As you may recall, I spent a looped-up night back in March trying to iron the occasional craziness out of Roland Barthes' S/Z, with some success I think.
Barthes uses five different "codes" to map a short story, and the most important (read: the coolest) is the hermeneutic code. Here's the famous diagram:
As you can see, the hermeneutic "sentence" begins with an enigma, presented in three stages as theme, formulation, and proposal (85). Some of that stuff can happen simultaneously, but the enigmas Barthes cared about (and this is a problem with his theory) tended to be long-term.
The fun part is the way that storytellers build suspense. Barthes lists these as "the snare (a kind of deliberate evasion of the truth), the equivocation (a mixture of truth and snare which frequently, while focusing on the enigma, helps to thicken it), the partial answer (which only exacerbates the expectation of the truth), the suspended answer (an aphasic stoppage of the disclosure), and jamming (acknowledgement of insolubility)." Even the end of an enigma, the disclosure, is cool, because it might open up new questions.
And just because we know...
Now that's ram this cool thing into another cool thing: last week's episode of Lost. This late in the season (not to mention the series) there are many, many enigmas out there.
But I'll only deal with multi-episode enigmas that appear in this episode, and since I'm not super-smart I'll only mention the snares I can see.
Also, there are many relationship-related enigmas but I don't care. Jack deserves nothing. Go watch the WB.
Now that I'm feeling "less shame" about this I took a bit to finish the last 10 minutes. So here's a rough layout of "S/Z presents Lost."
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (00:45)
Proposal. (Another one.) The show immediately recalls the question we were all asking last time, when he magically stumbled into the clearing.
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (00:52)
Kate: "What's wrong with him?"
Partial answer. Something seems to be physically wrong with him.
Suspended answer. Ooo, he isn't responding.
Enigma 2: Is Kate "in on it"? (1:00)
Kate: "Jack, where are you going?" All nervous-like.
Equivocation. The creators are aware of this fan-theory, make no mistake. But is Kate nervous because Jack is sooo close to the Others or because Michael is sick? It's information but what does it mean?
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (1:03)
Jack: "Maybe they just let him go..." Jack looks around desperately.
Jamming. Sorry Jack, no Others for you.
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (1:05)
Kate: "Let him go? They didn't just push him out into the jungle Jack. He's alone!"
Equivocation. An equivocation is both truth and snare. Michael is alone, but the snare part of this statement (the Others are involved) comes much later in the episode.
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (1:12)
Promise of answer. Kate and Jack bring Michael back to the camp.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (1:48)
Formulation and proposal. Ana-Lucia looks at the safe in a meaningful way.
Enigma 5: Why did Ana-Lucia leave the force? (2:15)
Promise of answer. We know she's no longer a cop, we know she shot that guy, now her mom is suspicious. This whole sequence seems to promise an answer.
Enigma 5: Why did Ana-Lucia leave the force? (3:10)
Ana-Lucia: "Guess I should get a lawyer..."
Snare. Because she was charged with murder! A straightforward snare.
Enigma 5: Why did Ana-Lucia leave the force? (3:18)
Ana-Lucia's mom: "Look, we both know that this is going to be a dead-end investigation."
Jamming. Ah, but her mom says they can't prove anything! Back to start.
Enigma 5: Why did Ana-Lucia leave the force? (3:49)
Disclosure. She quit, there were emotions. You had to be there. End of Enigma 5.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (4:06)
Ana-Lucia is opening the safe!
Suspended answer. Looks like she's just bringing Henry food.
Enigma 6: Who is "Henry Gale"? (4:35)
Ana Lucia: "I've been around a lot of killers in my life. You know what surprises me the most about them? How much that looove to talk. But you're different, Henry. Quiet."
Equivocation. So... special kind of killer, or not a killer? Cause that's key.
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (5:11)
Henry: "You killed two of us, good people who were leaving you alone!"
Partial answer. I don't doubt Henry's sincerity. His interpretation of events hints at something, though I still think the Others are jerks.
Enigma 6: Who is "Henry Gale"? (5:20)
Henry: "You're the killer, Ana-Lucia."
Partial answer. He's not a killer. You could make the case that we knew that.
Enigma 7: Why did Ana-Lucia go to Australia? (6:14)
Snare. She worked at an airport! Seems like a partial answer, but... it's a trick.
Enigma 8: Why did Jack's dad go to Sydney? (7:30)
Proposal. Re-introducing the question.
Enigma 7: Why did Ana-Lucia go to Australia? (7:32)
Jack's dad: "Syndey Australia. Wanna come?"
