Explanation of Silent Hill 2 Characters, Their Symbolism, and Relationship with the Protagonist of the First Game
Therefore, this game does not contain many transitions between the “Fog World” and the “Other World” as was the case in the previous installment. Or at least, if there are transitions, they are not very clear. In reality, there are only three times where this transition is clearly explained: the transition in Brookhaven Hospital, then the shift back to the Fog World after the player completes the Labyrinth stage, and again at the end of the game after James watches the video in the hotel. Additionally, the differences between the two worlds are not very dramatic, as most places in the Fog World already appear rundown.
It is worth noting that the town, unlike the first game, seems to call out to people who are burdened with guilt and draw them in, rather than focusing on a specific individual.
Unlike the “Other World” in Silent Hill, which was filled with metal and rust, the “Other World” in Silent Hill 2 appears damp, with places that seem to be in advanced stages of decay. This is logical, considering the tone in this game is very different from its predecessor. Instead of being directly terrifying, Silent Hill 2 has a bleak and sorrowful atmosphere.
Except for the Labyrinth level, which is genuinely terrifying.
Here, we also get a glimpse of what the “Other World” looks like for other characters besides James. And now, let’s start talking about James.
One of the first things you might notice about James is that he appears somewhat odd. At the beginning of the game, we see him making strange gestures in front of his face in the mirror, and when interacting with other characters, he seems tense and flustered. His behavior becomes more logical when you realize that this man is experiencing a mental breakdown.
In short, a mix of deep sorrow due to his wife’s death and guilt over his role in her death has led to strong delusions for him: delusions that his wife died a long time ago before her actual death, with conflicting beliefs that she may still be alive. As is common with many people experiencing delusions, he becomes hostile when challenged. This is evident in the hospital when Laura tells him she met Mary a year ago, he responds angrily and calls her a liar.
It is clear that, based on Laura’s statement of having turned eight last week and the information in Mary’s letter to her, Mary died just a few days ago. But James believes she died three years ago. Where did he get this number from? The answer lies in the recording that can be played in the hotel library in the “Other World”: Mary was diagnosed three years ago. Clearly, James considers this day to be the day she actually died.
The game does not paint James in the best light, considering he killed his wife who was terminally ill and engages in verbal altercations with an eight-year-old girl. However, he is not portrayed as completely irredeemable: he tries twice to prevent Angela from committing suicide, and he feels genuine remorse after killing Eddie in self-defense. One of the endings, the Leave Ending, revolves around his acceptance of what happened and moving forward in his life.
Simply put, James is a deeply flawed hero, which perhaps makes him the most compelling in the series.
As for the “Other World” specific to James, it is the world we see most of the time in the game, where we experience events from his perspective. This is the crumbling and decaying world filled with decaying plants. This is fitting, as James is suffering from deep depression, which is understandable given his psychological state due to his deep grief.
Moreover, unlike most other games in the series, there is no clear antagonist in this game. Many believe Maria or Pyramid Head are the main antagonists, but they are actually just creations of the town like the other monsters. Therefore, I believe the real antagonist is James himself.
Now, let’s talk about Mary.
Although the character of Mary only appears or is heard in flashback scenes, and directly interacts with James in only two endings, her presence is felt throughout the game. This is not only evident through Maria, but in other aspects as well. James’ inventory includes a picture of Mary, in addition to the letter he sent to her. There is also the mannequin in the residential building dressed as Mary, something James clearly notices.
Throughout the game, we get glimpses of Mary’s character. When she was alive, she was very modestly dressed and tended to appear as a shy person. She also loved Silent Hill during her visit to the town with James and was fascinated by the town’s history as shown in the video James finds at the end of the game.
But her character began to change with the deterioration of her health. Towards the end of her life, she began to exhibit severe mood swings and often became verbally and emotionally abusive towards James. This can be heard in the conversation that takes place in the hotel corridor before the final battle, where Mary bitterly talks about the hospital and how they profit from her condition, screams at James to leave, then pleads with him in tears to come back and tell her she will be okay.
Like James, the game does not justify Mary’s actions, but also does not portray her as evil. Instead, it presents her as a person facing an untimely death and terrified of it.
The final conversation with Mary varies depending on the ending obtained. In the Maria ending, Mary is angry at James for killing her and then finding a new person, turning into the final boss and attempting to kill him. In the other two endings, she is more forgiving, although in the In Water ending, James is forced to relive the moment of her death. The only ending where James gets real closure is the Leave ending, where Mary is able to end her conversation with him.
