Another research paper has concluded that one-fifth of our current human DNA comes from Neanderthals. This is a calculation that surprised scientists because it was thought that Neanderthals quickly died off when modern man, with his higher brain function and mobility, would take over the planet and cause the Neanderthal extinction. But it would seem that a great portion about being human is still contained in the primitive cave man genes. Again, this explains some of the literature and common sayings about man's primal anger, "cave man" anti-social behavior and natural instincts.
It would seem the "more" we learn, the "less" we know about our world.
These stories are a prelude to re-examining a theory about Hurley. Other theories downplay Hurley as being a major factor or the center of the LOST universe. But in a purely objective basis, all the elements in LOST flow through Hurley's character, especially if you look at it through his back story.
If we look at the environmental factors that molded Hurley in his youth, we find the major themes of LOST imbedded into his character's DNA.
1. Hurley was very fearful about the world around him. He was self-conscious, shy, introverted and socially awkward. Part of this stems from his self-image problems associated with his father's abandonment. Fear of loneliness, fear of rejection and fear of failure were quite real in Hurley. Hurley's fears could have been manifested as the smoke monster.
2. Hurley was worried about what would happen to him. He was bouncing around low paying fast food jobs. He had no real career goals, or personal skills to get a better job. Without money, he could not have independence. He worried about money. He dreamed that money would make his life much better - - - almost perfect, but in those same dreams his mind twists wealth with the nightmare of being cursed by his lottery winnings. Wealth is power, and power is control; things that Hurley was unable to cope with in his personal life. On the island, Hurley shed the "curse" to find his own true self.
3. Hurley was pestered by his mother to find a girlfriend, get married, have a family. But coming from a broken family, Hurley was more apt to find peace in his fantasy world than in the real world. The idea of asking out a woman on date terrified him because of deep fears. Hurley's inner desire to be happy as his mother preached to him was manifested by Libby.
4. Hurley did not make friends easily. His best friend left him for the store clerk girl he wanted to ask out. Then, Hurley's best friend was Dave, who his doctors said was imaginary. But Hurley trusted Dave more than the doctors, his mother or the other patients in the mental facility. But on the island, Hurley had a break with Dave when he did not follow Dave off the cliff. At that point, Hurley had made what he considered real friends on the island.
So the major themes of LOST all through the mental factors of Hurley: fears, money (power/control), love and friendship. It is still open to debate whether the events Hurley experienced on the island was real or in his dream-fantasy state, but it would seem that Hurley's mental state was a keystone for the stories depicted in the series.
