Job lost his children, his possessions, his wife, his health, and finally his reputation to the false accusations of his friends. God had blessed Job and the work of his hands. Satan accused God of maintaining a sheath of protection around Job, saying that that was the only reason that Job worshipped him. When God removed his protection and allowed Satan to do his worst, Job remained faithful. In all that time Job never blamed God for his problems, though his wife harassed him, telling him to curse God and die. He accepted his fate.

We don't know all of the particulars of what happened to Michael and Susan, but we know a "lot happened in a short period of time." Shortly thereafter, Michael lost Walt and Susan. The result of the car accident was the loss of his property and his health. On the island Michael was falsely accused by Jin of stealing the watch. Even Sayid said that "surely he must have done something." Sayid's comment was eerily similar to what Job's friends said about him. They said that surely he must have committed some secret sin for God to allow all of these terrible things to befall him. Just as Job forgave his friends, Michael forgave Jin and Sayid. Interestingly though, God told his friends to make an offering to Job and ask his forgiveness. (Is that why Jin gave Michael the watch?) Moral alert: They were only forgiven by God because Job forgave them!

Michael also falsely accused Jin of burning the raft. Apparently, Jin forgave Michael because he immediately began helping Michael work on the second raft. I suppose Michael gave Jin a seat on the raft as his offering. The question is, what false accusation did Sawyer level at Michael? I can't really think of an outright accusation. Was there an inferred one? I'm also trying to think of offerings that Sawyer made to Michael. The only things that come to mind are the pepto stuff and the new mast. Was it the accusation that Michael couldn't keep the raft going straight? It doesn't seem like much of an accusation to me. The odd thing is that for all of the rotten things Sawyer has done, and is capable of doing, the only things he has been accused of doing are things he didn't actually do, or at least he didn't willfully do them. Make sense?

That is a good point! Wow, because Michael like Job Lost his child,money (possessions), Almost wife, and got in a car acceent so his health took awhile to get back to normal.

Well done shootfire!

Perhaps there is synergy or multiplicity in appropriate allegorical analogy (an awesome alliterative analysis!). After Sawyer's portentous words on the raft that Michael had "the patience of a Saint", I had written an analysis linking Micheal to St. Michael (ala leading the charge for Walt, catharsis of souls, patron saint of mariners, etc.). However, in linking with the patience theme, I didn't think of Job. However, given that, I think your parallels are very compelling, quite substantial and well stated!

I'll have to think on events between Sawyer and Michael to consider your query on accusations and offerings. Weren't there implied accusations levied at Michael when Kate was offered the seat on the raft? I ll also look at the radar scene when they find the Other's dingy boat as well, I remember words were exchanged betwixt the two, but I don't recall the nature (accusatory, sarcastic or simply heated). I would consider the mast as an offering.

-Mang

Stickmang, I definitely think there is multiplicity, or at least duplicity, in the significance of a lot of what we see in this show. Of course, many of the St. Michael parallels fit perfectly with Michael's character. Thanks for the postive and entertaining response. :biggrin:

Wow shoot, spot on as usual.

The pepto moment, which was in an 8 oz bottle, seemed important. I thought it just showed Michael and Sawyers relationship growing. I don't mean this to sound uncaring, but Shannon certainly has a tummy ache right now. Can you fit her in somehow?