The Mysteries: The Numbers (history of the numbers)

The numbers are one of those mysteries of Lost with dozens of overall appearance, but with only a couple that produce something worth discussing. In this case, the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42, appear in everything from the number of Flight 815 itself, to the digits on an alarm clock[1], the number of a safe deposit box[2] and on the backs of entire woman’s soccer team in Sydney Airport.[3] And that’s just the first season. As always, check out Lostpedia for the complete list.

The castaways' actual relationship with the numbers begins with Hurley notices that Rousseau’s maps have the numbers printed on them.[4] Hurley won the lottery by playing these numbers: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, with 42 as the “powerball”. I would love to hear from people who have played these as lotto numbers; I do think most lotteries nowadays operate with 6 numbers plus a power ball, for a total of 7 numbers. Anyways, Hurley heard the numbers from Lenny, a follow mental hospital resident. Lenny was semi-catatonic, not communicating at all except for repeating the numbers over and over again. Lenny first heard the numbers 6 years before 2004 when he was in the navy monitoring radio signals in the Pacific. On duty with Lenny with Sam Toomey. Sam followed a similar path as Hurley only for a lot less money and worse ending; he used the numbers to correctly guess the number of beans in a jar, won $50,000, felt cursed because of the subsequent bad things that started happening, went crazy and killed himself. Most of that story is told to Hurley by Sam’s widow.[5]

Hurley hears more of the numbers history from Rousseau. She tells him that her French science team came to the island in 1988 after changing their normal course through the Pacific because of a strange transmission: a voice repeating the numbers.[6] The same signal Lenny and Sam heard, apparently. The audience, along with Jin, witnesses this occurrence during the island’s time skipping. They science team picks up the signal again shortly after washing up on the island in 1988 and they start following it to its source when they are attacked by the monster.[7]
What does this actually tell us about the numbers? Not much. All we know for sure is that around 1988, and presumably earlier, someone on the island set up a signal to broadcast the numbers out to the world. That party’s motive for doing so is unknown, though it’s noted that the broadcast’s impact on the world is very negative. For an island that moves invisibly through time and space, the numbers are the only tracks it leaves. Was that the point or an unintended consequence?

[1] “Exodus”
[2] “Whatever the Case May Be”
[3] “Exodu”
[4] “Numbers”
[5] Id.
[6] “Numbers”
[7] “This Place is Death”