

Claire Littleton is one of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, a single mother who gave birth on the Island.

Claire flew to Los Angeles at the coaxing of a psychic to give up her unborn child for adoption. She crashed on to the Island, where she began an inconsistent relationship with fellow survivor Charlie Pace. One of the Others kidnapped her, and she suffered amnesia after the escape. She later gave birth to her son, Aaron Littleton, and did her best to take care of him despite being a reluctant mother.

Her relationship with Charlie grew stronger after he rescued Aaron from Danielle Rousseau, but when Claire learned of Charlie's past with drugs and witnessed his erratic behavior, she became reluctant to let him into her and Aaron's life. When Charlie sacrificed himself to save the other survivors, Claire heeded his warning about their alleged rescuers and joined Locke's group. Her house was destroyed during an attack, but she escaped unharmed. She soon after followed the figure of her dead father into the jungle, where she stayed for three years.

Though supposedly "infected" beyond redemption, she helped the other survivors upon their return, and she escaped with them, planning to return to Aaron off-island. In the flash-sideways, she gave birth to Aaron anew, and they moved on together with their friends.

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Before the crash

Childhood

Born on October 27, 1982, in Australia, Claire was raised by Carole Littleton, a single mother who had become pregnant as a result of an affair with Claire's father, Christian Shephard. According to her daughter, Carole was a librarian. Christian visited Claire many times when she was a baby, but stopped visiting because, according to him, her aunt Lindsey hated him, and Carole couldn't cope with him having another family in America. Claire was raised to believe that her father died when she was two years old. ("Par Avion")

As an adolescent, Claire rebelled against her mother, dressing in a vaguely gothic style and working in a piercing and tattoo parlor. ("Par Avion")

Car accident

As a teenager, Claire got into a car accident when a truck forced her car off the road during a heated argument with her mother. When Claire woke up, she climbed out the car and found her mother unconscious on the ground. ("Par Avion")

Later that day, Claire and her mother, Carole, were taken to the hospital. While her head was being stitched, she was questioned by Officer Barnes about the accident. Claire became extremely defensive, as she thought he was implying the accident was her fault. After this she went home for a shower, and returned to the hospital to see her mother. Upon entering her room, Claire found her Aunt Lindsey watching over her mother. She accused Claire of not caring for her mother. They were interrupted by the doctor, who indicated that Carole may be in a permanent coma. Furthermore, Lindsey told the doctor that she could not afford medical treatment to support Carole, but he revealed the costs were being paid by an anonymous benefactor. ("Par Avion")

At a later visit to her mother, Claire found an American doctor touching Carole's arm. When Lindsey entered the room, she immediately recognized the doctor and demanded to know why he was there. They began to argue, which led to the revelation that he, Christian Shephard, was Claire's father, whom she believed was dead. Sometime later, Claire was working in a tattoo and piercing parlor. Once she finished with her client, Christian approached Claire and asked her to join him for coffee before he left Australia. She angrily agreed and joined him. During the meeting, Christian explained how he and her mother met, which led to her becoming pregnant. He also told her how he visited them when she was a child, but their relationship deteriorated due to his commitment to his family in America, something her mother and aunt Lindsey resented. When he tried to persuade Claire to turn off her mother's life support machine, Claire left, not even knowing her father's name. ("Par Avion")

Pregnancy

Sometime later, while working at the Fish & Fry restaurant for five dollars an hour, Claire's path seemed to be dead-end and predictable. Her life changed when she and her boyfriend Thomas realized they were to become parents. Although Claire was petrified by the idea, Thomas eventually changed her mind, claiming it could be the best thing ever. An excited Claire told her friend Rachel, the news on the way to see Richard Malkin, who claimed to be a psychic. As Claire was interested in astrology and horoscopes, they thought it would be worth a visit. As the reading took place, Richard refused to continue the reading and escorted them out of the house. Sometime after this, Claire was in the process of redecorating the apartment. While hanging her new drapes, Thomas revealed to Claire he felt ill-equipped to become the father for their child. After a heated argument with Claire, Thomas stormed out of the apartment, leaving her behind to raise their child. ("Raised by Another")

She returned to Richard Malkin's house, and requested a second reading. During the reading, he told Claire he knew Thomas had left her, and when she asked him to continue, he revealed that it was crucial for Claire to raise her child herself, and that her goodness must be an influence on the child's development. Claire interrupted, and told him that she would put the baby up for adoption if Thomas didn't return. She soon left the house after he aggressively tried to convince her to raise the baby herself. ("Raised by Another")

As a part of her daily life, Claire continued to visit her mother in the hospital. As she entered the room, Claire switched on the television and told her comatose mother she was pregnant and planned to give the child up for adoption. She expressed astonishment that her mother had been able to raise her without any assistance and sobbed an apology for being so terrible to her as a teenager. Claire finally admitted to herself that she was responsible for their car accident. ("Par Avion")

Upon meeting with her child's adoptive parents, Arlene and Joseph Stewart, Claire prepared to sign away rights to her unborn child. The solicitor reminded her she would not have any rights to see the child and Claire would be paid upon the birth. She requested that the Stewarts sing the lullaby "Catch a Falling Star" to the baby, as it was the song her father used to sing to her. As Claire was about to sign the papers, two pens she tried to use did not work. Her doubts at relinquishing her child surfaced at this ill omen and she ran out of the room. ("Raised by Another")

Claire returned to Richard Malkin, who told her that her baby would be safe if she gave it to a couple in Los Angeles who he said were good people. He gave her a ticket for Oceanic Flight 815, and Claire left for what she believed was a new life in America. However when she learned that the flight was so soon, she was put off by the idea; Malkin then insisted she must take that flight. ("Raised by Another")

Flight 815

In a deleted scene, we see Claire talking with the pilot and appearing nervous. She confides that she is only flying because of what the psychic told her, and feels stupid about it. The pilot in turn tells her that his mother once went to a psychic, who told her she would dump her husband for another man. Shortly afterwards, that Bernard sold his business for a million dollars. Though there is similarity with the name Bernard, he is not likely to be the Bernard in our story, because he is a computer programmer (not a dentist), and the scene was not left in.

