Mystery recap - what are the whispers?

Psychedelic

Anyone have an idea what the whispers in the jungle could be? Who's doing the whispering? Is it just the island's consciousness or something, or real (possibly dead) people? I think a lot of the time we heard the whispers was when the Others were attacking the Losties - could the Others somehow control the whispers in order to confuse the Losties?

The transcripts of the whispers are weird, don't really give us any clues that I can see: http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Whisper_transcripts

This is probably our biggest clue:

Writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach confirmed that the Whispers are speaking a real language. It is safe to assume that they contain obscure, devious or cunning hints and clues. Eventually we will find out who/what the whisperers are.

He mentioned that the Whispers fall into the mysterious nature of the Others, and as their mysteries begin to unfold, some of the things that the writers planned around them will be explained.

http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Whispers

Dman001

Wasnt there whispering when Smokie was around too? In the later seasons of Lost there doesnt seem to be any whispering at all in the jungle.

I kinda miss the whole spooky/science-fictiony element that you had in the first 2 seasons of Lost. Dont get me wrong but I love getting some answers of the mysteries of Lost, but I miss the whole creepiness of the Others and the Losties seeing dead people while hearing all those whispers.

Sad Professor

They've accompanied some of Christian's appearances as well: when he appeared to Michael on the freighter, and to Sun and Frank in "Namaste". In fact, they've occurred alongside most (if not all) of the apparitions: Ben's mother, Libby, etc.

Psychedelic

I forgot about Michael hearing the whispers on the freighter. That would appear to rule out the Others having control or anything else to do with the whispers.

tok9

Something tells me they won't explain this one.. I have no problem with that btw, I really don't know how you could. The others have some sort of control anyway.. every time they appear randomly you hear them.

Sad Professor

I don't think they have to be directly associated with the Others or anything else. They may simply be the spirits of dead people, or perhaps the island itself, warning the Losties of imminent danger. I know Rousseau thought the whispers were the Others, but maybe they were just warning her that the Others were close. That's why Ben told her to run when she heard them. Similarly when she heard the whispers say they were coming for "the boy" they were actually warning her.

If they are directly connected to anything I think it's the apparitions - all of which can't be Esau or Smokey. We've got two characters on the show, Hurley and Miles, who can apparently see/hear dead people. Jacob said Hurley wasn't crazy and suggested that maybe he was blessed. Charlie in 4x01 did seem to be trying to guide Hurley.

Mr.Nice Guy

The whispers sound conversational and at times observational.

One theory I had about the whispers was that that they were discussions that have happened before on the island, or have yet to happen, which the Losties are getting a glimpse of due to the way time has been distorted and looped.

A problem I have with this was though is a lot of the whispers seem very difficult to justify, i.e. Sawyer hearing the guy he shot before going to the island.

I think perhaps the simplest explanation is that they are a device of the Smoke Monster/Esau. I believe the Smoke Monster to be either a security system of the timeline on the island as Esau directly, or else following his orders as a type of system. We know this has the ability to scan memories so it could just be a very advanced method of messing with people's heads.