Anthony Cooper. After Sawyer discovered that Cooper was the original Sawyer who conned his parents, he brutally murdered him. When Locke entered the brig and found his father dead, he thanked Sawyer for that. Outside the Black Rock, Locke revealed to Sawyer that Juliet was a mole, and gave him the tape as proof. Locke then picked up Cooper's body and walked to the Other's camp. ("The Brig")
He then delivered his father's body to The Others and demanded to be initiated into the secrets of the island. After some wrangling, he convinced Ben to take him to see Jacob. When he and Ben reached Jacob's cabin, Locke initially couldn't see or hear Jacob, but as he was about to leave, Locke heard a voice say "Help me", which was presumably Jacob's. Following which, there was a bout of poltergeist-like behavior with the furniture and Ben was tossed around the cabin. Seeing all that, John quickly left the cabin. The next day, Ben led Locke to the open grave of the DHARMA employees who were killed in the Purge, and then shot Locke in the abdomen, knocking him into the pit. After learning what Jacob had said to him, Ben walked away, apparently leaving him to die in the mass grave. ("The Man Behind the Curtain") However, the bullet went through Locke's body probably where his removed kidney left an empty space (by Locke's own estimation). ("Confirmed Dead")
Locke woke up sometime later in the grave, unable to move his legs. Despondent and in pain, he was about to shoot himself with a gun he fiound on one of the corpses, when suddenly Walt appeared on the edge of the pit, telling him that he can move his legs and that he had work to do.
Locke reached the radio tower just as Naomi was making the call to her ship. He threw a knife at Naomi, hitting her in the back of the neck. Jack picked up the phone, and Locke asked with him not to contact the ship. Jack refused, and Locke threatened to kill him, but was ultimately unable to. Locke told Jack, that he was not supposed to do this. After Jack uses the phone to call the ship, Locke walks away from the tower looking extremely disappointed with Jack's decision. ("Through the Looking Glass")
Season 4 (Days 91-99)
John found Hurley screaming for help after he discoverd Jacob's Cabin. Hurley told Locke about Charlie's death and the general situation. Locke stated that if they allow Jack to contact the people on the boat, then Charlie would have died for nothing.
When Locke and Hurley reached the cockpit where the other suvivors were meeting, Sayid argued with Locke about his true intentions, mainly about the fact he blew up the submarine. As the radio tower group arrived at the cockpit, Jack snuck up on him, knocked him to the ground, grabbed the gun and aimed at Locke's head. Locke assured Jack that he won't kill him, just as he wouldn't kill Jack. However, Jack pulled the trigger in anger only to discover the chamber is empty. Jack began to beat Locke and was pulled off him by the rest of the suvivors.
Locke informed everyone that the people coming to the Island are the bad guys, and that if they want to live they need to come with him. His intentions were for them to go to the Barracks, as the Others abandoned them. Jack argued, saying that Locke was insane and only crazy people would leave with him. Though many people were loyal to Jack, some choose to leave with Locke: Hurley, Claire, Ben, Danielle, Karl, Alex, Sawyer, and a few other minor survivors. Locke and his group then left the cockpit to go to the Barracks. ("The Beginning of the End")
Before going to the Barracks, Locke told his group that they have to take a "detour" to a cabin. He was taken by surprise when Hurley made a comment suggesting that he was able to see the cabin (in a place it wasn't supposed to be). He explained to Sawyer that he was told to go to the cabin by Walt, who also told him that the people on the freighter were bad and that Naomi needed to be stopped. When pressed, Locke said that he didn't question what he was told because Walt saved his life. He informed the others about being shot and left for dead by Ben. Sawyer didn't believe that Locke would heal so quickly from being shot, so Locke showed him the wounds from the bullet going right through him, and said that he probably would have died if he still had a kidney in that area.