On the plane, passenger Leslie Arzt helped put her bags in the overhead compartment. ("Exodus, Part 3")



On the Island

Days 1–44 (Season 1)

After the crash, Claire believed she was going into labor. She panicked and called for help, and she was saved from the wreckage by Jack, her unknowing half-brother. She feared that her baby had died in the crash, but it kicked the next day while she was with Jin. Though her pregnancy limited her movement and left her feeling a "time bomb of responsibility" Claire helped sort through the wreckage and later led a memorial service for those who'd died in the crash, ("Pilot, Part 1") ("Pilot, Part 2") ("Walkabout") ("White Rabbit")

She met Charlie the night of the crash, and three days later, he helped her move luggage from the crash site. Their friendship began to blossom, but Charlie had to lie when Claire asked about the results of the trek into the jungle to get a signal on the transceiver. When she collapsed some days later from thirst, Charlie helped look after her, and he later tried to convince her to live with him in the caves. She refused at first, but a gesture of his touched her and changed her mind - he brought her an empty jar to stand in for her favorite food, peanut butter. ("Confidence Man")

After moving to the caves, Claire began having nightmares. She later feared a real attack, and when Jack showed skepticism. She decided to return to the beach. Ethan accosted her and Charlie on the way and kidnapped them. Claire spent the next weeks drugged at the Staff station, thinking herself at an Australian hospital. Ethan gave her regular injections and showed her a possible nursery for her baby, but a teenage girl at the station warned her against the doctors who planned to deliver and take the child. The girl knocked her out, and Claire awoke dazed in the jungle where Danielle Rousseau found her, knocked her out again and returned her to camp.("Raised by Another") ("Maternity Leave")

Claire awoke with no memory of the events since the flight. Ethan began attacking survivors in hopes that they'd return her, and the camp hid this fact from Claire, angering her. They eventually used Claire as bait to capture Ethan, but Charlie killed him before they could interrogate him. Claire approached him that night and in the days that followed, saying that she wanted to trust him, and though Charlie, traumatized, resisted at first, they eventually went on walks together. ("Homecoming") ("Outlaws")

The pregnancy, meanwhile, was progressing, and Locke had Claire help him build a crib, though he didn't reveal the tasks purpose till it was done. A few days later, Claire went into labor with help from Charlie, Jin and, most of all, Kate. She gave birth successfully to a boy, but she remained worried in the days that followed that the Others would try to take him. She was amused though one day to find Sawyer reading to the baby to keep him from crying. Charlie stayed close to the child, dubbed him "Turniphead" and suggested that the three stay together in Los Angeles after they were rescued. ("Do No Harm") ("The Greater Good") ("Born to Run")

Danielle Rousseau came to camp the next day, claiming to warn of an attack but really planning to kidnap the baby. She knocked Claire out again and took the child. Claire awoke, and she begged Charlie to retrieve the baby, whom she now named "Aaron." Charlie and Sayid managed to bring Aaron back from Danielle, and Claire was overjoyed when they returned. ("Exodus, Part 1") ("Exodus, Part 2") ("Exodus, Part 3")

Days 44–67 (Season 2)

During a conversation with Charlie about how he always made a joke of things, Claire found a Virgin Mary statue in his bag. When she pulled it out, Charlie became unsettled and Claire assumed he was keeping it for spiritual value. ("Adrift")

One day, while taking her usual walk along the beach, Claire found the message bottle the people on the raft had taken with them. She took it out of the water, and she and Shannon brought it to Sun, since her husband was on the raft. Later that evening, after Hurley decided to have a feast with the food from the Hatch, Charlie surprised Claire with a jar of real peanut butter. ("Everybody Hates Hugo")

The next night, Claire heard Shannon's call for help, she took Aaron and went to see what the problem was. However when Sayid assured things were fine, she was scolded by a very paternal Charlie, for bringing Aaron to where something potentially dangerous could've happened. She apologizes to him. ("Abandoned")

The following morning, Locke helped her get Aaron to sleep by teaching her how to swaddle a baby. She spoke about Charlie trying to act like he was Aaron's dad, and that she barely even knew him. Claire also told Locke of the Virgin Mary statue Charlie keeps with him. Later, she praised Locke for the swaddling trick, as Aaron was still sleeping. Claire let him hold the baby but was awkwardly interrupted by Charlie. She thanked Locke for the help with Aaron and he left. ("Abandoned")

After Shannon was killed by one of the newcomers to the beach camp, Claire went to her funeral. She and the other survivors laid flowers on Shannon's grave. When she introduced herself to Eko, she mentioned Charlie's Virgin Mary statue and Eko demanded to see it. Claire gave it to him and he smashed it, revealing it to be full of heroin. She believed that Charlie was still a heroin addict, and he lost her trust. Later he tried to apologize to Claire, but she kicked Charlie out of her tent and told him that she didn't want a drug addict around her baby. ("What Kate Did") ("The 23rd Psalm")

With Charlie gone, Claire began spending more time with Locke, who seemed to know a lot about babies. Charlie attempted to make up with Claire, however she told him she needed time to herself. After waking up one night to find Charlie had taken Aaron from his crib, the camp looked for the baby. When Hurley found Aaron he called Claire over and she took Aaron from Charlie. When he tried to explain himself, she slapped him across the face and left.

