LOVE; GOOD & EVIL

There are two kinds of love. Charlie may "love" his cocaine; however, this is the love that corrupts and destroys the soul (the classic definition of passion, will, and intellect; the modern definition of Maslow and Fromm are in perfect agreement on this point). The desire for a single object or activity is pathological. Love opens the world to new pleasures. Take Napoleon: he had a passion for Josephine. She was destroyed emotionally by Napoleon's divorce. He wanted a political marriage to an Austrian princess, who never saw him again after his exile to Elba. In fact she stood with his enemies after his escape from Elba.

This brings to Ben Linus who saved "his" daughter at birth but refused to save her by trading his life for hers. BUT WAIT A MOMENT. If one thinks of it carefully, do really think Kreamy would spared anyone except Lapidus? I THINK NOT. He had choice and chose to prolong the islanders chance of beating back the invaders. Ben HAD no choice; he had to kill Kreamy. The mercenary was going to kill everybody on the island. Ben did not choose his fate. Sayid did the very thing that made Ben into Napoleon. Admonishment: Every evil act begets evil. Jack refused to act to help Ben; he likely would have failed (I am a physician. I know about such matters). Then there is Sawyer who decided to act when Jack would not. Sometimes the right act done for the right reason leads to evil.

Good can come from good. Evil can come from good or evil.


Allow me to continue with a possible exception. Michael betrayed his fellow castaways. He gave his life to atone. But for me Michael reminds me of the merchant who finds a field in which is buried the Pearl of Great Price (Walt). He gave his soul to save the Pearl. On the other hand, we have Eli who sends her son (her Pearl) to his death by her own hand. You tell me which parent loved his progeny. There is a great danger in the idea of the "greater good". Just ask Ben Linus