A short time later, Locke told Sawyer that they cannot kill Ben because he has information about the island they needed. Sawyer was skeptical and warned John that Ben probably already had a plan to undermine the survivors. Locke's group then found Charlotte in the jungle. When she revealed that she had a transponder so other members of her team could find her, Locke told her that they didn't want to be found, and tied the transponder to Vincent to ensure that they won't be tracked. He took Charlotte hostage, but Ben took a gun from Karl and shot her (though she turned out to be wearing a bulletproof vest). Locke told Sawyer that he was right about Ben, and was preparing to shoot him (despite protests from Alex and Claire), when Ben offered him information. Locke demanded to know what the monster was, to which Ben replied that he didn't know, but started instead reciting information about Charlotte and the rest of her team. Ben told Locke that they were a threat, and revealed that they came to the Island looking for him, as well as the fact that he has a spy on the boat. ("Confirmed Dead")
Later that day Locke and his faction found the circle of ash, but John was unable to locate Jacob's cabin. He then argued with Hurley when Hurley asked if they could let Charlotte go, threatening him and stating that he was the leader. They then journey to the barracks, where Locke's faction tied up Hurley and put him in Juliet's closet. He then captured Sayid and put him in the gameroom with Ben. He later went into the gameroom to talk with Sayid, and traded Charlotte, whom he had been unsuccessful in questioning, for Miles. ("The Economist")
The next day he made breakfast for Ben, but Ben belittled him so badly that Locke withdrew the breakfast tray, shattering it against the wall. Kate came to Locke's house later, asking to see Miles. Locke refused, saying that he is not running a democracy. Later, Sawyer went to his house, and offered to play backgammon. Sawyer then revealed Locke that Kate was planning to break Ben out. They run to go see if Ben was with Miles, but Miles was gone instead. They intercepted Kate and Miles down in the basement, and Locke told Kate to return to her house. He then banished her from the group, and told her to leave by morning. Locke later questioned a strung-up Miles in the boathouse. He introduced himself by name and says that he was "responsible for the well-being of the island." Locke then shoved a live grenade in Miles' mouth and left him, telling him to "enjoy his breakfast". ("Eggtown")
Locke later revealed to Claire that he has made no progress in trying to get Miles to speak up, and Claire asked to speak to Miles herself only to be denied by Locke. Locke then took Ben another meal only to be taunted once more. Locke keeped his cool this time however, and ultimately the two make a deal for Ben to tell Locke everything he knows about the Freighter in exchange for his freedom. Locke agreed after Ben claimed to have visual evidence, and Ben went on to show Locke that the owner of the boat is Charles Widmore, and also revealed to Locke that his "man on the boat" was Michael. Locke held up his end of the bargain as well, as Ben was later seen walking into his own house freely. ("The Other Woman")
Locke held a meeting at his house to inform everyone of everything he knows about Ben and about the crew of the Kahana. Locke made Miles confess that his team was traveling to the Island in search of Ben, and Ben revealed in turn that Michael was his spy on the freighter. After the meeting, Sawyer confronted Locke and demanded to know why Miles wants $3.2 million from Ben. Locke replied that he didn't consider this to be an important issue, apparently believing that Ben doesn't have access to such a large amount of money. ("Meet Kevin Johnson")
While playing a board game with Sawyer and Hurley, Locke answered the phone call. The voice on the other side repeated "code 14 J" over and over. After deciding what to do, Locke and Sawyer went to tell Ben what had happened, only to find frightened Ben grabbing a hidden gun and yelling "They're here!". Ben led Locke back to his house and told Locke if he wanted to live, Ben was his best chance, and that Ben needed Locke to survive the attack. Once inside the two began to block off the door. When Ben brought everyone outside to see the Monster attacking the mercenaries, he told Locke he had to say goodbye to his daughter and that he'll catch up with Locke when he's done. When Ben reunited with what remained of Locke's group, he told then that they have to go to Jacob, at which point Sawyer decided he has had enough with these "wackos" and he is going back to the beach, along with Claire and Miles. Locke just argued that they were going to keep Hurley to which Sawyer agreed, saying if Locke gets Hurley hurt Sawyer will kill Locke. Locke, Ben and Hurley then set off to visit Jacob. ("The Shape of Things to Come")
After walking the whole day, John decided to make camp. At night he had a strange dream, in which Horace Goodspeed asked John to find him, commenting that Jacob has been waiting for him a really long time. After that Locke made his way to the mass grave, where he found Goodspeed's corpse. In his pocket John found a map to the cabin, to which he immediately went along with Ben and Hurley. Both refused to enter the cabin though, and Ben has told John that his time as the leader was over and Locke's time has began. Inside the cabin Locke found Christian Shephard and, much to his surprise, Claire, who seemed to act very strange to him. Christian, speaking on the behalf of Jacob, said to Locke that all minor questions he has very soon will not matter since the freighter people were already on the way back, and convinced John to ask the only question that really mattered. Locke asked "How do I save the Island?" and by reaction of both Christian and Claire it was clear that he asked the right question. As the answer turned out to be, Jacob wanted Locke and his group to move the Island. ("Cabin Fever")
Name reference to philosopher John Locke
- John Locke is also the name of a famous philosopher who investigated epistemology and metaphysics. These are two fields which Locke (of "Lost") can relate to. In addition to that, Locke, the philosopher, met in Oxford in 1666 the prominent English politician, Anthony Cooper, who had come to Oxford seeking treatment for a liver infection. Locke persuaded Cooper to undergo an operation that saved his life. In the series, Anthony Cooper comes to Locke with a kidney problem as Locke donates his kidney in order to save him.