After a conversation with Eko, Charlie then believed that Aaron must be baptized. He marched to Claire's tent, only to be stopped by Kate, who told him it's not a good time to interrupt Claire. Charlie tried to tell Claire the baby was in danger, and he needed to be baptized. Claire was shaken but Kate reassured her. She later asked Locke if he could move near her tent, so he could protect her and Aaron. ("The Hunting Party") ("Fire + Water")

That night, Charlie started a fire and took Aaron while everyone was distracted. Claire saw him and screamed for help. Charlie insisted the baby needed to be baptized because he was in danger. When he had finally handed Aaron back over to Claire, Locke punched him in the face. Although she was furious with Charlie, Claire took his words to heart and had Eko baptize Aaron on the beach early the next morning. ("Fire + Water")

Aaron developed a rash and Claire became worried. She asked Locke if he could fetch Jack from The Swan to take a look at the Aaron. When he left, Danielle Rousseau arrived at the beach and told Claire the baby had the sickness. Claire had a brief memory of scratching Danielle's arm. Kate chased Rousseau away and asked her what happened, Claire revealed Danielle said that something was wrong with him. Later, Jack tells her Aaron's okay, Claire is still not convinced.

The next morning, Claire asked Libby for her help in recovering her lost memory. She agreed to help and performed a hypnotic regression on Claire, allowing her to experience a flash from her kidnapping. During the hypnosis, Claire began to scream and panic. Libby calmed her down, and Claire asked her to perform the regression again. Libby refused, but thanks to her flashback Claire now knew where to find medicine. She asked for Kate to join her in the search. Later Claire handed over Aaron to Sun for safekeeping while she's gone. While talking to Sun, Claire remembered another lost memory. Claire then said goodbye to Aaron and left with Kate.

They eventually found Rousseau and Claire ordered Danielle to take them back to the place where she scratched her. Once there Danielle asked Claire where to next. Confused, Claire shouted back that Rousseau knew, stating that she scratched her because she was trying to take her back to the Others. Rousseau was angered by this and she grabbed Claire. Kate pulled out a gun on Rousseau, but Claire escaped into the jungle and found a tree log, which triggered another memory. When Kate and Rousseau caught up, they found the Staff station together. They searched the station, where Claire found the boot she had knitted for Aaron, which activated another memory. Claire found the fridge but it was empty. She turned to Rousseau and shouted that she knew where the vaccine was, but when she viewed Rousseau's scratched arm, Claire remembered her final memory. She realized that Rousseau saved her, and they left the station together.

On the way back to the beach, Claire comments that a young girl with blue eyes helped her, just like Danielle did and she was different from the rest. Rousseau thanked her for the information and left them. Back at camp, Jack attended to Aaron and noticed that he was getting better. Claire thanked him for this and when he left she gave Aaron the boot she knitted for him. Telling him that she loves him, the two shared a caring moment together. ("Maternity Leave")

Two days later, Jack confirmed that the fever had completely gone, calming Claire's fears. ("Lockdown")

Claire was present at Bernard's S.O.S speech, and was skeptical about his plan. She laughed with the rest of the camp when Rose embarrassed him in front of the group. In the end, she decided to abandon the plan, along with everyone else, leaving just Bernard to construct the SOS sign. ("S.O.S.")

Claire's anger toward Charlie had cooled, and when he gave her a vaccine kit, for both she and Aaron, that he'd found in the food drop, she was thankful. However, their reconciliation was halted when Michael returned to camp, and she left Charlie to welcome him back with the rest of the camp, unaware that he had just killed Ana Lucia and Libby. Later, at the funeral for Libby and Ana Lucia, she held his hand to show her forgiveness and looked sad when Hurley made his speech about Libby. ("Three Minutes")

When Desmond saw her using the vaccine kit, he told her she was wasting her time with it and asked if Aaron's father had been on the plane. When Claire bitterly told him about Thomas leaving her, Desmond suggested he had done what he thought was best for the baby. Claire said Thomas had done what was best for him. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1")

When the sky turned purple as the Hatch imploded, Claire tried to cover Aaron's ears to protect him from the noise. Bernard pushed them out of the way before they could be crushed by the falling hatch door. Later, she was relieved when Charlie stumbled out of the jungle, disoriented and half deaf. She asked him what had happened, but he joked his way out of answering. She attended to his injuries from the hatch implosion, and finally kissed him, making their reconciliation official. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 2")

Days 68–91 (Season 3)

After reconciling, Charlie moved back to Claire's tent and they continued to grow close. Whilst doing laundry at the beach, Claire saw Locke and Charlie dragging the unconscious Eko through the camp. She questioned Hurley, when he seemed uncertain of Jack's whereabouts. Claire also asked Locke of Sun, Jin and Sayid, however he didn't know but he promised to look for them if they didn't return. After this she brought the first aid kit to Locke. ("Further Instructions")

The next day, whilst she wrote through her journal, Desmond told Claire there was something wrong with her roof and he would fix it if she would move down the beach. She opted to stay where she was, but thanked him nonetheless, however Charlie interrupted and told him if there was a problem with the roof he would fix it. Desmond left them and started to construct a lightning rod next to her shelter. The other survivors looked on, perplexed, until the structure diverted a bolt of lightning away from Claire's tent, shocking both her and Charlie. ("Every Man for Himself")

During her regular swim, Claire got caught in an undertow and was beginning to drown. She called for help and eventually Desmond ran into the ocean, he rescued Claire and brought her ashore. Desmond resuscitated her as the rest of the camp looked on. Later, she approached Desmond on the beach and noticed the photograph of him and Penny. She commented on how beautiful she was and thanked Desmond for saving her. Charlie confronted Desmond about his continual rescuing of Claire, but Desmond revealed it was actually Charlie he had saved, not Claire. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")

A few days later, Claire listened as Charlie recounted his adventure with the DHARMA van. It seemed as though Charlie was no longer obsessing about his imminent death, and the two seemed to have a good time. ("Tricia Tanaka Is Dead")

