Benjamin Linus versus Charles Widmore was an ongoing conflict seemingly for the protection and/or control of the Island. This conflict was one of the most central rivalries of Lost. It started in approximately 1988 when Ben kidnapped Alex Rousseau against Charles's orders. The conflict ended with the death of Charles Widmore at the hands of Ben after The Man in Black threatened the life of Penny Widmore.

Both express entitlement to the Island even though both share some history with the Island.

History Edit

Charles Widmore was on the island at least as early as 1954 (at which time he was 17) ("Jughead"), although he indicates at this time that he already knows the island very well. Ben Linus on the other hand arrived on the Island in 1973. ("The Man Behind the Curtain"),("He's Our You") While the impetus for the conflict is unclear, it appears to relate to their own leadership on the island, which both of them have asserted at one time or another. Charles Widmore claims to have been "fooled" into leaving the island. He also states that he had been "exiled" by Benjamin Linus, although whether or not this was after or before Ben had become the Others' leader is unclear. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham") Miles made the comment to Charlotte that Widmore has been searching for the island for 20 years, if this comment is accurate then Widmore left the island in 1984 or 1985. ("Jughead")

On Island conflict, 1977-1990'sEdit

There have been numerous conflicts on The Island between Charles and Ben, which have led to the eventual leadership shift from Charles to Ben.

Ben in the Temple (1977)Edit

Richard taking an injured young Ben to the Temple. ("Whatever Happened, Happened")

The first conflict between the Ben and Charles began even before the two met. When Ben was a child during the DHARMA Initiative he was injured, after being shot by Sayid Jarrah in 1977. He was taken to the Others to be healed, and Richard Alpert takes Ben but this is questioned by someone who thinks he should ask Ellie and if Charles finds out..., to which Richard replies that he does not answer to either of them and heals Ben at The Temple. ("Whatever Happened, Happened") This would have caused a conflict and Ben to be viewed as a threat, having an outsider from the DHARMA Initiative be healed in their Temple. Richard also said that Ben would always be "one of us".

Ben's mission to eliminate Rousseau (est. 1988)Edit

"It's not an 'it', it's a child!" ("Dead Is Dead")

Ben and a young Ethan were sent on a mission, by Charles, to kill Rousseau. Ben approached her beach camp and into her tent while she was sleeping, but surprisingly found a cooing baby in the tent as well. Instead of killing Rousseau he takes baby Alex away from her and shoots the sand to enforce the point that he is serious in taking her. Ben threatens Rousseau to never follow him or come looking for him if she wants her baby to live. When Ben returns, Charles expects that "that woman" has been killed but Ben informs him there were "complications" and that she is "no threat to us, she is insane Charles, besides you didn't tell me she had a child. What was it I supposed to do?" to which Charles replies "Kill it". Widmore explains how everything he has done is to protect the island. Ben stands firm, asking if that [killing a child] is what Jacob wanted, and when Widmore doesn't reply, Ben hands Alex towards him and says "here you do it..." but Alex is left alive. Ben winning the confrontation.

Exile of WidmoreEdit

"You brought this on yourself...." ("Dead Is Dead")

Sometime after the Purge, Charles Widmore was exiled and escorted to the mainland via the Galaga, the same submarine that had brought Ben to the Island. Ben stated the reason was Charles' leaving the Island frequently and having a daughter with an "outsider". It is implied that Widmore had stopped following Jacob's orders.

Ben then assumed leadership until 2004.

Off-Island conflictEdit

Charles Widmore spent his time, after having left the island, trying to find, and return, to the Island. In 1996 Charles Widmore purchases the journal of the first mate of the Black Rock, presumably to help try to find the island. He funded Daniel Faraday's research, perhaps as far back as 1994. His search for the Island leads him to send a freighter and mercenaries to take back the Island from Benjamin Linus. During this confrontation Alex, Ben's adopted daughter, is murdered by one of Widmore's mercinaries.

After Ben turned the wheel, and was seemingly also exiled from the Island, he found Widmore in London, and tells Widmore that he is going to kill Widmore's daughter Penelope Widmore. During this conversation Widmore tells Ben, "That island's mine, Benjamin. It always was. It will be again." ("The Shape of Things to Come")

The survivors as pawnsEdit

Ben uses Sayid's grief to further his agenda.

Off the Island, Ben and Charles have manipulated the survivors to use against one another, Sayid Jarrah and John Locke. After leaving the Island, Sayid finally reconnects with Nadia but is devastated when she is hit by a car in the crosswalk. The driver happens to be an associate of Charles Widmore. Sayid, overcome with grief and anger becomes a hitman for Ben. ("The Shape of Things to Come"). On the Island, the survivors were suffering fatal side-effects from when Ben moved the Island. John goes on a mission to save them by resetting the frozen wheel, exiting the island, and trying to get the Oceanic Six to come back. Both men used John Locke to try to get back to the Island but it was only Ben who accomplished this. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 2"), ("This Place Is Death"), ("316").

