I've been talking about this in several threads and thought it deserved one of its own. I was struck by how many times in his life Desmond thought he had a "calling" and was performing some act of heroism:

The monastary
The army
The boat race
The hatch button
Saving Charlie

Each time, he believes it is his path but it isn't. He is running away from something in his life, ignoring his true path. Thus, the cycle happens again and again. These all appear to be somewhat heroic acts and he convinces himself that they are each time, but in the end he keeps getting branded a coward by Ruth, Widmore, Penny, the Army, Charlie, everyone. He knows deep down its true because he really is trying to escape instead of facing his life.

I think in this way the ring lady was right. Desmond is refusing to follow his path and the only way his death flashes of Charlie will stop will be if he finally stops trying to change someone else's destiny and live his own. I don't believe it is Charlie's destiny to die a horrible untimely death, and when Desmond takes this leap of faith, Charlie will be spared by divine intervention and the cycle will stop because he will have passed the test. There's your Abraham/Isaac parallel. Abraham was told by God to follow his own path in life, leaving everything else behind, and that's what Desmond has to do.

Interesting point, because I see Desmond's defining characteristic as his passivity, especially in contrast with Type As like Jack and Sawyer. As Abraham Lincoln said, "I claim not to have influenced events, but rather events have influenced me", or close. He had a six year relationship with this girl that got almost to the altar, and clearly he wasn't getting much out of it if it was that easy to be "called" away. So why let it get that far? He deserved a sock in the mouth. The guy just doesn't have the guts to make big changes in his life.

Desmond's inertia is clear in retrospect from his first introduction - remember, we met him as the guy who sat in a bunker pushing a button for three years. What better metaphor for a man who refuses to take a risk to change his circumstances?

But every once in awhile, circumstances become intolerable, and it's then that our friend finds his "callings". The army is a perfect example - did Desmond want to be a soldier? No, he wanted out of a relationship he couldn't handle, just like before when his "out" was the monastery. Why should he have to race around the world to prove anything to anyone? Because that's his rationalization for ducking out in crunch time. You're absolutely right, he keeps trying to escape from his life, when simply taking charge would serve him better.

I sound like I'm really flaying the poor guy when in fact, I really enjoy the character in all of his imperfections. I'm actually impressed that the writers have been so consistent in depicting him in all of his layers.

Interesting point, because I see Desmond's defining characteristic as his passivity, especially in contrast with Type As like Jack and Sawyer. As Abraham Lincoln said, "I claim not to have influenced events, but rather events have influenced me", or close. He had a six year relationship with this girl that got almost to the altar, and clearly he wasn't getting much out of it if it was that easy to be "called" away. So why let it get that far? He deserved a sock in the mouth. The guy just doesn't have the guts to make big changes in his life.

Desmond's inertia is clear in retrospect from his first introduction - remember, we met him as the guy who sat in a bunker pushing a button for three years. What better metaphor for a man who refuses to take a risk to change his circumstances?

But every once in awhile, circumstances become intolerable, and it's then that our friend finds his "callings". The army is a perfect example - did Desmond want to be a soldier? No, he wanted out of a relationship he couldn't handle, just like before when his "out" was the monastery. Why should he have to race around the world to prove anything to anyone? Because that's his rationalization for ducking out in crunch time. You're absolutely right, he keeps trying to escape from his life, when simply taking charge would serve him better.

I sound like I'm really flaying the poor guy when in fact, I really enjoy the character in all of his imperfections. I'm actually impressed that the writers have been so consistent in depicting him in all of his layers.

Thanks for responding to my thread. Great post! I agree, he's a wonderful character, but like everyone else stranded on that island, flawed in a way that keeps him stunted and holds him back. Everyone on the island has potential and Des has his. He needs the faith to get over that hump and realize it. I thought rather than being repetitive as the flashbacks are so often accused of being, this showed the pattern of behaviour in Desmond's life, just as Kate kept running, Sawyer kept conning, Sayid kept torturing, Sun kept lying. All of these characters are stuck in cycles of destructive behaviour and Desmond is no exception. Yes, he broke up with another serious girlfriend and took off. Penny's not the first. That was important to know. It informs his decisions on the island in which he's stuck in the same destructive path struggling against destiny. Now I'm not saying we should all give in to our fates, but Desmond needs to follow his own path, not try to change the paths of others in an attempt to escape his own destiny.