One morning, Charlie arranged a picnic for Claire, but Desmond interrupted to take Charlie boar hunting. Claire, after seeing a flock of migratory birds, ran off excited, saying she knew how to get off the island. She enlisted the help of Sun and Jin and Claire told them her plan to capture one of the gulls and attach a message to it. Desmond stopped Charlie from participating, which caused an argument between Charlie and Claire. While preparing fish, Sun and Claire discussed their parents. In particular their mothers expectations. After preparing fish with Sun, they finished the trap and waited for the birds. Eventually a lone gull wandered into the trap, however Desmond's gunshot scared the bird away. Frustrated, Claire demanded to know why Desmond and Charlie were against her idea. When they refused to talk, Claire took matters into her own hands. ("Par Avion")

Claire followed Desmond to a rocky coastline. She witnessed him pick up the gull effortlessly. Claire then confronted Desmond and asked him why he was trying to hinder her efforts. Desmond came clean and described his visions, in which Charlie died trying to get one of the birds, shocking Claire significantly. He later caught one for her himself. Claire returned back to camp and composed a heartfelt note, with Charlie, for the outside world. She told Charlie she knew about Desmond's visions and that she hadn't given up on him. They released the seagull with the note attached and watched it rejoin its flock. ("Par Avion")

When Sawyer wanted to make amends and fit in with the rest of the survivors, his main target was to befriend Claire and gain her trust, as Hurley stated that Claire was very influential among the rest of the survivors. She was surprised but appreciative when Sawyer gave Aaron a blanket and complimented him on his lack of wrinkles. The next day, during the feast, Sawyer brought Claire some food and she eventually let Sawyer hold the baby. ("Left Behind")

The next day, Claire began to feel deeply ill. Charlie, who at the time was across the camp, heard Aaron crying and rushed to Claire's tent, where he found her passed out cold. He comforted Aaron, then tended to Claire. He told her to try to get some more rest, in the hope that whatever was wrong would burn itself out. Later she woke up and went over to the dining area, where Sawyer gave Claire some aspirin, for her headache. She then witnesses Jack arrive back with Kate, Sayid and Juliet. Claire slept for several hours before stumbling into the camp's meeting later that night. Charlie saw she was clearly not well and tried to convince her to go back to bed, but she collapsed in his arms. He was trying to revive her when she coughed up blood. ("One of Us")

Jack and Charlie brought Claire back to her shelter, and Juliet stated that she was the one who had made Claire sick, saying that a device had been placed in Claire when she was taken by the Others to the Staff station. Juliet explained that if Claire never had the implant, she would've died. She also explained where medical supplies were and if she had them,she could save Claire. Jack then sent to Juliet retrieved supplies and she supposedly nursed Claire back to health. However, Claire's illness was actually caused by Ben's activation of an implant that Ethan had previously put in Claire. Ben activated it so that Juliet would gain the trust of the survivors when she cured her. The plan worked as Claire awoke the following morning with Charlie holding her hand, fully recovered from her illness, and therefore allowing Juliet to gain the trust of the Beach camp. ("One of Us")

When Claire found out Charlie had volunteered to swim down into an underwater hatch, she was upset he didn't tell her himself. She expressed her worries that it was dangerous, but he assured her that he would be fine and would be back to her soon.

He said he just didn't want her to worry about him, then kissed her goodbye. As Charlie then said an emotional goodbye with Aaron, Claire looked on, clearly upset. However, she was unaware that he left his ring in Aaron's crib, and had left her a heartfelt note with Desmond detailing how meeting her was the greatest moment of his life. ("Greatest Hits")

Claire left with the rest of the survivors to go to the radio tower. Aaron began to cry just before Naomi told Claire that Charlie had been successful in shutting down the jamming signal at the Looking Glass, to which Claire was obviously thrilled about. After Ben's capture, Hurley radioed Jack and told him Sayid, Jin and Bernard were alive, and hearing this, Claire approached Jack, asking for the radio to talk to Charlie, but Hurley said that he wasn't back yet, and not to worry. Hurley said he was sure Charlie would be back soon and Claire's fears were calmed. Jack called Naomi's boat and Claire happily awaited rescue with the other survivors. ("Through the Looking Glass, Part 2")

Days 91–99 (Season 4)

While preparing to head back to the beach to await rescue, Sun expressed her relief at being able to deliver her baby in a hospital. Claire told her not to rub it in, then told Rose that her husband seemed "quite the hero." Rose said everyone knew Charlie was the real hero and told Claire to treat him "real good" when he got back, to which Claire was shocked at, but excited for too. ("The Beginning of the End")

When the group that had gone to the radio tower reunited with the group from the beach, Claire looked for Charlie among the beach camp but didn't see him, making her worried. Hurley went to her and tearfully told her Charlie had died trying to save everyone. She cried and fell into his arm, the pair trying to comfort each other. Jack tried to get everyone to go to the beach, but Hurley disagreed with him and said Charlie's last act had been to warn them all that the people on the freighter weren't who they said they were. Claire went with Locke's group to hide from Naomi's team, ensuring that Charlie's death was not in vain, while Jack took his group back to the beach. ("The Beginning of the End")

The next day, Locke's group found Charlotte, who had fallen into the water from the helicopter. She asked about Aaron and was amazed to find out Claire had delivered him on the Island. After seeing Frank's flare, Claire suggested they go look for him, but Locke disagreed. Ben shot Charlotte, but failed to kill her because of her bulletproof vest. When Locke wanted to execute him, Claire pleaded with him to talk about it before doing anything drastic. Locke asked her what would have happened if the bullet had hit her or the baby, and Claire fell silent. In the end he let Ben live and the group continued with Charlotte to the Barracks. ("Confirmed Dead")



Claire and Kate talk about motherhood. (" Eggtown ")

After walking for most of the day, Claire asked Locke how much further it would be, as she needed to feed Aaron. Locke said he wanted to visit a cabin, but couldn't seem to find it. He then said it wasn't important and they arrived at the Barracks a few hours later. ("The Economist")

