I found this entry on a discussion of Lost on IMDB:
"I can't find it again on the internet but I read the "Lost" producers/writers stated the show is a remake of classic 50's sci-fi Forbidden Planet and its source material Shakesperes "The Tempest"
Forbidden Planet IMDB plot summary.
When Adams and his crew are sent to investigate the silence from a planet inhabited by scientists, he finds all but two have died. Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira have somehow survived a hideous monster which roams the planet. Unknown to Adams, Morbius has made a discovery, and has no intention of sharing it (or his daughter!) with anyone.
Forgetting the plane crash element for a mo. Island with scientists as only survivers. All but two that is, who are still there despiste a hideous monster which roams the island. Locke has made a discovery he has no intention of sharing it with anyone.
Anyone who can remember the film forbidden planet will remember that the monster was created through the imagination of those on the planet manifested with a hugely powerful machine. It was built and left under the ground (hatch) by a long extinct alien race. What happened when walt read the comic book with a polar bear in it. The polar bear was manifested. Children have very vivid imagination therefore he can make things happen on the island if he can see it in his head (eg.throwing the knife perfectly). The walt did this through the machine. Also everyone elses fears and wishes have been manifested.
The Tempest (1979) IMDB plot summary
Prospero, a potent necromancer, lives on a desolate isle with his virginal daughter, Miranda. He's in exile, banished from his duchy by his usurping brother and the King of Naples. Providence brings these enemies near; aided by his vessel the spirit Ariel, Prospero conjures a tempest to wreck the Italian ship. The king's son, thinking all others lost, becomes Prospero's prisoner, falling in love with Miranda and she with him. Prospero's brother and the king wander the island, as do a drunken cook and sailor, who conspire with Caliban, Prospero's beastly slave, to murder Prospero. Prospero wants reason to triumph, Ariel wants his freedom, Miranda a husband; the sailors want to dance.
Providence definition: an influence which is not human in origin and is thought to control whether or not people receive the things which they need
I am not saying this is exact or anything they clearly have done their own thing and it's a series not a 2 hour film/play so there is more stuff in "Lost". The people on the "wrecked italian ship" are the subject, rather than whoever/what it was who created "the tempest". There is clearly a "prospero" kind of thing on the island as there is purpose behind why those specific people were on the plane and the all events after the crash.
You have to disreguard this a dream or they are all dead and in puragtory, which, if true would a very annoying crap answer to it all. It also wouldn't leave much scope for a continuing series. They have to be in the real world. That with the slightly sci-fi looking hatch with unbreakable glass would indicate to me as being an alien related answer. So a machine it is and not a ariel spirit thing. There is a mystical element to everything though, claires card reading guy, the numbers, everyones connections to one another so maybe its both.
At the moment the series doesn't have the scope and blantant scifi/magical element to it. I think it will change alot when they have put some more solid answers on the table it might go a bit crap because of that. Half the fun of the show is that we have no clue as to what is going on.
What are others thoughts on this. (It's not anything to do with purgatory don't bring it up, that ship has sunk)"
Interesting. Veeeery interesting
