Of course, on this show NOTHING is meaningless, not even shots of Shannon’s shapely behind (it meant that my attention didn’t wander for a few seconds), but in this case Jack’s last name means the writers aren’t always as subtle and obscure as they are with the philosophers.
Oh I don’t know. Could also be a reference to that noted philosopher Jesus of Nazareth (the Good Shepherd).
I don’t think we CAN count the comic book polar bear now. Walt read that comic only a couple of weeks ago. But Danielle sounded like she was used to bears being on the island already.
Wasn’t that exactly what Dropzone said? Or am I being wooshed?
Not quite. spoke- is clarifying that the historical Jesus, also known as the Good Shepherd, can be thought of as a philosopher along with Rousseau and Locke.
sigh That’s okay. I’m used to being ignored.
But, spoke-, Jesus ain’t as obscure to the average American TV viewer as, say, Locke or Rousseau.
Tried reading Hume once. Got half a page (or one sentence, depending on how you look at it) in before giving up. The advantage of reading philosophers who did not write in English is that their translators feel compelled to make clear what the author said. We’re expected to understand the ones who ostensibly wrote in our own language.
Could it be Jean Shepherd, “a philosopher without portfolio, a wit who never tells a joke”?
Nah, it couldn’t be. That would just be way too cool.
Excellent observation.
[playful wank]
“Malkin” is historically a personification of female carnal desire and animal nature. (“Put on the shape of order and humanity, or you must marry Malkin the May Lady.”) This is why cats are called “Toms” or “Malkins,” depending on their gender. “Malkin” has also come to have strong associations with witchiness and divination.
The most famous “Malkin” is the Maid Malkin who was paired with Robin Hood. (Later “Marion.”) Their story is about pairing up in the wild, separate from the conventions of society – and creating enough society and convention for their own happiness.
“Raised by Another” is Claire’s back story. I might guess that “Richard Malkin” is either her father or her husband, which would make Claire the series’ “Malkin.”
My best guess would be that this episode will feature Claire coming to terms with her present situation (and whatever turmoil she had going on before the crash, since the pattern is that everyone has their own stuff to work through on the island) and the relationship that is developing between her and Charlie will be much less tenuous by the end of the hour.
[/playful wank]
Of course, it’s a pretty common name, too, and might signify nothing at all. If it does mean something, however, then those would be the lines I’d be looking when we’re faced with the actual story.
What about Charlie? His last name is …
Pace
- Not sure if his name was revealed on the show or not.
Charlie Pace would be a good example of the writers’ penchant for ambiguous wordplay.
His problems stemmed from the pace of his rock-god lifestyle. “Pace” is also the ablative case of “pax.” So it works for either his problematic hectic pace, (or “pacing himself,” later) or his eventual destination, which is to be “With peace.”
Crap. Sorry for ignoring your spoiler box. (I’m pretty sure that the Pace Bros’ name is common knowledge though- I knew it, and haven’t looked at anything apart from these threads.)
Would that be the pace driven by the Drive Shaft?
My WAG is that the double meaning of “Raised by Another” (if there is one) is going to be that Claire isn’t gonna make it through the delivery and Charlie is going to be the “Other” that will raise the child.
Cuckoorex: interesting speculation.
My WAG: I thought it might be that the writers will stoop to another form of wordplay for a title with dual meanings. Claire swears she’s being attacked… maybe, “Razed By Another.” Is she? Or is she delusional? Might this be a form of the sickness Rosseau warned about? Hmmm.
I’d just like to say that I get a kick out Cuckoorex speculating about what “Raised by Another” might mean. 
Well, we are the experts in that department, after all…
Or perhaps Claire is a surrogate, hence no mention of a boyfriend/finace/husband.
Or Claire was adopted!
Or the Elephant Lady will say “Hey, Baby Alex!” and take the baby!
Or perhaps the one who was raised by another IS Alex… Raised by polar bears, now King of the Jungle, Crusher of Trees!
Somebody stop me!
Spoken as one who clearly hasn’t ever attempted to read Kant.
The line I bolded makes more sense in relation to the identity of Richard Malkin.
Claire goes to see a psychic named Richard Malkin.