When Kate joined Locke's group at the Barracks, Claire shared a house with her. They sat on the porch discussing Locke before Claire went inside to give Kate and Sawyer some privacy. Later, while the women hung clothes to dry, Kate told Claire she was a great mother; Claire responded that motherhood was something she never thought she would be good at. She joked to Kate that she should try it sometime. That night, Claire and Kate, unable to sleep, were interrupted when Locke arrived. Claire was hesitant to leave Kate with him, but she said she would be fine. Locke had arrived to banish Kate from the Barracks as punishment for taking Miles to see Ben. ("Eggtown")

Claire went to Locke the next day and offered to question Miles. She thought using a less intimidating approach might get more answers out of him, stating that the current approach was making them look like the enemy. Locke denied her access to Miles and told her to remember what Charlie had said. Claire replied that Charlie had only told them it wasn't Penny's boat, and asked, "Don't you want to know whose boat it is?" ("The Other Woman")

Later, Claire disagreed with Locke's decision to protect Ben when the camp had a meeting to discuss the Freighter's imminent arrival, reminding him that Ben had tried to kill him once before. She was also present when Locke revealed that Michael was Ben's 'man on the boat.' When Miles was brought into the meeting, she looked at him cautiously, showing clear distrust for the Freighter people, remembering Charlie's warning message. As the meeting ended, Claire was seen by Ben talking with Alex and Karl, showing how she had formed a friendship with them. ("Meet Kevin Johnson")

Claire was asleep during the mercenaries' attack on the Barracks. Her house was blown up but Sawyer discovered her, disoriented but very much alive. As she came to, she mistook Sawyer for Charlie. Sawyer carried her back to Ben's house, dodging bullets, and brought her to safety after Hurley broke the barricade set up by Locke to let them in. After resting, she was with the others as they witnessed the Smoke Monster's attack on the mercenaries, and she was shocked to witness it for the first time. As Ben instructed, she and everyone else escaped to the tree line. Once safe, Locke and Ben decided to visit Jacob, but Claire agreed with Sawyer when he decided to head back to the beach, and she left with Aaron. ("The Shape of Things to Come")

Some time into their journey back to the beach, Claire told Sawyer that her head still hurt but that she'd stopped seeing things. Circumstances worsened when Miles found the corpses of Danielle and Karl, Claire was visibly disturbed by the sight and requested that they keep moving. As the trio stopped for a break, and Claire was feeding Aaron, Miles began staring at her mysteriously, and at this, Sawyer behaved protectively toward her issued a "restraining order" on Miles, which he reiterated several times. Miles continually offered to give Claire support in carrying Aaron, but she politely refused. Later on Frank stumbled upon Claire and the group. Warning them that Keamy and the mercenaries' were heading their direction. The group hid behind a group of tree's just in time. However when they arrived, Aaron let out a cry, to which Claire clutched Aaron very tightly to her, praying for him to be silent. Keamy noticed this, but eventually Frank distracted the team away from Claire, Aaron, Miles, and Sawyer. Claire, in relief, kissed Aaron on the forehead. ("Something Nice Back Home")

That night, Sawyer's protectiveness backfired when Claire woke during the night and noticed Aaron's absence. Sitting up in a panic, Claire saw her father holding him fondly and whispered, "Dad?" She followed him into the jungle, according to Miles, who finally decided to "respect" Sawyer's warnings. Sawyer instantly went off to find Claire, but found Aaron abandoned at the base of a tree nearby and shouted for Claire desperately but received no response, as she was gone. ("Something Nice Back Home")

Claire was not seen again until Locke discovered her in Jacob's cabin. As Locke conversed with Christian he heard a noise from somewhere else in the cabin, and as he moved his light to see what it was, he was shocked to find Claire sitting comfortably on an old armchair. Locke instantly panicked upon seeing her and asked why she was there. Claire calmly claimed to be "fine," and said that she was "with him," referring to Christian. When Locke asked her about Aaron, Christian stated that Aaron was where he needed to be and that Claire was safe. Christian warned him not to tell anyone about her whereabouts. Claire seemed bizarrely content in the cabin, showing little concern about Aaron and smiling faintly at Christian's words to Locke, especially when Locke said he knew that he had to save the Island. ("Cabin Fever")

The next day, Sawyer came across Jack and Kate in the jungle, and they were shocked to find him holding Aaron. Kate worriedly asked where Claire was, to which Sawyer replied, "We lost her". He said he hoped she had returned to the beach, but they told him she hadn't, and Jack was devastated to lose another survivor so close to their rescue. As Kate returned to the beach with Aaron, Sun asked where Claire was, but Kate didn't reply as she was in a desperate rush to catch Jack. She left Aaron in Sun's care. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 1")

As Sawyer reached Hurley at the Orchid, Hurley asked if Claire and Aaron had got back to the beach safely. Sawyer, unable to answer, simply looked on sadly. As Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Sayid, Aaron and Frank left the Island in the helicopter, Hurley asked Jack if they could return to look for Claire once everyone else was off the island, to which Jack replied "absolutely". However, they never made it back to the Island before Ben moved it, and it disappeared with Claire still somewhere on it. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 2")

After the rescue of the Oceanic Six

Claire's mother, Carole Littleton, recovered from her coma and attended Christian Shephard's funeral. On her way out, she tearfully explained to Jack that Christian had fathered a child with her, a girl whom he'd come to Australia to see, a girl who had later boarded Oceanic Flight 815 and whose name was Claire. Jack was left shaken and speechless at the revelation that Claire was his half-sister. Through this conversation, it was also revealed that in the Oceanic Six's story, Claire wasn't one of the travelers who made it out of the plane after the crash. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 1")

Claire later appeared to Kate in a dream. Claire, wearing the same clothes she was last seen in, looked over Aaron in his room as Kate came barging in, as she thought it was an intruder. She was surprised to see Claire and she ominously told Kate to not "bring him back... Don't you dare bring him back." Kate soon woke up, relieved to find it was all a dream but didn't take Claire's warning lightly. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 3")

