Thanks to fellow Lost blogger Dark UFO for pointing us to the latest installment of the official Lost Book Club. In a new video, Team Darlton plug James Joyce 's Ulysses (an even more referential work than Lost) and reveal that episode 5:7 will be titled "316." At the very end of their video, a new Dharma symbol flashes on-screen for a split second.
I believe this new symbol is a lantern, which may also be the name of the station it represents. The graphic evokes the lamp post in the woods marking the entrance to Narnia in the classic series by C.S. Lewis. Nor would this be the first such reference on Lost. As we've discussed before, the name Charlotte Staples Lewis seems a clear shout out to the author (i.e., Clive Staples Lewis).
The Narnian symbolism fits well with the episode title (i.e., 316) also revealed by Darlton. Regular readers of this blog may recall my post Purple Sky wherein we discussed the possibility that moving the Island would reorient it in spacetime "such that a bearing of 305 no longer provides safe access." I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that 316 is the new bearing for reaching the Island safely.
That, in turn, raises another possibility we've kicked around recently. In the Island Needs a Constant, I suggested there might be another Dharma station, either on the Island or somewhere else across the planet, that the Oceanic 6 must find to get back. How fitting would it be if this hypothetical station turned out to be none other than the Lantern?
UPDATE (December 14, 2008): A poster on the Fuselage named Founder raises another plausible explanation for the title 316. It could refer to the number of people who purportedly died in the crash of Oceanic 815 -- i.e., 324 passengers minus the eight who initially survived impact. The episode might therefore deal with the unraveling of the lie told by the Oceanic 6.
I believe this new symbol is a lantern, which may also be the name of the station it represents. The graphic evokes the lamp post in the woods marking the entrance to Narnia in the classic series by C.S. Lewis. Nor would this be the first such reference on Lost. As we've discussed before, the name Charlotte Staples Lewis seems a clear shout out to the author (i.e., Clive Staples Lewis).
The Narnian symbolism fits well with the episode title (i.e., 316) also revealed by Darlton. Regular readers of this blog may recall my post Purple Sky wherein we discussed the possibility that moving the Island would reorient it in spacetime "such that a bearing of 305 no longer provides safe access." I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that 316 is the new bearing for reaching the Island safely.
That, in turn, raises another possibility we've kicked around recently. In the Island Needs a Constant, I suggested there might be another Dharma station, either on the Island or somewhere else across the planet, that the Oceanic 6 must find to get back. How fitting would it be if this hypothetical station turned out to be none other than the Lantern?
UPDATE (December 14, 2008): A poster on the Fuselage named Founder raises another plausible explanation for the title 316. It could refer to the number of people who purportedly died in the crash of Oceanic 815 -- i.e., 324 passengers minus the eight who initially survived impact. The episode might therefore deal with the unraveling of the lie told by the Oceanic 6.
15 comments:
Your theory about "316" is the best one I've seen yet.
Could Eko have sensed that number would be important when he put John 3:16 on his stick?
Capcom: Thanks! To clarify, did Eko inscribe John 3:16 or 3:05 on his Jesus stick? I seem to recall it being the latter (i.e., 3:05) which Locke did indeed interpret as a compass direction. Regardless, I wouldn't be surprised if more of those inscriptions turn out to be mighty prescient!
Truthfully, I didn't re-look, heheh. I thought that it was 305 too, but someone said that he also put 316. I'll have to check his stick on Lostpedia for sure.
Update: as per Lostpedia, there is no inscribing of 316 anywhere on Eko's stick as far as we know. So as Emily Litella would say, "Oh...Nevermiiind!" :-)
http://lostpedia.com/wiki/Jesus_stick
Capcom: Even if John 3:16 isn't inscribed on Eko's stick, it still fits well with suggestions on the show that Aaron is the messiah.
My theory, not only is the Dharma station off-island. It's in 'the merry old land of Oz' (whats that a reference to eh?!). More specifically - the place where Rose and Bernard went on their honeymoon. Possible?
Anonymous: I'd say a Dharma station at Uluru (i.e., Ayers Rock) is very possible -- good thinking!
I am not a good LOST theorist but I wonder if 316 is a reference to Christ dying. It would fit with the "lantern" as Christ is the Light of the world as well as John Locke having been seen dead at the end of last season.
Just me thinking out loud...
Anonymous: Makes sense to me, especially since I'm guessing Locke/Bentham will eventually be resurrected in some shape or form.
Hmmm, I like the update idea too.
While the symbol does resemble a lantern, I can't help but think with the light pouring out the two sides of it that the symbol for the station might actually be The Lighthouse.
At some point we're going to go back to the Artic too. That has to fit back in to things. I'd be willing to bet that Lantern is there. Remember Ben woke up in the desert with a winter parka on. I know the Wheel was in ice, but might be he also expected to get to a wintry place. Maybe?
I can see Kate and Jack (et al) slugging through ice and snow to find a station....
David: The Lighthouse (or the Beacon?) works well too! I wonder...will we see the Virginia Woolf novel To the Lighthouse in some future episode? Whenever I'm confronted with suggestions the Island is alive, I'm reminded of Woolf's metaphor of the Ramsays' house as a living organism.
80sPro: I dig it! What if there are multiple stations around globe they must use to triangulate the Island's new location?
Watch Dharma Special access where damon and carlton answer questions from Lost fans. They refer to a book, I dont remember the name of the book but he opens it up to page 316 and reads a passage. It talks about the character getting people together to start on a new journey. This doesent explain the name of the title but I think he is hinting at what will happen during that episode, most likely referring to the oceanic six finally getting together and leaving to go back to the island.
Anonymous: I believe the book was Ulysses by James Joyce? Regardless, I agree with your interpretation of the passage they quoted. What surprises me is that, judging from recent spoilers, the Oceanic 6 will get back to the Island more quickly than I would have expected. Then again, with only two seasons to go, I suppose there's no time for dilly dallying!
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