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thebitterguyOkay, so, Ecko & Locke. A lot has been made about Locke & Ecko, from name similarities to role similarities to the fact they're the only ones to meet Lostzilla and live. The most striking bit of synchronicity was the crossword hint Locke was entering as Ecko entered the hatch: Enkidu's friend, then answer to which was Gilgamesh (or it might have been vice versa: I can never tell).
Anyway, there's two ways to start thinking about the comparison: Is it a red Herring, or are there parallels? I'm gonna go with the theory this is an actual clue and not another red herring. Otherwise this just gets boring.
Okay, Gilgamesh and Enkidu. My Babylonian mythology is rough (not as rough as some, but rough). Enkidu was a wild man who became civilized after he got sweet sweet love. I will assume this will not reflect in the show, unless we see something related to Locke's backstory. Gilgamesh was the king of babylon and a real ancient hero kind of guy. After Enkidu got some civilzation, they started hanging out and doing guy stuff (bronze age hero guy stuff is a bit more intense than foosball and michelob). One of the things they did was cut down a forest together (shades of Charlie & Ecko's church construction).
There are very few parallels to Gilgamesh & Enkidu in Locke & Ecko's relationship to date. They're very stand-offish (Ecko gave Locke a verbal smackdown for believing in fate when he brought him the film), but managed to meet each other and not engage in an epic battle.
Now, one of the epic tasks they undertook was they slew a great demon in the course of cutting down a great forest. Why did they cut down the forest? They were bored. Then, when Gilgamesh rebuffed the advances of a goddess, she got mad and had her daddy send a bull to kill them. So they killed it.
The beast slaying could foreshadow their destroying Lostzilla together. Of course, the consequences could be bad. For killing the Beast of Heaven, the gods kill Enkidu with a disease. This may be the sickness which has been spoken of before (Desmond, Crazy Minbari Chick, etc).
Another possible parallel may exclude them entirely. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh decides he doesn't want to do that, so he goes on a numbef of wacky tests to get immortality, which end up being a combination of a reality show and a radio stunt. No, really. He has to stay awake for a week and, failing that, needs to acquire a fruit which a snake eats while he's bathing.
Now, there is one person we know is seeking immortality: Alvar Hanso. One of the the Hnso Foundation's projects was dedicated to an immortality. So the survivor (Locke, if they go with the wild vs urban) may find himself pursuing Hanso's LIfe Extending project.
Once again, all wild specualation based on half assed knowledge of both Babylonian mythology AND the show, IANALS, YMMV, no warranty given or implied.
It may just be Lost has as much to do with Babylonian myth as Babylon 5 did (i.e. very, very little).
Anyway, there's two ways to start thinking about the comparison: Is it a red Herring, or are there parallels? I'm gonna go with the theory this is an actual clue and not another red herring. Otherwise this just gets boring.
Okay, Gilgamesh and Enkidu. My Babylonian mythology is rough (not as rough as some, but rough). Enkidu was a wild man who became civilized after he got sweet sweet love. I will assume this will not reflect in the show, unless we see something related to Locke's backstory. Gilgamesh was the king of babylon and a real ancient hero kind of guy. After Enkidu got some civilzation, they started hanging out and doing guy stuff (bronze age hero guy stuff is a bit more intense than foosball and michelob). One of the things they did was cut down a forest together (shades of Charlie & Ecko's church construction).
There are very few parallels to Gilgamesh & Enkidu in Locke & Ecko's relationship to date. They're very stand-offish (Ecko gave Locke a verbal smackdown for believing in fate when he brought him the film), but managed to meet each other and not engage in an epic battle.
Now, one of the epic tasks they undertook was they slew a great demon in the course of cutting down a great forest. Why did they cut down the forest? They were bored. Then, when Gilgamesh rebuffed the advances of a goddess, she got mad and had her daddy send a bull to kill them. So they killed it.
The beast slaying could foreshadow their destroying Lostzilla together. Of course, the consequences could be bad. For killing the Beast of Heaven, the gods kill Enkidu with a disease. This may be the sickness which has been spoken of before (Desmond, Crazy Minbari Chick, etc).
Another possible parallel may exclude them entirely. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh decides he doesn't want to do that, so he goes on a numbef of wacky tests to get immortality, which end up being a combination of a reality show and a radio stunt. No, really. He has to stay awake for a week and, failing that, needs to acquire a fruit which a snake eats while he's bathing.
Now, there is one person we know is seeking immortality: Alvar Hanso. One of the the Hnso Foundation's projects was dedicated to an immortality. So the survivor (Locke, if they go with the wild vs urban) may find himself pursuing Hanso's LIfe Extending project.
Once again, all wild specualation based on half assed knowledge of both Babylonian mythology AND the show, IANALS, YMMV, no warranty given or implied.
It may just be Lost has as much to do with Babylonian myth as Babylon 5 did (i.e. very, very little).
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-17 10:20 pm (UTC)2) But what if your (or even my) G-fu is way better than the writers ... and they think they're basing it on the myth?
3) There are definitely multiple mythologies at work.
Doug.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-18 03:28 am (UTC)2) Too horrifying to contemplate.
3) Definitely the case. I wonder how many Lost mythologies there are now.