- "Tabula Rasa," the title of a first season episode, is the name John Locke gave to the philosophical position that human beings are born without innate knowledge. It translates to "Blank Slate."
- Philosopher John Locke's 1693 publication "Some Thoughts Concerning Education", offered his lobby for not binding babies in swaddling. In contrast, the island's John offered Claire advise in season 2's episode 6 "Abandoned," on the advantages of wrapping Aaron in swaddling
Life Experiences
Locke is unique in that he has had at least one significant life experience in common with virtually every key plane crash survivor or island inhabitant.
- Jack: lost their true loves because of their failure to let go of their obsessive behaviors
- Kate: planned and ultimately responsible for the deaths of their fathers
- Sawyer: had their lives severely damaged by Anthony Cooper
- Hurley: abandoned by fathers; both of them are "special"; worked a series of dead end jobs, ironically Locke is ultimately employed by a company Hurley owns
- Sayid: when forced to question their loyalties (Sayid, to the Republican Guard, Locke to the commune), commit betrayals
- Charlie: got rid of their demons on the island
- Jin: embarassed about their parentage, unwanted by their mothers
- Sun: manipulated by their fathers
- Claire: abandoned by fathers who wanted no part in raising them; their fathers appear on the island
- Shannon: denied their fair share of their fathers' wealth
- Boone: conned by a relative
- Michael: injured in an accident requiring a lengthy period of rehab
- Walt: singled out in childhood as "special" by the Others
- Rose: healed by the island
- Bernard: unable to establish lasting relationships deep into their lives
- Nikki: plans somone's death, but manipulates someone else into carrying it out
- Eko: had lengthy encounters with the smoke monster; involved with illegal drug trade
- Ana Lucia: required psychological counseling to deal with their anger issues
- Desmond: brought to the island against their will to fulfill a specific destiny
- Ben: born prematurely to a mother named Emily, but not raised by their mothers; Both have been chosen by the Island to protect it; Richard visits them both at a very young age; Both of them are special; Both planned the death of their fathers
- Juliet: actively recruited under false pretenses by Richard Alpert for Mittelos to do work in "Portland"
Trivia
- Locke was supposedly born in 1956, but Everyday (The Buddy Holly song playing at the beginning of Cabin Fever) was not released until 1957.
- Locke was the fourth character to ever have a flashback.
- Locke's episode count so far is 66 (as of "Cabin Fever").
- Locke's seat number was 24D.
- Locke, like Kate, is a Gemini.
- Locke saw Jeff Hadley's art exhibition in Sydney in the book Signs of Life.
- The name of the actor who played the Sleestak leader in Season Three of the 1970s TV show Land of the Lost was Jon Locke.
- Locke's actions have so far brought about the destruction of two DHARMA stations on the Island, the Swan and the Flame.
- Locke likes Twinkies. ("Exodus, Part 2")
- While working as Home Inspector he met Nadia, Sayid's lost love, inspecting her house. As it is seen in Locke's car door, his company phone number was 714-555-0116 ("Lockdown")
- In "The Man from Tallahassee", Locke says, "For all you know, I was a commander in the Navy." Actor Terry O'Quinn had a recurring role as the CAG (Commander, Air Group) of a US Navy aircraft carrier on the television show JAG. His characters Name was Admiral Thomas Boone.
