Thoughts on Episode 2x21: ? – The Pearl Hatch and the Blast Door Map
This episode raised many questions about the blast door map. Since seeing the map for the first time, I had assumed that the mapmaker knew something was at the ‘?’ location, but was unsure what it was so he labeled it with a question mark. (Forgive me for using the pronoun ‘he.’ I realize that it could also be a woman but I’ve always believed that the mapmaker was Kelvin—just my little theory.) When Eko and Locke found the question mark in the soil, I realized that that theory is probably not correct.
I see two possibilities for the mapmaker’s relationship to the question mark. Either he saw the question mark in the ground while exploring the island or he created it to help find the location again.
If someone else had created the question mark earlier and the mapmaker merely saw it while exploring, it seems highly unlikely that he would make it the focal point of his map. However, Locke did lose his ability to walk in that area so it’s possible that a similar experience happened to the mapmaker. This would make the location seem special and possibly justify its central placement on the map, though I find it unlikely since Locke has revisited the spot several times with no reoccurrences of paralysis. (I still believe that Locke’s ability to walk was taken away so that Boone would make the dangerous climb.)
The more likely scenario is that the mapmaker salted the earth himself. However, that begs the question of why he marked the area with a question mark. Either he knew there was a hatch there but didn’t know what was inside, or he didn’t know that the blank circle inside the Dharma symbol represented a pearl so he marked it as unknown. (This possibility makes me wonder if there are markings of a swan, a flame, and a caduceus salted in the ground nearby their respective hatches.)
Both of these scenarios are problematical. The Pearl Hatch was tightly shut to be sure, but Eko managed to open it with just a few swings from the base of his axe. (In comparison to the Swan hatch, this one was simple to open.) If the mapmaker was able to bring enough salt to the location to mark the ground adequately, than certainly he could have brought a tool to knock the hatch handle open. I can’t believe that he could have found the hatch but not been able to open it.
However, if he were able to get inside, then certainly he would have seen the video or spoken to one of the hatch workers and learned of its purpose. How could someone who was armed with this information return to the hatch, add the ‘?’ to the blast door map and continue the tradition of pressing the button? Yet the first moments of season two showed Desmond going through what appeared to be his regular routine, which included pressing the button. Considering that none of the castaways could see him, it seems highly unlikely that he was pressing it in an attempt to trick anyone.
The only possibility I can see is that the mapmaker doubted the validity of the video and the Pearl Station and continued with his routine. Jack questioned the button’s necessity immediately and Desmond admitted to questioning it every day that he was in the hatch. The mapmaker almost certainly questioned it as well and perhaps regarded the Pearl station as a trial of faith, as Eko did. His notations on the map specify that certain locations couldn’t be reached in time to return to push the button so he obviously never lost faith in the Swan Station duties. Perhaps he felt some doubt about his button-pushing job, so he labeled the Pearl Station with a question mark to signify this, but he never could completely convince himself not to press the button.
I see two possibilities for the mapmaker’s relationship to the question mark. Either he saw the question mark in the ground while exploring the island or he created it to help find the location again.
If someone else had created the question mark earlier and the mapmaker merely saw it while exploring, it seems highly unlikely that he would make it the focal point of his map. However, Locke did lose his ability to walk in that area so it’s possible that a similar experience happened to the mapmaker. This would make the location seem special and possibly justify its central placement on the map, though I find it unlikely since Locke has revisited the spot several times with no reoccurrences of paralysis. (I still believe that Locke’s ability to walk was taken away so that Boone would make the dangerous climb.)
The more likely scenario is that the mapmaker salted the earth himself. However, that begs the question of why he marked the area with a question mark. Either he knew there was a hatch there but didn’t know what was inside, or he didn’t know that the blank circle inside the Dharma symbol represented a pearl so he marked it as unknown. (This possibility makes me wonder if there are markings of a swan, a flame, and a caduceus salted in the ground nearby their respective hatches.)
Both of these scenarios are problematical. The Pearl Hatch was tightly shut to be sure, but Eko managed to open it with just a few swings from the base of his axe. (In comparison to the Swan hatch, this one was simple to open.) If the mapmaker was able to bring enough salt to the location to mark the ground adequately, than certainly he could have brought a tool to knock the hatch handle open. I can’t believe that he could have found the hatch but not been able to open it.
However, if he were able to get inside, then certainly he would have seen the video or spoken to one of the hatch workers and learned of its purpose. How could someone who was armed with this information return to the hatch, add the ‘?’ to the blast door map and continue the tradition of pressing the button? Yet the first moments of season two showed Desmond going through what appeared to be his regular routine, which included pressing the button. Considering that none of the castaways could see him, it seems highly unlikely that he was pressing it in an attempt to trick anyone.
The only possibility I can see is that the mapmaker doubted the validity of the video and the Pearl Station and continued with his routine. Jack questioned the button’s necessity immediately and Desmond admitted to questioning it every day that he was in the hatch. The mapmaker almost certainly questioned it as well and perhaps regarded the Pearl station as a trial of faith, as Eko did. His notations on the map specify that certain locations couldn’t be reached in time to return to push the button so he obviously never lost faith in the Swan Station duties. Perhaps he felt some doubt about his button-pushing job, so he labeled the Pearl Station with a question mark to signify this, but he never could completely convince himself not to press the button.
posted by Chris at 5:03 PM
2 Comments:
The Pearl hatch entrance was located right at the dot of the question mark. However the map does not emphasize the dot but merely has the question mark with questions about the purpose of this giant question mark. I don't believe the map maker was ever in the Pearl and the reason it is in the center of his map is that it is in the middle of all the other hatches.
Another possibility is the map maker attempted but failed to enter the Perl hatch but Mr. Eko was successful because the impact of the plane and the fire somehow loosened the entrance.
Post a Comment
<< Home