Five days later, Kate decided to journey back to the Island with Jack. Listening to Claire's warning, Kate realized that in order to return she must not take Aaron with her. Kate tearfully left Aaron with Carole but not before she revealed the truth. Kate told Carole that the story about the Oceanic 6 was a lie and that Claire was indeed alive on the island. She also revealed that the reason she was going back to the island was to find Claire and bring her back to her son. ("Whatever Happened, Happened")

Continued history on the Island

2004–2007

It can be assumed that Claire didn't time travel like the other survivors did, as she told Jin that after the Oceanic Six got off the Island, she hid the jungle to avoid the Others in her rough shelter of forest and scavenged materials. It's unknown why she didn't move through time, and she was living a life remarkably similar to Danielle Rousseau's before her death (building traps, etc.). She further explained that she had not been alone, but rather had had the companionship of her "friend" and her father, who had deceptively led her to believe that Aaron was being held captive in the Temple by the Others, even as he was safe on the mainland with Kate. At some point/in some way she recognized her "friend" as such, whatever his appearance or guise, including as her father. ("Lighthouse") ("Eggtown")

According to Dogen, Claire was infected with the Sickness sometime during these three years, which was confirmed when she was "tested" in the Temple, from which she also escaped. ("What Kate Does") ("Lighthouse") She was shot at some point. ("Lighthouse")

Season 6 (2007)

After being abducted by the Others at the Temple, Sawyer left and was followed by Kate and Jin, who were in turn accompanied by Aldo and Justin. The group discovered a rock trap that Aldo supposed was made by Rousseau, but Justin reminded him she had been dead for years. Kate knocked the Others out and went after Sawyer on her own. Sometime later, Jin was accosted again by Aldo and Justin, and as he tried to flee, his leg was caught in a trap. As Aldo prepared to shoot him, Claire appeared, disheveled and holding a rifle, which she used to shoot both Others. ("What Kate Does")

At the Temple, Jack demanded an explanation about why Dogen expected Sayid to swallow a poisoned pill. Dogen hesitantly explained that Sayid had an unexplained "darkness" inside him, which he said had "claimed" Jack's sister, presumed to be Claire. ("What Kate Does")

Claire took Jin into her hut and treated his wounds. Inside her hut are a cradle containing an animal skull decorated like a baby, various medical supplies apparently salvaged from the DHARMA Initiative, cooking equipment, and explosives from the Black Rock. Like Danielle Rousseau, she had also been leaving traps around the Island and "picking off" the Others. She discovered that Justin was not really dead and took him into the tent for interrogation. She demanded to know where her son was, believing him to have been taken by the Others. She said that her father and a friend had told her so. When Jin informed her that Kate had taken Aaron and been raising him for the past three years, she reacted violently and stabbed Justin with the axe, killing him. Jin later said that he was lying to Claire in order to save Justin's life, and that Aaron was actually at the Temple. Claire then revealed her relief, ominously telling Jin that if Kate did take her baby, she would have to kill her. At this point, Claire's friend, the Man in Black, entered in the form of John Locke. ("Lighthouse")



Claire learns the truth about Aaron. (" Sundown ")

The Man in Black then sent Claire to the Temple to tell Dogen to come out and talk to him. Claire obeyed, but Dogen refused to come out, knowing that the Man in Black would kill him. Claire advised him to send out someone whom the Man in Black would not kill. Dogen ordered the Others to take Claire captive, so they put her in a large pit somewhere within the Temple. When Kate returned to the Temple, she demanded that Lennon take her to see Claire. She found her in the pit, singing "Catch a Falling Star." Kate revealed to Claire that she took and raised Aaron, to which Claire gave her a very angry look. She then told Kate that the Man in Black would be coming soon. Later, during the Monster's attack on the Temple, Claire advised Kate that it would be safer down in the pit, thereby apparently saving Kate from being killed by the Monster. After the attack, Claire and Kate got out of the pit, walked through the carnage outside, joined up with the Man in Black and his new group of defected Others (with the Man In Black giving Kate a puzzled look), and she and Kate walked off into the jungle. ("Sundown")



Claire attempts to murder Kate. ("Recon")

The Man in Black's new group traveled to Claire's shelter where they met with Sawyer and Jin. Inside the shelter Claire fixed the blanket on the animal skull she had decorated as a baby. Kate walked in and asked her what the animal skull was. Claire told her it was all she had and walked out of the tent. While the Man in Black addressed his new group, Claire grabbed Kate's hand and held it for few seconds. When the group left the shelter she let go of her hand and walked off. Later on while Kate and Sayid were sitting on a log talking, Claire approached Kate from behind, tackled her to the ground, and tried to stab her with a knife. The Man in Black came up and threw her off of Kate. She exclaimed that Kate stole Aaron. The Man in Black told her that Kate was just doing what she thought was best for Aaron. Claire was still hysterical and he eventually slapped her across the face and told her that he would deal with her later. Later on that day Claire apologized to Kate and started to cry hysterically and hug her. Kate haltingly returned the embrace. ("Recon")

Claire overheard the Man in Black talking about the candidates, whose help he needed to escape from the Island. Claire later talked to the Man in Black in private, inquiring as to whether she herself was a candidate. The Man in Black said she was not, since her name was crossed out on the wall in the cave. Claire conjectured that since she wasn't a candidate, the Man in Black didn't need her for his plan, but he emphatically replied that he did. He also said that there would be enough room on the plane for Claire to get off the Island along with the Man in Black and the candidates. Claire mused that if she did get off the Island, Aaron wouldn't know who she was, since he still thought Kate was his real mother. Claire then asked whether Kate was a candidate. The Man in Black said she was not and added that after Kate served her purpose in his plan, "whatever happens happens," thereby suggesting that Claire would be free to kill Kate if she so desired. ("The Package") Claire was later present when Jack, Hurley, Sun and Frank entered the Man in Black's camp. ("Everybody Loves Hugo")

