John Locke from Lost may be one of the greatest fictional creations in television history. Played brilliantly by Terry O'Quinn, Locke is the island's resident believer. He believes that the island is magic and that the survivors of the plane crash were brought to the island for a reason. He was correct on both counts, but that never stopped him from sounding a little loony and getting into constant fights with Jack Shepherd, who was a firm believer in science and logic.
Part of what makes Locke so fascinating is the incredible sense of tragedy that surrounds him.
Aimless Direction In Life
Locke loved the island because it gave him purpose. He felt he was destined to be there, which is more than he could say for "the real world" (for lack of a better term). Even Locke's pre-island life was quite sad - and that's before considering the whole kidney scenario! Fans first meet Locke working as an assistant manager in some type of Costco-like superstore. Then he started a home inspection company. Then Helen broke up with him for being too obsessed with his father. Then he was so desperate for direction and security that he joined a commune. The man didn't know what he was doing.
Bullied At Work
Even when Locke settled down with a good office job as a regional collections supervisor of a box company, he still wasn't happy. Part of that stemmed from his crushing loneliness and the general blandness of office life. But perhaps the biggest reason for his unhappiness was being constantly bullied by his boss, Randy. Randy was an annoyance as he often intruded into Locke's personal life and openly derided his idea - in the rudest way possible, of course - of going on a walkabout.
Constantly Manipulated
Locke's early flashbacks help set up the idea that Locke is a bit of a pushover. He never really stands up to Randy, and he's eventually manipulated by his own father (more on that later). This is perhaps the biggest, and most tragic, aspect of Locke's character. He often acts on blind faith, and it results in him being constantly manipulated. His father, Ben Linus, The Man in Black - all take heavy advantage of Locke, his blind faith, his pushover personality, and his general friendliness. It really is quite sad.
No One Ever Believes Him
Throughout most of Lost, Locke expounds on the magical abilities of the island and the castaways' purpose on it. In the end, he proves mostly correct. The island was magical, and they were all brought there for a reason - that reason being the taking over of Jacob's responsibilities.
However, no one ever seems to believe Locke. The best case scenario is Locke getting ignored. The worst case is fighting and getting into heated arguments, often with Jack. If someone just listened, maybe some pain could have been avoided.
The Complete Failure Of Jeremy Bentham (& His Suicide Attempt)
An extension of Locke's prophecies falling on deaf ears is his complete failure as Jeremy Bentham. In the very confusing fifth season of Lost, Locke is sent off island under the pseudonym Jeremy Bentham to recruit the Ocean Six to return. This being Locke, everyone sees him as a desperate kook and turn him down - even Walt, who grew particularly attached to Locke throughout the first season. In the end, the Bentham journey worked, as he convinced Jack to return - who in turn convinced everyone else. But Locke believed the Bentham odyssey a failure and attempted suicide.
He Thought He Was Special
One of the most tragic aspects of Locke's character is the unearned belief he had in himself. Locke thought he was special - in some ways, he believed himself The Chosen One owing to his visions and newfound ability to walk again. Of course, most of this was nothing but blatant manipulation at the hands of Ben and The Man in Black. Locke wasn't special, he wasn't The Chosen One, and it wasn't his sole mission to "save" the island. People are disappointed to learn they aren't always special, and in Locke's case, he's simply a pawn in someone else's game.
"I Don't Understand."
Despite his optimism in the first three or four seasons, everything falls apart for Locke in season five. His faith in the island has been put into question, the island itself is in jeopardy, and his Bentham journey was a complete failure.
He tries committing suicide owing to his feelings of worthlessness before he's saved by Ben...and then Ben promptly murders him after getting the information he needed. "I don't understand" indeed.
A Lack Of Family
Locke's crushing loneliness stems from one primary thing - a complete lack of a family unit. Locke has never enjoyed the company and love of a family, as his teenaged mother abandoned him out of fear and his father was never in the picture. He was subsequently raised in foster care, but it's likely he wasn't very close with his foster family. He was always without a girlfriend, and the woman he loved the most - Helen - broke up with him owing to his turbulent past. Locke was always alone, and it was very tragic to witness.
Betrayed By His Own Father
"And John? Don't come back. You're not wanted." Such words tragically sum up the relationship between Locke and his father, Anthony Cooper. When Locke meets Cooper as an adult, he believes his life is turning around. He bonds with his father, and they seem to share a loving father-son relationship. That is, until it's revealed that the entire thing was a ploy for Cooper to steal Locke's kidney. It's a horrific story, and it made Anthony Cooper one of the most detestable villains in a series full of them.
Attempted Filicide
And just when audiences thought Anthony Cooper couldn't stoop any lower. In season three, fans finally learned how Locke acquired his wheelchair. Peter Talbot approached Locke and claimed that his mother was marrying Cooper. When Talbot showed up dead, Locke immediately (and rightly) suspected Cooper of killing him. When Locke approached Cooper and threatened to uncover the truth, Cooper pushed him out of an eighth-story window, resulting in Locke breaking his back.