The cycle Desmond has trapped himself in in which he keeps saving Charlie over and over is a form of inertia. He's spinning his wheels, not getting anywhere, and not allowing anyone else to get anywhere either. Whatever Charlie's path is (and I don't believe he's destined to die), he needs to be allowed to take it.

Thanks for responding to my thread. Great post!
Thanks, and thank you for starting the thread! Great topic, one that's been on my mind since last night as well.
I thought rather than being repetitive as the flashbacks are so often accused of being, this showed the pattern of behaviour in Desmond's life, just as Kate kept running, Sawyer kept conning, Sayid kept torturing, Sun kept lying. All of these characters are stuck in cycles of destructive behaviour and Desmond is no exception.
Interesting. I had been thinking it was somewhat repetitive, even though it was the first 'conventional' flashback he's gotten. But maybe you're right, it might be better to see this episode as the ink job over the rough pencil sketches we've gotten of Desmond's life up to now. Yes, definitely some patterns there. Don't get me started on Sawyer's and Sayid's flashbacks, which have become exasperatingly interchangeable.


The cycle Desmond has trapped himself in in which he keeps saving Charlie over and over is a form of inertia. He's spinning his wheels, not getting anywhere, and not allowing anyone else to get anywhere either. Whatever Charlie's path is (and I don't believe he's destined to die), he needs to be allowed to take it.
I've read your theories on this subject elsewhere as well. I think it's an interesting idea, but I don't know if I agree. I don't think Charlie's destined to die, either, and you could argue that in the first three cases, he may not have, but it seems pretty cut-and-dried that last night Desmond indeed saved his life. Interesting, though, how he's spent his whole life "playing defense" instead of aggressively following his bliss. In the same way, he's now goaltending for Charlie. Nice point there.

GREAT insights! I agree about Desmond and his repeated grandiose ideas about his "destiny."

However, I don't feel the same way about Desmond and Charlie. IF Charlie is destined to die, I think saving his life each particular time is still worthwhile. After all, if you were destined to die, wouldn't you appreciate someone putting it off another day or another week? We're all destined to die in the end, but that doesn't mean we step in front of a bus. I was extremely disappointed that Desmond would even CONSIDER letting what he sees as "destiny" take its course, or rather engineering it to take the course he had seen (and lying by omission). It seems extremely cold-blooded. After all, he has successfully "saved Charlie" each time without harming himself (although it could be argued that diving into the ocean after Claire was risky--but who WOULDN'T if he had the skills?). I know it's a huge inconvenience, but it seems clearly worth it.

I didn't really see that the Abraham and Isaac analogy fit. First of all, I have huge problems with the original story (and thus with the base of Judaism, Christianity and Islam). But be that as it may, Abraham's story was about blind trust in and obedience to God no matter where it led. He was about to commit a heinous act and sacrifice the one thing most precious to him. Desmond only must decide whether to NOT commit acts that are an inconvenience to him, for the (perhaps temporary) benefit of an annoying acquaintance.

However, I don't feel the same way about Desmond and Charlie. IF Charlie is destined to die, I think saving his life each particular time is still worthwhile. After all, if you were destined to die, wouldn't you appreciate someone putting it off another day or another week? We're all destined to die in the end, but that doesn't mean we step in front of a bus. I was extremely disappointed that Desmond would even CONSIDER letting what he sees as "destiny" take its course, or rather engineering it to take the course he had seen (and lying by omission). It seems extremely cold-blooded.
I thought so, too, and it hit a jarring note because we've been told in Desmond's previous flashbacks and what we've seen of him on the island that he's a 'good' man. I think Desmond's thought process went something like this. He truly believes that Charlie is destined to die and that his actions, however noble, merely postpone the inevitable (and imminently so). I don't think he resents the inconvenience, but last night, for the first time, his vision wasn't only of Charlie dying, but of (he thought) his reunion with Penny and the castaways' rescue. So he reluctantly makes the decision to sacrifice "Isaac" for salvation, perhaps even hoping that God/"The Island"/whatever will show mercy as Abraham's God did. At the last minute he loses his nerve, because he's not cold-blooded and can't watch another human being die when he can prevent it. Abraham offers the fatted calf instead, and the Covenant remains unfulfilled.

