Mama


 * This is an article about the boss from Silent Hill: The Arcade. For the boss in Silent Hill: Origins, see Momma.

Mama is a boss from Silent Hill: The Arcade. She kidnaps George and attempts to kill him, while Eric and Tina endeavor to save him. Mama is encountered in the graveyard located in the labyrinth.

Appearance
Mama resembles a lanky female mannequin with extended arms and legs. Her body is covered in spikes. She has a doll-like face and a distorted mouth, which screeches and spits Creepers.

Character
She can crawl on her arms and legs, which makes her a fast opponent. When weakened, Mama resorts to crawling on the ground and ceiling like a spider to avoid hits.

Symbolism
Its face resembles a mix of Hanna's and Emilie's, which may mean the two are related or connected, like Mary and Maria. The creature is likely based on Hanna's memory of her mother, a dominant figure; the extended hands serve as a reminder of how she was lifted and thrown into the water. The monster greatly resembles a mannequin; therefore, it can be seen as cold: an empty shell of the real person.

The Creepers spawning from Mama's mouth may symbolize Hanna's feelings towards her mother's words, attributing to the term "spewing poison" when someone shrouds their lies with kind words. It's also possible that Mama represents fear of venomous animals as well: when running on all fours, it moves very similary to a spider.

It is possible that the monster represents an older Hanna, possibly implying that she was tormented about dying and not being able to grow up. Other theories suggest that, as the monster resembles Emilie, it represents her possession, drawn in by Hanna's mother.

Trivia

 * Mama's upright stance, figure, cry, and general appearance are all very similar to the Scarlet boss from Silent Hill: Homecoming and may have influenced her creation. The two both have similar attack styles, first attacking with their arms and then resorting to high speed crawling and attacking from both the ceiling and the floor.
 * The music that plays during the battle with Mama is the same as the boss theme for Walter Sullivan in Silent Hill 4: The Room. Coincidentally, Mama is fought at the exact same graveyard where Walter's grave is first seen in Silent Hill 2.