- The scar over and below Locke's right eye is very similar to the scar over the right eye of the Marvel/X-Men character "Cable," and the scar over the eye of the Disney character "Scar."
- Locke is the 3rd character to have three flashbacks in one season. Jack and Kate were the first two.
- The Walt apparition, when Locke is injured in the DHARMA grave, admonishes him that he has "work to do". It is reminiscent of a scene from the film adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining, when Jack Nicholson's character is scolded in the restroom of the ballroom in the Overlook Hotel that he still has "work to do". ("Through the Looking Glass")
- In the 1999 Chris Carter (X-Files) series "Harsh Realm", a series about humans trapped inside a virtual reality simulation, Terry O’Quinn plays the “villain” Omar Santiago. The protagonist of the show, whose mission is to destroy Santiago, is named Thomas Hobbes.
- A common nickname for people named John is "Jack" (John F. Kennedy was often called Jack). Locke's polar opposite on the series is named Jack.
- In the DVD commentary for Man Behind the Curtain, the producers describe Locke's relationship with Ben as being a multi-chapter showdown for who will be the "Master of the Island."
- Locke was born prematurely. (He was born 'before his time.')
Paperwork
Paperwork shown in a close-up in "Further Instructions" shows:
- John's full first name is Johnathan, a form of "Jonathan", which is actually a name completely unrelated to the name "John", in reality being a form of the name "Nathan". John in its origin language Hebrew is Yochanan, while the name Johnathan in Hebrew (no relation to the name John) is Yahonatan. John means "The Lord is Gracious" and Johnathan means "The Lord Has Given; Gift of God"
- John's firearm license states that his birth date is November 15, 1946 and his driver's license has his birth date as March 30, 1956. Considering that his mother was born on October 15, 1940, it can be assumed that the 1956 birth date is correct (she would have been 15 or 16); otherwise, his mother would have been six when she gave birth to him. This could have been a production error, or possibly the firearm license was a forgery, meaning Locke was illegally in possession of the weapons.
- John is bald in the driver's license photo, but at this point in his life he still had hair (or at least most of it). This could have been a production error, or maybe the character shaved his head before getting the photo taken. Alternatively, John could have applied for another driving license with a more updated photo on it, something normally only done after a major change in appearance.
- On the gun permit/paperwork: his address is 25164 Franklin St, San Francisco 94099; his height is 5' 10"; his weight is 175 lbs.; his social security number is 553-45-2651; and his California employer account number is 625-4412-9.
- The log shows three hand guns, five shot guns and four rifles.
Analysis of his Application for Disability Insurance in "The Man from Tallahassee" shows:
- John's mailing address as 168 San Juan St #201, Tustin, CA 92780.
- The form also indicates that John ran a one-man business that involved "telephone sales." However, this is contradicted by the listing of three general partners—despite the organization type being marked as "individual" and not a "general partnership."
Additional casting
In the episode "Cabin Fever" two actors played younger versions of Locke:
- Charles Henry Wyson played Locke at age 5.
- Caleb Steinmeyer played Locke at age 16.
Unanswered questions
| Unanswered questions |
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- For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: John Locke/Theories
- How did he escape the Swan when it imploded? ("Live Together, Die Alone") ("Further Instructions")
- What made him mute immediately after the Swan implosion? ("Further Instructions")
- Was Ben really coming to recruit him? ("Two for the Road")
- If so, why was he not on Jacob's list?
- Why did the Monster not attack him at first, but then try to drag him down a hole later? ("Walkabout") ("Exodus, Part 1")
- How did Locke acquire his knife throwing and tracking skills? ("Walkabout")
- Why was Locke soaking wet before the submarine blew up?
- What is Richard Alpert testing him for by showing him the various objects?
- Does Locke remember Richard from his childhood?
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| Aaron • Ana Lucia • Bernard • Boone • Charlie • Claire • Desmond • Eko • Hurley • Jack • Jin Kate • Libby • Locke • Michael • Nikki • Paulo • Rose • Sawyer • Sayid • Shannon • Sun • Walt | ||||||
