TRAPPED IN A CAGE

Squirrels got into a neighbor's attic. The critter control person placed two traps on the roof and eave. Within a day, one squirrel was caught in the wire cage.

Throughout the day you could tell that the squirrel went through the range of emotions. First, it was perplexed by getting caged in a wire box. Next, the mental gears tried to figure out a way to get out of the cage door. Third, depression set in. It would still still in the cage for long periods not moving. Fourth, there would be anger as it would attack the cage wires. Fifth, there was panic as it started to gnaw at the wire grid in a rapid fire bouncing of its head, trying to find a weak spot in a corner. Lastly, resignation. It lies motionless on the bottom of the age, exhausted from its fruitless escape.

Squirrels may be cute, but they are still rodents who can do vast amounts of property damage to a home. After a day, I was surprised that one of the area's large red tail hawks had not tried to swoop down and get a quick meal. It would have been interesting to see if the hawk could have managed to open or break the cage with its talons or beak.

In some ways, this real life nature drama is representative of the LOST experience.

From a character story line, the island was the trap. The characters were the trapped squirrels gnawing their way to freedom. They go through the range of emotions to the point where they give up and accept their cruel fates.

From a fan perspective, the show's early cleverness and plot twists were the traps that kept us watching for six seasons. We went through the same analytic processes to try to figure out the clues, the environment, the meaning of the island and a way for the characters to gain their freedom. Fans went through a range of emotions when characters go hurt or died.  When the show ended, many were left like the exhausted squirrel: perplexed, resigned, depressed and wondering what would happen next.

In the cage, the exhausted squirrel is trapped against the cold night elements. It gives up and dies.

In certain respects, that is what Jack did in the final episode.