The 10 Most Emotional Moments on LOST

6. I Don’t Understand (The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham)

Physically, he may have been one of the weakest characters prior to his crash on the island, but mentally, John Locke has always been head-strong. Locke is a man of great faith and determination, and if there’s one thing he cannot – will not – stand for, it’s someone telling him what he can and cannot do. Upon waking on the island to feel a tingle in his toes for the first time in years, he immediately recognizes the power of his new environment. He desperately tries to convince others of his findings, but to no avail: he is up against a man of science (Jack), whose influence over the others is far stronger than Locke’s.

It’s not until he joins Ben and the Others that John gathers enough information to persuade Jack that the mission he is about to undertake is for the good of the island and the people on it. When his plan seemingly fails, Locke is back to square one and goes through great lengths to encourage the Oceanic Six to make their way back to the island and fulfill their destiny. But none of them want to hear what he has to say; they all want to move on with their lives and forget their time on the island ever happened.

Having finally reached the end of his tether, he decides to take his own life. With the noose already around his neck, he is about to jump to his death when Ben appears to inform him that he did not fail: Jack has bought a ticket to Sydney. For a moment, the light sparkles in his eyes again, having found new hope in Jack’s return to the island. Unfortunately, Ben is quick to extinguish it…

The last thought on Locke’s mind was, I don’t understand. These words reverberate a feeling of strong compassion we felt for him throughout the entire show. Life really wasn’t fair on John Locke; he did everything the island ever asked him to do and, yet, he never found his answers.