When Jack, Hurley, Lapidus, and Sun arrived at the Man in Black's camp, Claire followed Jack and the Man in Black when they went off into the jungle to talk. It was apparent that the Man in Black knew that Claire had been eavesdropping, as he called her out of the woods shortly after. While Jack was surprised to see Claire following them, she just smiled awkwardly, and then explained that she followed them because Jack was her brother, hinting that she wanted to talk to him. When the Man in Black left, Jack began to apologize, however before he could finish Claire cut him off and asked if the Man in Black told him that he had taken form of their father's body. He replied that he did, and Claire begins to tell Jack that she didn't believe he would ever come back, and said that she had given up hope. She also said that she didn't have much family, and that makes him being on their side even better. Jack then replies that he had not decided who's side he's on, but Claire said that he decided who's side he was on when he let the Man in Black talk to him.

Later, when Sawyer told Jack about his plan to leave the island on Widmore's sub, Jack wavered and asked why weren't mentioned. Sawyer replies that Sayid had become a zombie and that Claire was crazy and that she lost her ticket when she tried to kill Kate, and he wasn't going to let that happen again. Jack wavered slightly once more, glancing at Claire, before agreeing. While the Man in Black and his troupe were walking to Hydra Island, Jack approached Claire and asks how long she had been on the island by herself. She replied that didn't really know, and he then asked her if she trusted Locke, and she said she does because he was the only one who didn't abandon her. Jack looked slightly guilty before continuing on, knowing that he was about to abandon her again.

When Jack and the others finally took off, Claire followed them and held the boat at gunpoint. Kate tried to calm Claire down, who was clearly angry due to the fact that they were about to leave her again. Kate finally convinced Claire to come with the group, claiming the only reason she returned to the island was to reunite Claire with her son, Aaron. She apologized and says that she should have never raised him, and that he needed his mother. Claire, touched by this, decided to get on the boat, but not before Kate took her rifle from her. Before she got on the boat, she warned Kate that when the Man In Black found out they're gone, he'd be furious. ("The Last Recruit")



Claire cries over being left behind again. (" The Candidate ")

Claire and the rest of the group, bar Jack who abandoned the boat, were taken captive by Widmore's team when they arrived on the Hydra Island and put in the cages. However, Sayid shut off the power for the Sonar fence, allowing the Man in Black to kill the guards in his monster form, while Jack unlocked the cages. Sayid led to group to the Ajira plane, where they met the Man in Black who found C-4 attached. He told the group that Widmore had planted it there in an attempt to kill them. Unsure that there wasn't more hidden explosives, they planned to leave on Widmore's submarine. The escapees and Widmore's men engaged in a gun battle. Claire didn't get into the submarine on time, so she was locked out before the Man in Black could get inside. She cried over being left behind again, but the Man in Black informed her that she was better off not on the sub. Once the C-4 the Man in Black planted in Jack's backpack went off, he told her that the submarine had sunk, but that not all of them were dead. ("The Candidate")

Claire remained on Hydra Island while the Man in Black went to "finish what he started." When Lapidus, Miles, and Richard arrived on the island with the intent of repairing Ajira Flight 316 to leave the island, she fired upon them, believing they had come to kill her. They told her that they had not, but instead of coming with them she declined their offer and retreated into the jungle.

After their confrontation with the Man in Black, Sawyer and Kate sailed to Hydra Island to join their companions. They found Claire sitting on the beach and, with only moments until the Ajira plane took off, Kate tried to convince Claire to leave the island with them. Claire refused at first, realizing that her time spent on the island had been detrimental to her mental health, and not believing that she could be a mother in such a condition. Kate guaranteed Claire that she would help her, and Claire agreed to leave with them. Claire, Kate, and Sawyer reached the runway just in time to join Richard, Miles, and Frank on the plane, and the six of them took off toward the mainland. ("The End")

After the Island

Claire's life after leaving the Island is unknown. It is presumed, given the dialogue between Kate and herself in "The End", that Claire was reunited with Aaron and her mother.

Flash sideways

In the flash sideways world, Claire was still pregnant with Aaron. She was still planning on giving the baby up to a couple from Los Angeles.



LAX & meeting Kate

Claire had trouble getting her luggage off the baggage carousel. Desmond Hume helped her, then guessed that her baby was a boy as she walked away. ("Happily Ever After")

Upon arriving at LAX airport, Claire expected to be picked up at the airport by the couple that had agreed to adopt her baby. The couple was not at the airport, so Claire decided to take a taxi to their home instead. Her plans were interrupted by Kate Austen, who hijacked Claire's taxi at gunpoint while escaping from a Federal Marshal. While the taxi was at a stop due to dropped baggage in the crosswalk, Claire tried to exit the taxi but was pulled back in by Kate. The taxi driver abandoned the car at a red light, and Kate ordered Claire to hand over purse and get out of the taxi. Kate left Claire on the side of the street and drove off. ("LA X, Part 2") ("What Kate Does")

Fortunately for Claire, Kate soon returned with the cab and Claire's things. By looking through Claire's bag, Kate had discovered that Claire was pregnant and went to find her out of remorse. Kate offered to give Claire a ride to wherever it was that she was going. After some initial hesitation, Claire took Kate up on her offer. During the drive, Claire told Kate that she was giving up her baby for adoption, and that she was going to the house of the couple that was adopting from her. Once they arrived at the house, Claire asked Kate if she would come in with her because she didn't want to go alone. They were met at the door by an upset Mrs. Baskum, who apologized, telling Claire that her husband left her and that they would no longer be able to adopt the baby. This upset and stressed Claire to such an extent that she started having contractions right in front of the house. ("What Kate Does")

In the hijacked taxi, Kate drove Claire to a hospital, where she was rushed into the ER with the help of the admitting nurse Veronica. Later, Kate left the OB Triage and found a doctor, Dr. Ethan Goodspeed, and asked him if he could come help Claire in the ER. After examining Claire, Ethan told her that she had gone into labor early. He told her that she had the choice to deliver the baby right then, but if she didn't feel ready for that, he could give her non-harmful drugs to stop the labor process. Claire decided that she wasn't ready. At that moment, the monitor with the baby's heartbeat flat-lined, and Claire, in a panic, cried out, "Is Aaron going to be okay?" Ethan explained to her that the ultrasound indicated that Aaron was fine, and that the baby had just moved out of position when the monitor flat-lined. Claire was relieved, and Ethan successfully slowed down the labor.