Sayid JarrahEdit

Sayid keeps shooting Nadia's killer although there are no more bullets.

Being one of the Oceanic Six, Sayid is in Iraq mourning the death of his wife Nadia and he confronts Ben, whom at first he thinks is a reporter. Ben states that he is in Iraq to find the man who murdered Nadia. Ben lies about how he had gotten off the Island and informs Sayid that the man who killed Nadia works for Charles Widmore. After being lead into a trap, Ishmael Bakir, is shot by Sayid for revenge. ("The Shape of Things to Come") Sayid then becomes a hitman for Ben, who supplies Sayid with a list of known Widmore associates.

John LockeEdit

"I am deeply invested in the future of the Island John."

Once off the Island, John had a mission to get all of the Oceanic Six back to the Island. ("This Place Is Death"). After turning the wheel and landing in Tunisia with a broken leg, John is seen on a surveillance camera put there by Charles Widmore (knowing that Tunisia is an island exit point) and comes to John's hospital bedside ("This Place Is Death"). He then vows to help John in his mission, after being asked why, Widmore replies, "Because there is a war coming John, and if you're not back on the Island when that happens, the wrong side is going to win." ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham")

Widmore provided John with everything he could need to complete his mission, an alias, Jeremy Bentham, a passport, money, an international phone to use with a code to directly reach him and surveillance knowledge about the Oceanic Six. Charles insists it is Ben who has been "telling lies" about him and when John asks about his honesty Charles replies, "I haven't tried to kill you. Can you say the same for him?" ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham")

Although John questions his motives, he accepts Charles' help. Matthew Abaddon is then assigned to help John, "take you where ever you need to go, and protect you from whom ever tries to do you harm." Abaddon has met John before, being the one who suggested John to go on a walkabout that eventually led John to crashing on the Island. ("Cabin Fever").

Abaddon is shot behind the unsuspecting Locke. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham")

After trying and failing to recruit Sayid, Walt, Hugo, Kate and Aaron, Locke visits the grave of his lost love Helen and before leaving the cemetery, Abaddon is shot by Ben. Trying to escape, John gets in a car crash and is taken to a hospital where Jack works, failing to recruit him as well, John is about to commit suicide before Ben comes in and talks him out of it.

Ben has all the information he needs to get back to the Island.

Ben also has been watching the Oceanic six, "keeping them safe", he stated that it was him that killed Abaddon and it was only a matter of time before Abaddon had killed John. Ben argued with John that Charles was just "using him to get to the Island" and "Charles Widmore is the reason why I moved the Island, so that he could never find it again!" Both men have now stated that what they have done, or are doing whatever they can to have John lead the Island, not them. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham") After finding out needed information from John, Ben kills him and makes it look like suicide. Using John's death, he is able to get back to the Island on flight 316. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham")

"The Rules"Edit

Ben looks in shock as Alex is killed ("The Shape of Things to Come")

Benjamin Linus and Charles Widmore appear to have had a set number of "rules" in the ongoing battle between them. One that has been broken or changed them, included the death of Ben's daughter, Alex caused by Charles. Another rule seems to be that they can not kill one another, which is why the Mercenary team abord the Kahana, hired by Widmore, was ordered to bring Ben back alive. ("The Shape of Things to Come")

The murder of AlexEdit

Alex, moments before her execution by Keamy. ("The Shape of Things to Come")

This is evident in Ben's shocked response to Keamy's execution of his "daughter", Alex. Ben was visibly disturbed at not only her death, but what appeared to be some greater implication of the act. Immediately after she died, Ben said to himself, "He changed the rules". It was later revealed that the "he" was in fact Charles Widmore. ("The Shape of Things to Come") Since Keamy was a mercenary aboard Charles Widmore's freighter, the responsiblity of Alex's death inadvertantly belonged to Charles. This set Ben out for revenge, and a vow to take Charles' daughter, Penelope Hume's life, like Charles did to his. ("The Shape of Things to Come")

Ben's threat to CharlesEdit

Ben made an unannounced, late-night visit to Widmore's penthouse as he slept. Ben confronts Widmore and accuses him of changing The Rules, in reference to Alex's death. The conversation also contains hints of prior interactions between Ben and Widmore, as their conversation suggested The Rules govern their actions towards each other. ("The Shape of Things to Come")

"I'm here, Charles, because you murdered my daughter." ("The Shape of Things to Come")

"Then I suppose the hunt is on for both of us." ("The Shape of Things to Come")

Attempt to kill Penny WidmoreEdit

Ben about to kill Penny. ("Dead Is Dead")