Partial answer. Jack's dad had something to do with it.
Enigma 7: Why did Ana-Lucia go to Australia? (7:40)
Ana-Lucia: "Why would I go to Sydney with you?" Skeptical.
Suspended answer. Looks like she's going to drag this out.
Enigma 8: Why did Jack's dad go to Sydney? (8:10)
Jack's dad: "What I'm doing down there could be a little dangerous."
Snare. Lies from Jack's dad. Shock.
Enigma 7: Why did Ana-Lucia go to Australia? (8:12)
Jack's dad: "And I need someone to protect me. A, uh, bodyguard."
Partial answer. Jack's dad said he needed protection.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (9:35)
Ana-Lucia: "I'm fine, but he won't be."
Partial answer. The hurt is coming Henry. But how?
Enigma 9: What does the drawing on the security doors mean? (10:00)
Locke is looking at the doors.
Proposal. Introducing the question again.
Enigma 6: Who is "Henry Gale"? (10:30)
Henry: "Because you're one of the good ones, John."
Partial answer. He wanted to protect Locke.
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (11:38)
Locke: "Why would your own people want to kill you?"
Henry: "Because the man in charge... he's a great man John, a brilliant man... but he is not a forgiving man."
Partial answer. They are led by a brilliant man.
Enigma 6: Who is "Henry Gale"? (12:08)
Henry: "I was on my way here John. I was coming for you."
Partial answer. He was sent to get Locke.
Enigma 6: Who is "Henry Gale"? (12:15)
Kate and Jack call Locke and he has to leave.
Suspended answer. I guess we'll have to hear the rest later.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (13:00)
Ana-Lucia: "I need a gun."
Partial answer. She's trying to get a gun, Henry. Start praying.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (13:21)
Sawyer: "Here's another idea: scram."
Suspended answer. Getting the gun is difficult, maybe she won't get one.
Enigma 7: Why did Ana-Lucia go to Australia? (14:00)
Suspended answer. We don't really know why, but she's there now I guess.
Enigma 8: Why did Jack's dad go to Sydney? (15:37)
Jack's dad: "I'd like to see my daughter" (muffled)
Disclosure. To see his daughter. End of Enigma 8.
Enigma 10: Who is Jack's half-sister? (15:37)
Theme, formulation, proposal. Geez! Should I recognize her mother?
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (18:10)
Locke: "So it was just a coincidence that he came out?"
Jack: "I was shouting, he heard my voice."
Equivocation. Jack speaks the truth... but Locke is right to be skeptical.
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (18:12)
Jack rags on Locke for thinking the Others would just let Michael go.
Snare. Jack says: don't be stupid Locke, believe in crazy coincidence.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (19:00)
If there's one thing I've learned from television, it's that southern men are basically animals.
Partial answer. It takes forever, and is lame, but Ana-Lucia has a gun now.
Enigma 10: Who is Jack's half-sister? (20:30)
Jack's dad: "She is a very long story, Sarah."
Jamming. No answers here.
Enigma 8: Why did Jack's dad go to Sydney? (21:00)
Jack's dad: "I'm here because I can't apologize to my son."
Snare. The Enigma is solved, but Ana-Lucia doesn't know that and tries to find out by asking.
Enigma 7: Why did Ana-Lucia go to Australia? (21:07)
Jack's dad: "You came here for the same reason I did, kiddo. You ran away."
Disclosure. That's why. Also, emotions and backstory.
Enigma 11: Why was Ana-Lucia on the plane? (22:13)
Ana-Lucia: "Let's just go, go back."
Disclosure. The question we have about everyone is answered for Ana.
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (25:17)
Kate: "Jack! I think he's waking up!"
Promise of answer. Now he'll tell us everything.
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (25:40)
Partial answer. His head hurts, he doesn't seem to remember last night.
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (25:54)
Michael: "I found them."
Equivocation. Given the end of the episode we have no reason to believe all of this speech, though some of it could be true. Note the look on Kate's face; she knows about the makeup and yet Michael doesn't seem to.
Enigma 12: How are they going to get off the island? (26:50)
Jack: "And the boat?"
Michael: "I didn't see it."
Jamming. But there are no stupid questions, Jack. Keep trying.
Enigma 13: Where is Walt? (26:58)
Michael: "No... but I know he's there."
Partial answer. A little better.
Enigma 14: Where are the other kids? (26:58)
Michael: "No, no, no kids. But I think they're in the same place as my boy."
Partial answer. Another bit of hope.
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (27:18)
Michael: "They have a hatch. It's a set of metal doors leading under ground. What else could it be?"
