Importance of the Compass

[FredEx919]

did anyone notice in episode 1 that Richard gave john a compass? A compass (along with the knife, sand etc) was also one of the items that richard had with him in the previous season when he visited John as a child to see if he was ready for the special school.

Also the compass played a big part in Lost: Via Domus (the Lost video game), in which it had the words "Via Domus" engraved into it which means "The Way Home".

This may not be that important, but just something that I noticed...

[WontonCricket]

I was wondering about this myself. When Richard went in the past to visit Locke as a child he asked him specifically "which of these things belong to you already?".....i want to know why Locke doesn't know what the compass is for when Richard hands it to him. Actually, I want to know what significance it has to Locke that would make it one of the few things that younger Locke would definately know that are his.

[notsolost42]

The compass will be John Locke's constant. Richard said that the next time the island moved he will not recognize Locke. If Locke keeps time jumping without a constant then he will die just like Xharlotte is about to.