LOST: role of the Temple
Oct. 22nd, 2021 01:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stefanie_beanThe Temple foreshadows the Heart of the Island. In a way the Temple is like a mini-version of the Island itself. It's hidden so that even some of the Others don't know about it (Ben calls it a "sanctuary.") It's surrounded by a moat of water, like the Island in the midst of the Ocean.
It has a guardian (Dogen) who is like the protector. His helper Lennon is very much like Richard Alpert, in that he goes between Dogen and the Others, while Dogen keeps himself remote. Both Dogen's and Lennon's fates somewhat mirror Jacob & Richard's, in that Jacob dies and Richard will eventually, as he's lost his agelessness at the end of the series.
Most important, the Temple at its center has a pool which seems to be tied directly to the Source/Heart. The pool shows us that the Island's and protector's powers to heal derive directly from the Heart itself, which is why we see the pool turn murky after Jacob dies.
The Temple scenes also powerfully foreshadow Hugo as protector. When Jacob gives Hugo the guitar case with the ankh in it, he gives Hugo exactly what's required to keep the Temple Others from killing them. The ankh itself is an Egyptian symbol of immortality, and notice that the statue of Taweret carried one. When Hugo walks in carrying the ankh, he saves the group - showing that he will be the answer to Ilana's ritual question, "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" (Answer: "He who will save/protect us all.")
In a sense, the Temple is a "dress rehearsal" for the mysteries which unfold in the last four episodes of the series.
It has a guardian (Dogen) who is like the protector. His helper Lennon is very much like Richard Alpert, in that he goes between Dogen and the Others, while Dogen keeps himself remote. Both Dogen's and Lennon's fates somewhat mirror Jacob & Richard's, in that Jacob dies and Richard will eventually, as he's lost his agelessness at the end of the series.
Most important, the Temple at its center has a pool which seems to be tied directly to the Source/Heart. The pool shows us that the Island's and protector's powers to heal derive directly from the Heart itself, which is why we see the pool turn murky after Jacob dies.
The Temple scenes also powerfully foreshadow Hugo as protector. When Jacob gives Hugo the guitar case with the ankh in it, he gives Hugo exactly what's required to keep the Temple Others from killing them. The ankh itself is an Egyptian symbol of immortality, and notice that the statue of Taweret carried one. When Hugo walks in carrying the ankh, he saves the group - showing that he will be the answer to Ilana's ritual question, "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" (Answer: "He who will save/protect us all.")
In a sense, the Temple is a "dress rehearsal" for the mysteries which unfold in the last four episodes of the series.