I think that's what they were going for, and it's a neat and thought-provoking parallel. I do wish that they'd shown Desmond a little more torn up about it, though.

Nice insights -- thanks for sharing. I've been thinking about Desmond (who I think is a great character, AND easy on the eyes). When we first met him, wasn't he running steps in an LA stadium at the same time as Jack -- after the surgery on his soon to be wife, then to be ex-wife? Desmond introduced himself as a doctor. Am I remembering this right?

So, Desmond was in the army, a short-time monk, a doctor, a sailor, a button-pusher.......and Penny wanted him to ask her father for a job. I'm really confused, especially about the time line. I'm old and my memory isn't very good, but what was he doing in LA before he met Libby and she gave him the boat? We know that was the last thing he did before landing on the island (was that just an accident?).

I'd appreciate some help. Maybe I'm trying too hard, but I'd like to understand his character better.

[quote=lostinbaltimore;1506157]


So, Desmond was in the army, a short-time monk, a doctor, a sailor, a button-pusher.......and Penny wanted him to ask her father for a job. I'm really confused, especially about the time line. I'm old and my memory isn't very good, but what was he doing in LA before he met Libby and she gave him the boat? We know that was the last thing he did before landing on the island (was that just an accident?).

quote]

I don't recall the doctor, but wasn't he a set designer or artist when he was dating Penny?

He was a set designer. He was never a doctor. he said he was "almost a doctor once", so it would appear that he once had the calling for med school, but for whatever reason he ran away from that too. Good catch.

Maybe he was a medic in the military. That's not a doctor, but he would have medical training.

I like the "running" connection. The vast majority of the characters got on flight 815 because they were running from something or someone.

Des was shipwrecked because he was running.

Maybe they're all on the island to face what it is they're running from?

Claire - had Aaron and is now caring for him.
Kate - running from the law, finally got caught and put on the flight.
Jack - trying to get his father's death "over with".
Sawyer - trying to deal with the fact that the man he killed wasn't Sawyer
Sayid - trying to run from his past as torturer
Charlie - running away from his brother/ex bandmate
Hurley - running from his "curse"
Sun and Jin - running from Mr. Paik.

So far as I can tell, they're all trying to get away from something.

Maybe he was a medic in the military. That's not a doctor, but he would have medical training.

But if you were an army medic, you would just say you were an army medic. You wouldn't describe it as "almost a doctor". I don't think you would say that unless you were intending to become a doctor and never went through with it.

I like the "running" connection. The vast majority of the characters got on flight 815 because they were running from something or someone.

Des was shipwrecked because he was running.

Maybe they're all on the island to face what it is they're running from?

Claire - had Aaron and is now caring for him.
Kate - running from the law, finally got caught and put on the flight.
Jack - trying to get his father's death "over with".
Sawyer - trying to deal with the fact that the man he killed wasn't Sawyer
Sayid - trying to run from his past as torturer
Charlie - running away from his brother/ex bandmate
Hurley - running from his "curse"
Sun and Jin - running from Mr. Paik.

So far as I can tell, they're all trying to get away from something.

Isn't it interesting that none of the survivors were simply on holiday? They were all in the midst of major life changes and issues. The closest thing was Rose and Bernard on their honeymoon but they went to Australia to cure Rose's cancer, so it was more than just a holiday.

One more thing that just occurred to me - Desmond's past as a monk ties nicely back to the S2 finale - "We locked out a priest?" At the time I hadn't thought of Desmond as being religious...so nice foreshadowing there.

Isn't it interesting that none of the survivors were simply on holiday? They were all in the midst of major life changes and issues. The closest thing was Rose and Bernard on their honeymoon but they went to Australia to cure Rose's cancer, so it was more than just a holiday.


I think that the girl who drowned in the first season had been snorkeling on vacation, they said she took an earlier flight because she had an ear infection....I can't remember her name. That's the only person I can think of (besides, as you mentioned, Rose and Bernand) that was on a fun trip... hmmm....look where she is now!