John and Ben. Two Sides of One Man?

Except John did not kill his father. Sawyer did.

That's arguable. John set it up so that Sawyer would kill Cooper. in a court of law, John would be convicted in conspiracy to murder...

But are we sure that Anthony Cooper really is Locke's father?

What if Ben and John are in fact Adam and Eve in the caves? The black and white rulers of the island. What if in order to actually save the island, it needs both of them, not just John or just Ben? Personally, I think Ben is just facilitating the meeting of John with Jacob, and that he is still in control and bringing Locke along so that they can save the island together.

The thought of Adam and Eve being Ben and John is interesting other than Darlton have said (in Entertainment Weekly, I think) that Adam and Eve were setup early to sort of prove (even before it was a question) that they had a master plan all along. They said we will see Adam and Eve again in the final season.
I have also heard them say numerous times that Ben was supposed to be a very short-term character and would have been if not for Emerson's great acting. Not that they always tell the truth, but these statments don't support the theory.

Their stories are quite similar as they are candidates for the fulfillment of a prophecy not yet shown, likely to be revealed at the end of season 5. They are vital chess pieces in the end game of the mythology but ultimately their parts will be to effectively clear the path for the true chosen one. Aaron anyone? Locke is tested like the young Dali Lama, in hopes that he is the new embodiment of a spectrally challenged great man. Who could that be? As Locke is an important though reluctant chess piece, fate/ course correction finds a possible replacement until such time Locke can assume his place slightly higher up the hierarchy. A strict interpretation of this as yet untold prophecy has the child being conceived and born on the island, born outside of the normal constraints of space and time as the island exists in a "special" place. Ben's maturnity experiments are a futile effort to force such an event, making him even more vital to the fulfillment of said prophecy than he increasingly suspects he is. To some of his own people, he lies and says he was born on the island, suggesting that he may ultimately be this chosen one but naturally he is not. Locke in effect has been reborn on the island, both spiritually and physically. As they become more frustrated and dubious of Ben, the Others/ Natives become intrigued by the story of this island-reborn man. Could he be the one? I'm going to project even further here and say that I do not believe that even Aaron will be this child or fulfillment of prophecy. When Jack and Kate finally make it back to the island at the end of next season or early in season 6, a rekindled affair will lead to the first child both conceived and born on the island.

I'm no Doctor but why would Jakc agree that they were Adam and Eve if both were male. I think as a doctor he could tell the difference between two males and one male and female

Jay drizzle- Aaron was born on the island but he wasnt conceived on the island:)

I think peopleplace too great an emphasis on Ben. I think I read somewhere that two central characters and themes are Jack and locke, representing faith and science. I think we have seen each of them tested in their comviction and the story has broadened, but I beleive that Locke and Jack hold teh key to everything.

Locke--the man of faith will need to embrace sceince and Jack the man of science must embrace faith before teh series ends.

Not Cain and Able.
Oddly enough though, Ben/Locke is more like Jacob/Esau, Locke definitely being Esau here. In the bible, Esau is described as a hunter and Jacob is more of an indoors type (much like the Lostian Jacob). They are twins and ultimately Jacob (who is most like Ben) betrays Esau by stealing his birthright. If you're going to try to look at the biblical side of Lost, start with Jacob and Esau and compare to Ben and Locke, it's awesome.

I think Ben was the mistaken Messiah. Although most of his life ties with what was promised to be for the messiah, he is found not to be a true messiah. I think John is the actual messiah that everyones "has been waiting for" John will save the people

preztige- I agree completely.

But, I think that Alpert knew that Ben wasn't the correct one, and frustrated at his inability to find the true "messiah", used Ben instead.

MsDee I know that Aaron was not conceived on the island. What I meant was that if a child were to be both conceived and born outside of the normal contstraints of time and space, ie on island, than that child would surely be the one so long sought. This is the genesis of the furtility endevours on island. However, the natives/ others understand that like finding the reborn Dali Lama (please read my previous posts) the One does not need to necessarily to fulfill these requirements. Fate is also selecting those who are necessary to clear the way for this messiah, making them also of extreme importance. I also feel that we have lost sight of just how vital Jack is to our story. It's his father in that cabin. It's his sister there as well. It's his nephew that has been born on this island. Locke may not be far down on the pecking order but my gut says that Jack is our most important chess piece in the game. Jack's overriding desire is to save those around him. In the end I predict that not only will he father the eventual chosen one but will sacrifice himself in this endevour.

We are meant to take from it that Ben was perfectly fitted to be Locke's course correction. He is the 'second choice' so to say.

I haven't really thought about this much, so the details could not really work... but could "Emily" be Locke's mother AND Ben's mother. She was very young when she had Locke and it could have been Ben's mother much later in life. This could possibly support some of the theories above that suggest the island choose Ben because it could not get Locke until later on (it choose Ben because they were brothers and whatever special traits they have are similar). So what do you guys think, is this possible?

Good analysis..
It will be interesting to see how it turns out. Based on Jeff Jensen's comments, it might be that in the search of "the One", both were almost equally good candidates, and that finally, now the search has been narrowed to Ben. Who is searching (Alpert-Others? Abaddan-Widmore?)....will be interesting to find out.

Christina - I thought the exact same thing. I posted my Jacob/Esau = Ben/Locke comparison another board:
http://theoriesonlost.blogspot.com/2008/05/jacobesau-benlocke-by-garce1974.html

Richard also told both Locke & Ben that they were not ready yet, or something to that effect.

Drizzle, I'd appreciate some of your input on this topic here
http://www.docarzt.com/lost-forum/lost-theories/507-remember-when-alpert-told-locke.html

I believe there is a possibility that Locke & Ben are brothers.But, I think they have the same mother.Here's why--Emily was born 10/15/40-she had Locke when she was 16 because Locke was born 05/30/56.Locke and Ben are about 8-9 years apart.In order for Ben to be 10-11 years old when coming to the island with his father he would need to be born around 1964.I do not believe that Emily died in the woods that day,I believe that was the story Roger told Ben.I think Emily had a history of being unstable,but I think she really snapped when she had Ben,it brought back all the guilt of leaving Locke behind. At first,Roger probably felt he was doing the right thing by his child,but as Ben grew he began to resent him & blame him for his mothers mental state.Emily was in Santa Rosa Mental Institute-she admitted herself in Oct.1992 and was released in May of 1995.Her diagnosis at the time she admitted herself was manic disorder.On the dismassl form she checks the divorced box.I think Emily & Roger ended up divorced because of her unstable mental state.I do not know where she was prior to her stay at SRMI.But,this would explain both Locke & Ben's connection to the island.Emily knew of Dharma before Ben was born.Emily had a connection to Richard & the island too.
I have read the time travel theory & there is reason to believe that Ben's Mom was on the island before he & Roger got there.Maybe,leaving the island caused her to snap.It's clear that I don't have all the details,but I do feel that Ben & Locke are brothers by the same mother.Please send me your comments.

Dear Sayid Fanatic, please put down the hookah and return to earth. I'll say this again, please stop making up theories just to have one. We have seen Emily alive and in the states. The showed us Ben's mother dying and Ben's mother trying to contact Ben on the island. Did they look at all alike to you? Why would they use two actresses? Please try doing your thinking inside your head. Otherwise you yourself might end up in Santa Rosa.

heythereyourself - LMFAO!