Partial answer. The Others have yet another hatch. You could argue that we knew this.
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (27:18)
Michael: "Most of them are old and half of them are women"
Partial answer. This may all be lies, but keep talking Michael.
Enigma 1: What happened to Michael? (27:48)
Michael: "I couldn't save them. So I came back to tell you."
Snare. Lie, prettymuch any way you slice it.
Enigma 9: What does the drawing on the security doors mean? (28:11)
Locke is sketching something, presumably still trying to make sense of the drawing.
Suspended answer. Of course, we don't get to see those sketches.
Enigma 6: Who is "Henry Gale"? (29:18)
Jack: "These people are liars, John. Why should we take their word on anything?"
Jamming. At least if you, like John, seem to think we can just discount Henry because Jack says so.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (29:44)
Ana-Lucia says she'll say, she even says "give Sawyer my best" to remind us about the gun.
Promise of answer. She's up to something! Another glance at the safe.
Enigma 15: Why was Libby in the hospital (31:23)
Hurley: "Hey, maybe if I get drunk enough I'll remember where I know you from!"
Promise of answer.
Enigma 16: Who dunnit in "Bad Twin"? (31:58)
Sawyer: "I'm about to be the first and only guy to find out whodunnit."
Theme, formulation, proposal, promise of answer. He's only 10 pages away!
Enigma 16: Who dunnit in "Bad Twin"? (32:10)
Jack torches the final pages while on his trusty highhorse.
Jamming. Now only viewers who buy "Bad Twin" will know?
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (32:46)
Sawyer discovers that his gun is missing. Slow viewers catch up.
Partial answer. Yes, she has his gun. Thanks for joining us.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (33:00)
She readies the gun, opens the safe...
Partial answer. Looks like she's going to shoot him.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (33:30)
She asks him to cut himself loose. "Why?" "You know why."
Equivocation. Really, "so you can shoot me" isn't the first thing I thought.
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (34:15)
Henry: "Goodwin. Yes, he told us all about you. How he thought you were worthy, how he could change you..."
Partial answer. More info on the Others as exclusive club.
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (34:40)
Ana: "He was gonna kill me."
Henry: "Was he?"
Partial answer. If Goodwin wasn't planning to kill Ana, the survivors have some serious misconceptions.
Enigma 3: Who are the Others? (34:55)
Ana: "Are you done?"
Jamming. No more revelations from Henry, and Ana is keeping her misconceptions.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (35:15)
Snare. She's going to shoot him, but will she do it, will she be stopped?
Enigma 17: Will Ana and Jack find out that Jack's dad is "Tom"? (35:30)
Ana listens to Jack at the airport and looks thoughtful.
Theme, formulation, proposal.
Enigma 17: Will Ana and Jack find out that Jack's dad is "Tom"? (35:58)
Ana takes out her phone.
Snare. She's not thinking of Tom, she's thinking of her mother.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (37:45)
She's playing with the gun, Micheal hasn't heard any gunshots.
Suspended answer. We don't know what happened or why yet.
Enigma 4: What will Ana-Lucia do to Henry? (38:09)
Ana: "Too bad I can't use it"
Disclosure. She can't kill Henry, he's still locked up. Speech.
Now the interesting thing about what happens next, what makes this episode so shocking, is that there are no enigmas at play here. Michael's suggestion to let him "do it" comes out of nowhere. This whole scene is very sudden and relies on what we know about the characters involved in order to work.
Enigma 18: What the hell is happening? Micheal? (40:40)
Michael: "I'm sorry."
Ana: "For what?"
Theme, formulation, proposal
Enigma 18: What the hell is happening? Micheal? (40:50)
Michael shoots Ana rather than answer her question.
Jamming. No confession, no justification.
Enigma 19: Is Ana going to be OK? (40:50)
Michael shoots Ana rather than answer her question.
Theme, formulation, proposal
Enigma 20: Is Libby going to be OK? (41:18)
Michael shoots her.
Theme, formulation, proposal
Enigma 18: What the hell is happening? Micheal? (41:50)
Michael opens the safe.
Promise of answer.
Enigma 18: What the hell is happening? Micheal? (42:10)
Michael shoots himself. No confession, no justification.
Jamming.
Enigma 21: Is Michael going to be OK? (42:10)
Michael shot himself.
Theme, formulation, proposal.
Even without relationship stuff, I counted over 20 enigmas in this episode. Everything with Michael was bizarre
It boggles my mind how good this show is at finishing hermeneutic sentences: compare the X-Files, where enigmas weren't so much wrapped up as forgotten or pushed aside.