Later, Detective Rasmussen came into Claire's hospital room looking for Kate. Claire covered for Kate and told the detective that Kate was just the cab driver who dropped her off, and that she had no idea where Kate was going. Once the detective left, Kate came out from a room she was hiding in and thanked Claire for covering for her. Claire asked Kate why the police were after her and what she did. Kate asked, "Would you believe me if I said I was innocent?" and Claire replied that she would. Claire then gave Kate her credit card to use, and Kate thanked her. Before leaving, Kate told Claire that "Aaron" was a great name. Claire revealed to Kate that she had just then given the baby that name. She said to Kate, "I don't know why I said it, it's like I knew it or something." Kate told Claire that she should keep the baby, then left. ("What Kate Does")

At the will reading

Claire, on her way to meet with the adoption agency the next day, meets with Desmond once more. She tells him he was right about her baby being a boy. Desmond tells her having a lawyer to help her with the adoption would be very helpful for Claire. She says she cannot pay for a lawyer and seems to try to drop the conversation until she gives in after learning it would be free because of a 'favor'. After she meets Ilana, the lawyer, she learns that they had been looking for her. Claire is surprised and is later greeted by Jack and his son, David, who are clueless to what is going on and how she knew Christian. She answers without much hesitation that he was also her father, to which Jack begins to waver until he receives a call from the hospital, and says that they need to do this later.

David later mentions Claire at the hospital and is a little surprised that Christian never mentioned her to Jack. Jack replied that his father was good at hiding things. ("The Last Recruit")

Claire visits Jack at work, to ask about a music box their father had left her on his will. She asks if Jack knew its significance, which he didn't. She asks how their father died. Jack tells her that Christian's body was found, after he had drank himself to death and he had just returned from Sydney to collect the body, but the airline had lost it. Claire realizes and points out that she was on the same flight. Before she leaves Jack asks where she is staying and offers to let her come stay with him. Claire thinks this is unusual, as they are both strangers, but Jack disagrees and says that they are family. ("The Candidate")

Claire lives with Jack at his apartment. One morning, Claire joins Jack and David for breakfast as Jack receives a call telling him that the airline has found the missing cargo. Jack assumes that his father's coffin has been found.("What They Died For")

Awakening at the concert

Jack and Juliet meet at the hospital. Juliet asks whether he has the tickets and he gives them to her. David asks who will use Jack's ticket and Jack suggests Claire, Juliet says she would love to meet this sister who was never mentioned the entire time they were married. Jack says she will love her because she is "extremely pregnant."



Claire, Charlie and Aaron after being reunited.

Guests arrive for the fund raising concert. Juliet is paged by the hospital and leaves David to escort Claire. Outside David and Claire find their table, table 23. Claire recognizes Kate. Pierre Chang welcomes his guests and introduces Mr. Daniel Widmore accompanied by Drive Shaft. Daniel starts with a piano intro and Charlie Pace looks at the audience and sees Claire and stares. Claire has a contraction and excuses herself. Kate follows. Claire goes into labor. Charlie arrives backstage and Kate sends him for water and blankets. Kate wants her to start pushing but Claire is still not ready and is frightened. Kate is scared too. As Claire pushes, they each remember the birth of Aaron on the Island. Aaron Littleton is born. Charlie arrives with the blanket and Kate has him give it to Claire. Claire takes Charlie's hand, and he remembers their lives on the Island.

Claire was later present with her soul-mate Charlie when the Island's inhabitants congregated at Eloise's church, and, with Aaron and as a family, they moved on together. ("The End")

Character overview

Claire Littleton was originally scared, lonely, and a young mother-to-be. She was on Oceanic Flight 815 to give her unborn baby for adoption, but 'fate' had other plans for her. After crashing on the Island, she formed a romantic relationship with fellow castaway Charlie Pace, and seemed to trust him. After successfully giving birth to her son, Aaron, and having him taken away from her, she realized that she and Aaron were truly meant to be together, and she embraced the role of mother, just as Charlie, whose bond with Claire had grown substantially, acted like a father to Aaron, and they were a 'family'. After being abandoned by the survivors, and living alone for three years, Claire's personality and demeanor changed dramatically. In an echo of Danielle Rousseau, she turned into to an unstable, cold-blooded killer, whose only goal was being reunited with her son, with whom she had been separated from for the duration of three years.

Trivia

Episode statistics

General

Claire is one of the five original main characters still alive at the end of the series.

Claire, along with Kate, Rose, Penny and Eloise Hawking, is one of only five female main characters alive at the end of the series, not counting the flash sideways.

Claire is also one of the final few confirmed Oceanic Flight 815 survivors, along with her son Aaron, Hurley, Kate, Sawyer, Walt, Bernard, Rose, Cindy, Zack, Emma and Vincent.

Outside World

Unanswered questions

Unanswered questions Do not answer the questions here. Keep the questions open-ended and neutral: do not suggest an answer. More details...

For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Claire Littleton/Theories

How did Claire become "infected" or "claimed" in relation to the Man in Black?

Why Claire didn't time travel like the other survivors did?

See also

References







