John Locke (Lost)

John Locke is a fictional character on the ABC television series Lost. In the first three episodes Locke was largely a background character, but with the fourth episode "Walkabout," which revealed his past, he became one of the most prominent. He is played by Terry O'Quinn, who had previously worked with co-creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams as a recurring actor on Alias.

Biography

Prior to Oceanic Flight 815

Prior to the flight, John Locke led a lonely existence as a middle manager at a box company in Tustin, California, where he was constantly belittled by a snide (and younger) higher-up for his interests in wargaming and survivalism. Most critically, Locke was a paraplegic-- apparently for the preceding four years-- the reasons for which have not yet been revealed. He came to Australia hoping to fulfill his dream of taking part in a walkabout, but when he was discovered to be disabled, Locke was forced off the tour and sent back to the United States on the doomed flight.

Related Topics:
Tustin, California - Wargaming - Survivalism - Paraplegic - Australia - Walkabout

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In Deus Ex Machina, his real mother is revealed to be Emily Annabeth Locke (played by Swoosie Kurtz), who may have been a drug addict and may have psychological problems. She made a sudden appearance when John was already an adult, claiming that his birth was part of a greater plan, that he had no father and was "immaculately conceived" (implying his was a "Virgin Birth.") This led to Locke hiring a private investigator to track down his actual biological father, who turned out to be a wealthy hunter named Anthony Cooper (played by Kevin Tighe). Cooper seemed to take his newfound son under his wing, teaching him to be a sportsman. However, he was actually laying the groundwork to con Locke into donating his kidney, which Cooper desperately needed. Once the operation was completed, Cooper left the hospital and ordered his security guard not to admit Locke back into his estate. Locke was crushed by the revelation that he had been emotionally manipulated.

Related Topics:
Deus Ex Machina - Swoosie Kurtz - Drug addict - Immaculately conceived - Virgin Birth - Private investigator - Hunter - Kevin Tighe - Con - Donating - Kidney

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Locke related to Sawyer that as a child, he and his sister were raised by a foster mother, during which his sister was killed in an accident at the age of six. He later reveals that he also had a brother; however, it is as yet unclear whether his siblings were biologically related.

Related Topics:
Sawyer - Foster mother

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In Orientation it is revealed that Locke previosuly had a relationship with a woman named Helen, whom he met at a support group. It was later shown that she convinced him to stop visiting his father's house, and to "take a leap of faith" into the unknown. This relates to Locke convincing Jack to "take a leap of faith" in Orientation by pushing the button.

Related Topics:
Orientation

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On the island

After the crash, Locke miraculously recovered the use of his legs. On the Island, Locke has demonstrated his skills as a hunter, as well as sort of spiritual leader. He is the oldest of the principal characters. He appears to have a connection to the Island itself, to which he ascribes mystical powers, claiming "I've looked into the eye of this island, and what I saw was beautiful." He kept secret his findings and revelations from nearly all, except for his apparent acolyte Boone Carlyle, with whom he often explored the Island's jungles. During one such exploration, the two came across a metal hatch with a glass window, which they unsuccessfully tried to force open or break. Later, a seeming vision led the two to a crashed Beechcraft airplane stuck in trees. When Boone climbed into the cockpit, the plane fell to the ground, crushing Boone and eventually leading to his death. Because Locke initially lied about how Boone's injuries were received, the death has driven a wedge between some of the survivors and Locke -- and both Jack Shephard and Boone's step-sister, Shannon hold him responsible for Boone's death. In ', with the help of Jack and Kate, Locke was successful in blowing open the hatch with dynamite.

Related Topics:
Miraculously - Acolyte - Boone Carlyle - Beechcraft - Jack - Kate

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While he had mainly been connected to Boone, Locke also developed a friendship with Walt Lloyd early on, teaching him backgammon and demonstrating knife throwing to him. He helped Charlie Pace work through his heroin addiction, and built a cradle with Claire for her baby. He also shares a mutual respect with Sayid. Other survivors are wary of Locke, due in part to his mysterious comings and goings and collection of hunting knives, which he had transported with him intending to use on a walkabout of the Australian Outback.

Related Topics:
Walt Lloyd - Backgammon - Knife throwing - Charlie Pace - Heroin - Claire - Her baby - Sayid - Walkabout - Outback

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In The Greater Good, after showing Sayid the location of the Beechcraft, Locke confessed that he was the one who sabotaged the jury-rigged communication equipment that Sayid used to search for the Island's mysterious radio transmitter. Later, in retaliation for her brother's death, Shannon tried to shoot Locke, but due to the intervention of Sayid, the bullet only grazed his temple.

Related Topics:
The Greater Good - Sabotage - Jury-rigged - Shannon

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