Mysteries in Silent Hill 2...

[Robbie123]

I have play silent hill 2 many times now, I still love it each time, there's a crazy load of symbolisim in a lot of the things james see's especially in puzzles, scenery and just things you can openly examine that are not puzzles. There are some things that still strike me as just weird though, like

REVEAL SPOILER

Like the three paintings in the prison, they weren't really connected to any puzzle, but just damn spooky. the burning man, flying woman and the crowd at that recital. What the hell was up with those?

I remember also specifically at the graves james comes across in that room before he fights eddie, one of the graves names says "Miriami .K Traiter" Who the hell is this?

Also at rosewater park, you can examine these statues, one of them mentions a lady named "Jennifer Carrol" and another guy named "Patrick Chester." Jennifer was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake (Found that on the silent hill wiki.) On Patrick Chester's statue it says he fought and died for his people. But seriously whats the significance of these two statues and there descriptions?

Also the puzzle with the box faces in the labyrinth, (the part right before you find maria again in a jail cell.) I know its just a puzzle, but does it have an symbolism with anything? And just another thing... Does'nt the map in Silent Hill 2 of the town Silent Hill looks drastically changed to Silent Hill 1's map of the town of Silent Hill? I can't find Bachman road on the map in Silent Hill 2, Which was in the map in Silent Hill 1...

I would love to know some theories and answers on these. <:(

[Floodclaw]

Jennifer Carrol: the patron saint of the Order. Wrongly accused and burned, she was revered after her death.

Why the map changed: it's a different part of Silent Hill. The first game is to the west of the second game, I believe.

[Purramid_Head]

Perhaps, the other two paintings relate to Eddie or Angela in some way. But Burning Man is clearly the hotel on fire.

[Mothersdecent]

I always saw the grave chamber as the representation of all the "victims" or people that were currently going through the nightmare in the town but somehow angela's, Eddie's, and James' are bound together more so than the others, that's why they're able to see each other.

[schlaufuchsMIKE]

Why the map changed: it's a different part of Silent Hill. The first game is to the west of the second game, I believe.

Wasn't it across the lake to the north?

[NarooN]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the part of SH from SH1 is north of the lake.

edit: Actually, going by the map, Central SH is to the west it seems.

[Floodclaw]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the part of SH from SH1 is north of the lake.

edit: Actually, going by the map, Central SH is to the west it seems.

The amusement park and stuff is north of the lake. I think Origins is north as well.

[schlaufuchsMIKE]

I see. I think I'd always just assumed that Central Silent Hill was north of Old Silent Hill (I think that's what the part with the lighthouse and Amusement Park is called).

[Robbie123]

Perhaps, the other two paintings relate to Eddie or Angela in some way. But Burning Man is clearly the hotel on fire.

The other paintings say "436 people at a recital" & the other one says "woman in flight."
I can guess the woman in flight has something to do with

REVEAL SPOILER

angela or maria/mary

but whats up with the one with the recital? And why 436 people? Does this number mean anything? Also the painting is obviously a concert... What does that have ANYTHING to do with james? >:/

[Purramid_Head]

I know what the others say. The reason the relate to Angela and Eddie, is that the tablets do too. The pairs of 3 have to do with the 3 sinners.

[Mothersdecent]

Well Eddie was into football... Maybe the painting signifies a football game?

[Purramid_Head]

Please refer to, Possible Supernatural in Silent Hill 2.

[Devoured]

I always figured Miriam K was like a personal thing to one of the developers but I can't say I have any source on this, maybe it's just the fact that no context is given and it seemed like the most likely answer...

I think the only significane of the statues in Rosewater Park is to create a sense of history in Silent Hill. SH1 didn't elaborate on the town's history at all, I figure with 2 they wanted to begin to establish an actual mythology and creating characters and references to historical events, especially when tied to certain real life events greatly helps in sort of adding to that tapestry.

Ì always thought the head-puzzle was pretty straightforward. IMO it's very simply telling James that all these nature-defying stunts he's pulling are only in his head, when he's jumping down vertical hallways it's his spazzy brain that's at fault, not the actual building. Being or not being with Maria depends on nothing but his state of mind. Don't worry, James didn't get it either :p...

I have always wondered about the usage of that actual head though, it looks Greek-ish to me so there may be more to it than just a simple representation of James' delusion at that point, tying to some myth related to psychology [like Oedipus / Elektra, Eros / Thanatos, Psyche etc etc]. Anyone have any ideas about that [like a Greek God related to say, murder or something akin]?

For the record, the area South of the lake was obviously built later so compared to that all of the town we see in 1 is 'old' but Old Silent Hill is the Eastern part of the map in SH1. I would assume the area south of that [but still North of Toluca] isn't considered part of Old Silent Hill, since that's the resort part and the most modern area [at the time of SH1].

[WhiteClaudia]

I hate to bump this thread, but I just came across this and thought Id chime in with the map. XD I've git the whole thing memorized and saved.

North Side of the Lake: (from west to east) Old Silent Hill, (a little south of that) Resort Area, Paleville, (a little north of that) Central Silent Hill.

South Side of the lake: South Vale (Seen in 2 and 3)

Eastern area of the lake: The part of Silent Hill we see in Downpour (According to others and its location on the lake)

[TheHWord]

Spoilered in case!

REVEAL SPOILER

Weren't Billy and Miriam the ones who were murdered? I vaguely remember those names being mentioned in the elevator.

Oh Wait. Miriam K... Miriam L..?

[WhiteClaudia]

REVEAL SPOILER

Miriam and Billy Locane were the first two Ten Hearts victims in the 21 Sacraments ritual They were the twin babies that Walter murdered.

[TheHWord]

Yeah, that's why I edited. I remembered the names started with L, not K.. but it still may just be a little nudge towards it?

[WhiteClaudia]

I'm actually not all entirely sure Haha! I haven't heard anything else in the series about a Miriam K., so I really can't say. It's very possible it [could] have been a nudge of sorts, but I think if they were really talking about Miriam L. they would use the L and not K.

[Purramid_Head]

I think Miriam K. was someone else.

[Devoured]

I'm pretty sure their last name was mentioned in the elevator in SH2 so it's unlikely. Also, just to be anal, Billy & Miriam weren't the first 10 Hearts victims, they were victims 7 & 8 and the ones that got Walter caught.