XVII:  THE STAR

Motif

Motifs in the solutions to riddles chosen to include meaning and purpose 
in the works of the series

The Silent Hill series has come to reference many literary works in the
form of motifs in the solutions to riddles.  However, these references are 
not limited to mere citations.  The subjects and world views of the original 
works have important meanings and suggestions in the games.  Looking back 
at these many motifs, let's reaffirm the significance included therein.

IMAGE:  the statues of Cinderella and Snow White
Motifs that have to do with juvenile literature appear in great numbers 
throughout the series.

IMAGE:  the locked door in the house on Levin Street
Even in the name of a key, an important meaning that is closely connected 
to the basis of the work is included.

IMAGE:  the bookcase in Alessa's room
Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz are important reference books.

SECTION TWO:  Juvenile

The ones that are used most often as motifs that appear in the series are 
juvenile literary works that began as fairy tales.  Making use of these
many different works relates the otherworld itself to the depths of the 
consciousness of the young girl called Alessa.  The fact that the works
that she loved appear in the otherworld clearly indicates that the 
otherworld is a manifestation of Alessa's mind.

In the young girl's room that appears in the final stages of Silent Hill 3,
original texts with motifs that have come to appear in the games such as
Oz and Alice as well as Mother Goose and Cinderella can be found on the 
bookshelf.

The Wizard of Oz

In the early stages of Silent Hill, three keys called Scarecrow, Woodman, 
and Lion are necessary to open the path to the elementary school.  The
names originate from the three traveling companions of the young girl who
is the protagonist in The Wizard of Oz.

Alice in Wonderland

In the first game, plates of Turtle, Hatter, Cat, and Queen appear as items 
that open a door in the hospital.  These names all originate from characters
that appear in Alice in Wonderland.

Grimm's Fairy Tales

In Silent Hill 3, Cinderella and Snow White appear in the solution to a
puzzle in the Marchen Travel at the amusement park.  The stories of these
two young ladies also appear in the solution to the music box puzzle in 
the hotel from Silent Hill 2. 

The monster and the priestess

This fairy tale which appears in the office building in Silent Hill 3 is the
only one that is completely original.  Of course, it goes without saying 
that the priestess in the fairy tale who once died and returned to life most 
likely signifies Heather (Alessa).

Creator's Commentary:  The otherworld in the first game is a world manifested 
from the depths of Alessa's consciousness.  The reason why many items and 
solutions to riddles that originate from works like Alice in Wonderland 
and The Wizard of Oz appear is that these are Alessa's favorite books from 
her childhood.  In other words, they indicate that the otherworld itself 
is produced by Alessa.  Similarly, an illustration from The Lost World, 
which is one of her favorite books, is used as a motif for one of the 
creatures that appears in the first game.  Also, Alice and Oz are both 
stories about young girls who lose their ways in an "otherworld."  Such 
content also suggests Cheryl and the protagonist, who have lost their ways 
in the otherworld.

-Hiroyuki Owaku

SECTION THREE:  Poem

A poem is employed in the solution to the riddle in the crematorium under 
the hospital.  When the riddle level is set on "hard," a long and complex 
poem appears.  This poem is based on a piece of poetry from Mother Goose 
called "Who killed Cock Robin?"  In Europe and America, everyone is familiar 
with poetry from Mother Goose.  What significance could its appearance in 
Silent Hill 3 hold?

IMAGE:  the crematorium's riddle
This esoteric poem was created with a motif of the original work.

Creator's Commentary:  Like Oz and Alice, the reason for using Mother
Goose is that Alessa liked these stories when she was a child.  It hints 
at the fact that as the setting of the game moves to Silent Hill, the  
otherworld also switches from being under Claudia's influence to being 
under Alessa's.

