"One of the island's earlier (pre-Jacob) protectors created the \"smoke monster\" to assist in the processes of guiding, judging, and protecting those who come to reside on the island. For most or all of its history it was a tool used by the protector of the island (as illustrated by Mother when she used it to destroy the MiB's village) to guard the source of the island's energy (The afterlife - The source of life, death, and rebirth). However, the Man in Black, because of his special communion with the island and the dead, was able to take advantage of Mother's prohibition of violence between him and Jacob to \"cheat\" death and commandeer the smoke monster for himself. Despite having made this transformation, he still remains partially subject to the Protector's will and thus cannot leave the island without his/her absolution or, failing that, termination of the monster's \"appointment\" via deactivation of the fountain at the heart of the island."@en . . . . "The Monster/Theories"@en . . "One of the island's earlier (pre-Jacob) protectors created the \"smoke monster\" to assist in the processes of guiding, judging, and protecting those who come to reside on the island. For most or all of its history it was a tool used by the protector of the island (as illustrated by Mother when she used it to destroy the MiB's village) to guard the source of the island's energy (The afterlife - The source of life, death, and rebirth). However, the Man in Black, because of his special communion with the island and the dead, was able to take advantage of Mother's prohibition of violence between him and Jacob to \"cheat\" death and commandeer the smoke monster for himself. Despite having made this transformation, he still remains partially subject to the Protector's will and thus cannot leave the"@en .