The mystery and intrigue of LOST is what keeps us viewers coming back week after week. The anticipation that someday, the numerous unanswered questions will be addressed. Who are the Others? What is the Smoke Monster? Who is Jacob? One question in particular was brought up and quickly discarded, not to be mentioned for another three seasons. Who, or what, is the four toed statue?
The four toed statue was first seen during the LOST season 2 finale, Live Together Die Alone, as witnessed by main characters Sayid, Sun, and Jin. At the time, two points were brought up by Sayid; the fact that all that was left of the statue was the foot, and that the foot consisted of only four toes. Not much could be determined of the identity or origin. Speculation arose recently, when viewers got another glimpse of the statue during the Season 5 episode, Lafleur. Not only did this new visual disprove the theory that Homer Simpson was at one time an island native, but it also gave us some more insight as to whom the statue may represent.
One heavily supported theory floating around the interwebz is that the statue may actually be remnants of a dedication to the Egyptian god, Anibus. This thought actually mingles quite well with all of the other Egyptian themes hinted at throughout the series, such as the hieroglyphs, deserts, and drawings of the Sphinx. The statue was seen wearing what appears to be a shendyt and nemes (Egyptian clothings), as well as holding an ankh in each hand. According to legend, Anibus was responsible for protecting the dead and delivering them to the afterlife, which may explain some of the oddities associated with the Others and their ability to defy the aging process.
Speaking of aging, one individual in particular comes to mind as a possible candidate for the identity of the statue: Richard Alpert, whom seems to be a leader of sorts amongst the Others. At first, it appeared he had the ability to travel through time, but recent events help prove that he actually traverses it. Whether we came across him at 1954 or 2004, he looks as if he had not aged a day. Though the gift of immortality can very well apply to all of the island natives, Richard is the only Other we have witnessed with that ability.
Another clue may also help us decipher the origins of the four toed statue. The fact that the statue seemed to be holding an ankh in each hand does not seem to be mere coincidence. In the episode Lafleur, we come across an ankh in the possession of two individuals. The first comes in the form of a dead Paul, whom appeared to be having an inter Other-Dharma relationship with Amy. The next time we see the ankh is three years later when Horace Goodspeed discovers that his wife, also Amy, is holding onto her past lover’s belonging. Could Paul have been of more importance to the island than we were initially let on to believe, or does this prove that Horace is destined for more than falling victim to a purge?
One unlikely candidate for the four toed statue, can actually make the most sense of all: Mr. Lafleur himself, aka James Sawyer Ford. Our Oceanic flight 815 survivor and resident con-artist has proven to be of quite importance to the mythos of the island, thanks to the convenient properties of time travel. So far, we have witnessed him take on the job of Head of Security for the Dharma Initiative, but I have a feeling he may play a more important role after all is said and done. Also, the fact that Sawyer appeared to have an infected foot early on in season 5, may have hinted to him losing a toe at some point down the road.
Some theorist have pointed out that the statue resembles that of a woman’s physique. Could the statue symbolize one of the number of women that we have been introduced to throughout the show’s run? Kate, Juliet, or even Amy come to mind. However, the writers will have to put up a stronger case for this viewer to be convinced.
Whomever the four toed statue may be, it is just one of the many mysteries that keeps us at the edge of our seats, and proves that LOST will go down as one of the greatest shows our generation has ever seen.
