SILENT HILL 2 CREATURE COMMENTARY

Grotesque creatures brought forth by James, who is tormented by feelings 
of guilt.  This section will examine the significance of these creatures.

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Lying Figure

area:  Streets of the town, prison

character:  Attacks by spewing a poisonous mist.  Falls to a prone position
and moves by crawling along the ground

metaphor:  "Lying figure."  A being that represents the image of a patient 
writhing in agony.  A manifestation of James' suffering.

Lying Figure:  rough sketch

IMAGE:  sketch of the creature wearing thigh-high women's boots.  Its 
upper body is completely covered and a long, thin appendage dangles from
its face
Early design incorporating a pair of red boots.  It has a "mouth" that 
allows it to nourish itself by feeding on corpses.

IMAGE:  a similar drawing but with a darker, bulkier looking upper body
covering  
An early design in which the upper half of the creature's body is wrapped 
in cloth and the image of "restraint" is strong.

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Bubble Head Nurse

area:  Hospital, streets of the town

character:  Attacks by swinging the iron pipe it carries 

metaphor:  "Bubble Head Nurse."  Its grotesquely swollen head faces the 
wrong way.  A being that is suggestive of Mary's hospitalization.    

Bubble Head Nurse:  rough sketch

IMAGE:  sketch of a hunched figure holding an IV stand
In this design it carries an IV stand instead of an iron pipe.

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Mannequin

area:  Apartment building, hotel

character:  Reacts strongly to light and comes alive when approached  

metaphor:  A manifestation of James' natural urges and inclinations. 
Accordingly, it is abused by Pyramid Head.

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Mandarin

area:  Labyrinth, hotel

character:  Hangs from a mesh grating by the tips of its arms and 
reaches out to attack with its tentacles

metaphor:  "Mandarin."  Symbolizes feelings of overwhelming, incomprehensible 
anguish.  For this reason, it is not permitted to stand above ground.

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Red Pyramid Thing

area:  Apartment building, hotel

character:  With Great Knife and spear, he stalks Maria unrelentingly

metaphor:  "Pyramid head."  Takes the appearance of an executioner of 
times past, but is actually incarnated from the part of James'
consciousness that feels that he deserves punishment.  

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Abstract Daddy

area:  Labyrinth, hotel

character:  Attacks by attempting to grab and envelop its victim

metaphor:  "Ideal father."  On top of its bed-like form are two covered 
reclining figures.  A symbol of Angela's past.  

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Creeper

area:  Apartment building, prison

character:  An insect-like creature that moves with great speed 

metaphor:  "Creeper."  Since it also appears in the preceding work, one 
can think that it is derived for the most part from the town's power.

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The prison's unseen monster

In the prison, an ominous voice resounds from one of the cells.  This 
is the voice of the creature called "prisoner" that appears only in 
the prison.

IMAGE:  James fires his handgun through the prison bars
Although it can't be seen, readying a weapon confirms its existence.

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Flesh Lip

area:  Hospital

character:  Lattice-based monster that hangs from the ceiling and 
attacks 

metaphor:  "Lustful lips."  The lattice, which signifies a bed, and 
the "mouth" located on the abdomen symbolize Mary.

Flesh Lip:  rough sketch

IMAGE:  sketch of the creature 
A rough sketch that is very similar to the final design.  Instead of 
a "mouth," a protuberance is visible in the abdominal area.

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Mary

area:  Hotel

character:  Hangs in the air and attacks with a vine-like tentacle. 
She is accompanied by insects   

metaphor:  A being that embodies James' conflicted emotions toward Mary 
during her final days.  Her face is like the Virgin Mary's, and her 
posture is reminiscent of a crucifixion.




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