-Hiroyuki Owaku

SECTION FOUR:  Occult

Names of doors that are unfamiliar appear in "nowhere" of the first game.
The truth is that they originate from the names of angels that appear in a 
medieval book of black magic called the Grimoire.  Each angel is a being
that governs a planet:  Ophiel rules over Mercury, Hagith rules over Venus, 
Phaleg rules over Mars, Bethor rules over Jupiter, and Aratron rules over
Saturn.  Why were these doors given the names of angels? 

IMAGE:  Harry stands before the "Ophiel" door
The unfamiliar names of angels originate from a book of black magic.

Creator's Commentary:  In "nowhere" of the first game, occult-like 
elements are arranged even in the names of items and doors, which is 
mainly to represent magical elements that Dahlia possesses.  The names 
of doors suggest planets, and indicate that a deeper part of the realm 
of Alessa's mind is being entered.

-Hiroyuki Owaku

SECTION FIVE:  Literature

In Silent Hill 3, five books including Shakespeare's four great tragedies 
of Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear as well as Romeo and Juliet 
are used in the solution to the riddle in the bookstore.  Shakespeare's 
works have been adapted all over the world and have become motifs in many 
works, and the sorrow that these tragic works hold has a strong relevance 
even to the subject of the game.

IMAGE:  the books found on the floor at the bookstore  
Macbeth's lines overlap with the grief of the characters.

Creator's Commentary:  The expression of emotion is particularly strong 
in Macbeth, don't you think?  There's also a part in which the "hills of 
heath" lead to the pronunciation of "Heather."  Also, if one consults the 
book one can read the line, "An existence completely forgotten after it 
has ended," which expresses reality for the game's characters.

-Hiroyuki Owaku

(note:  The line from Macbeth that Owaku cites is tough to translate
without knowing its context, and even after reading through the play I 
can't be sure which sentence it corresponds to in English.  Another 
meaning of the verb used (wasuresarareru) is "to be left behind," and
I would suggest that this phrase could also mean something like "When 
all is said and done, one is completely left behind," as Heather, 
Douglas, and Claudia are all left behind by family members who are
killed.)

SECTION SIX:  A summary of the works that have become motifs

The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy, who is blown by a tornado into the Land of Oz, heads for the 
capital city with three comrades in order to return to the world she came 
from. 

Alice in Wonderland

While chasing after a white rabbit, Alice falls down a deep hole and
loses her way in a wonderland inhabited by strange animals.

Macbeth

Trusting in the witches' prophecy, the fearless general Macbeth murders
his own friends and acquaintances one by one and is drawn into a world 
of nightmares. 

Hamlet

From the words of his father's ghost, Hamlet knows how his father, the
king, met his end.  He feigns madness in order to take revenge on the new 
king. 

Romeo and Juliet

Despite being from opposing families, Romeo and Juliet fall completely 
in love.  The two of them become victims of the quarrel between the two 
families.

Othello

Othello, who is black, loses faith in his wife Desdemona (who is white), 
and comes to make the worst possible decision.

King Lear

An historical drama with an ancient England motif.  Betrayed by his
daughters, old King Lear becomes deeply upset and loses his sanity.
Cursing the world, he wanders about the wilderness.

Snow White

The original work is one of Grimm's Fairy Tales.  Snow White, who
loses her life because of a poisoned apple, is revived by the prince's 
love.

The Little Mermaid

Andersen's fairy tale.  In the end, the mermaid, who is in love with 
a human, sacrifices her body for love. 

Cinderella

The prototype is Charles Perrault's fairy tale, which was later
compiled as one of Grimm's Fairy Tales.  It is the story of a girl 
who marries a prince with the impetus of a glass slipper.

Mother Goose

Nursery rhymes that have been handed down since long ago in the 
English-speaking world.  Several hundred compilations of these 
nursery rhymes have been made, and they have been referenced in 
every direction including movies and literature.

Grimoire

A medieval book of black magic.  The angels that appear are rooted in 
the Olympic Spirits of ancient Greece.

Tu Fui Ego Eris

In Latin, it means "I was you.  You will become me."  Originally these
words are engraved on tombstones.




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