Some musings on the Man in Black and the Man in White, good vs bad, the scale, the Island and Earth....
Widmore warned the real Locke that a war was coming to the Island, and if Locke didn't return to the Island, the wrong side would win.
At first glance that sounds like Widmore was on Locke's side, the side of the Island protectors. But somehow I think Widmore knew that Locke would die and that the result of Locke's dead body returning to the Island would give the MIB/smoke monster a new and groovy vehicle for his bodily manifestations.
Now we have Widmore setting up sonic fences to keep out the MIB. Widmore probably knows that Jacob is dead. He seems to know everything about the Island. So, with whom is Widmore preparing to do battle? The MIB? Seems so. The Candidates? Most likely. Ben? Most definitely. The outcome that Widmore seeks? Total control of the Island, without interference from Jacob, the MIB, Jacob's clones, Ben, or anyone else. Will he achieve it? I doubt it.
The bigger battle is for the soul of the Earth. The scale, as image and metaphor, is important. We saw one in Jacob's cave with a black and a white stone on it. The Japanese leader of the Temple talked to Sayid about the scale that measures darkness within a man. At this time, as I see it, the scale seems nearly even, perhaps with a little tip towards the Light, the White, Goodness, if you will. With free will always in play.
With Jacob gone, the balance of the scale is in question, and with it, the spirit of the Earth. If it tips towards the Dark Side, Earth will be in for a hell of a time, with people's worst sides showing everywhere (free will is always in play). I imagine that would happen if the MIB were to leave the Island, which is why the forces of good (Isabella, for instance) are entreating the Candidates to not let the MIB off the Island.
So, the Island is the mechanism by which good and bad are kept in balance on this planet. That's what I've come to thusfar.
Reading is freedom.
The mind soars, no earthly cares,
no limitations.
A Maggers Haiku, 2005
Years ago my mother used to say to me... "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
Well, for years I was smart.
I recommend pleasant.
You may quote me.
Elwood P. Dowd