Before getting on Ajira flight 316, that would get him back to the Island, Ben visited the Long Beach Marina where Desmond and Penny had their boat docked. Seeing Penny on the deck of the boat, he walked towards her with his hand inside his breast pocket, where he had a hand gun. Little did he know, that Desmond was behind him unloading some groceries from their car. Recognizing Ben, Desmond angrily asks what "he" is doing there. Pulling the gun out of his pocket, Ben shoots Desmond and continues walking towards a now frantic Penny. Ordering her not to move, and not say another word. Giving a very formal introduction, he apologizes in advance, "I'm sorry that you're caught up in the middle of this thing but your father" but is interrupted by Penny explaining how her and her father are estranged. Although shaking, he continues on, "Your father is a really terrible human being, he is responsible for the killing of my daughter, that's why I'm here" again Ben is interrupted but this time by Penny's son who comes onto the boat deck against his mother's orders to stay below deck. Penny beggs for Ben not to hurt her son, and as Ben lowers his gun, he is attacked by Desmond. He is severely beaten and thrown into the marina waters. Penny being left unharmed. ("Dead Is Dead")

Before being judged by the Smoke Monster, he tells Sun that if she ever gets off the Island, to find Desmond Hume and tell him he [Ben] is sorry. ("Dead Is Dead") It is unknown if he ever intends on trying to kill Penny again.

Battle for the Island (season 6)Edit

Ben and Charles met one final time on the Island when Charles returned to finally take the Island as his own. Widmore, with Zoe alongside him intercepted Richard, Miles, and Ben as they were preparing to leave to destroy the Ajira airplane with a backpack full of C4. Widmore explained that he'd already loaded the plane with explosives. When questioned further, he said that he had been invited back to the island by Jacob himself. Before he could elaborate further, Zoe spotted The Man in Black arriving by outrigger.

Widmore and Zoe hid themselves in the secret room behind Ben's bookcase. After throwing Richard out of the way, the Man in Black asked Ben about Widmore's whereabouts, which Ben revealed after being promised that he would have the island all to himself after the Man in Black escaped. The Man in Black went to the secret room and began to question Widmore and Zoe, but Widmore admonished Zoe for speaking and the Man in Black cut her throat, declaring her to be useless.

The Man in Black then threatened to kill Widmore's daughter Penny once he escapes the island, unless Widmore spoke voluntarily. Widmore agreed at first, afraid for the life of his daughter and having no other alternative. He explained that he brought Desmond back to the island because of his resistance to electromagnetism. He then refused to give up any other information while Ben was listening. The Man in Black then instructed Widmore to whisper the answers in his ear, which he did until Ben shot him repeatedly with a handgun, claiming that he wouldn't get to save his daughter, like Ben didn't get to save his at the hands of Widmore's team of mercenaries. ("What They Died For")

Unanswered questionsEdit

For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Benjamin Linus vs. Charles Widmore/Theories

• What are the Rules?

v • d • e Benjamin Linus Portrayed by Michael Emerson and Sterling Beaumon Centric episodes "The Man Behind the Curtain" • "The Shape of Things to Come" • "Dead Is Dead" • "Dr. Linus" Shared and non-centric flashes "What They Died For" • "The End" Mobisodes "King of the Castle" • "Room 23" Flashback characters Richard Alpert • Annie • Pierre Chang • Casey • DHARMA Rep. 1 • Horace Goodspeed • Olivia • Charlie Hume • Desmond Hume • Penelope Hume • June • Emily Linus • Roger Linus • Mike • Opal • Ethan Rom • Alex Rousseau • Danielle Rousseau • Charles Widmore Flash-forward characters Bedouin 1 • Bedouin 2 • Ishmael Bakir • Iraqi merchant • London doorman • Sayid Jarrah • Noor "Nadia" Abed Jazeem • Narjiss • Charles Widmore Flash-sideways characters Leslie Arzt • Desmond Hume • Kim Kondracki • Roger Linus • Lamour • John Locke • Hugo Reyes • Alex Rousseau • Danielle Rousseau • Don Reynolds Items Ben's diary • Ben's maps • Ben's painting • Ben's photo • Ben's passports • Ben's tape • DHARMA parka • Frozen wheel • Tape recorder • Telescopic baton • The Rules • X-ray

v • d • e Charles Widmore Portrayed by Alan Dale, Tom Connolly and David S. Lee Appearances "Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1" • "Flashes Before Your Eyes" • "The Constant" • "The Other Woman" • "The Shape of Things to Come" • "There's No Place Like Home, Part 2" • "Because You Left" • "The Lie" • "Jughead" • "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" • "Dead Is Dead" • "The Variable" • "Follow the Leader" • "Dr. Linus" • "Recon" • "The Package" • "Happily Ever After" • "The Candidate" • "What They Died For" Related Characters Matthew Abaddon • Richard Alpert • Cunningham • Daniel Faraday • Eloise Hawking • Desmond Hume • Penelope Hume • Martin Keamy • Sun-Hwa Kwon • Benjamin Linus • Frank Lapidus • John Locke • Mattingly • Mike • Paul • Seamus • Simmons • Sub captain • Technician • Wheeler • Widmore's victim • Zoe Items Ben's tape • Black Rock ledger • Black Rock Storm • Generator • Kahana • MacCutcheon whisky • Paintings • Solenoid coil chamber • Submarine • Team See Also: Supporting Characters