Labyrinth


 * This article is for the labyrinth seen in Silent Hill 2. For the labyrinth seen in Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, see Labyrinth (Shattered Memories).

The labyrinth is a subterreanean maze in Silent Hill 2, located somewhere beneath Toluca Prison and/or the Silent Hill Historical Society. Because there is no map for the area, protagonist James Sunderland draws his own as he explores it.

The graveyard is revisited in Silent Hill: The Arcade. Eric and Tina must save their friend George from Mama.

Appearance


The labyrinth is a deep underground maze that features identically-designed corridors and takes on the form of a disused and decaying building. It consists of two distinct levels: The upper level is composed of various corridors with tearing wallpaper, while the lower level is a sewer-like series of muddy and flooded tunnels.

The areas within are all incredibly similar, and thus James can easily get lost in them. Lying Figures are the main enemy, although Mandarins make a few appearances as well. Pyramid Head can be found calmly patrolling two corridors with his spear in the lower levels of the labyrinth. Not only does he move rather slowly, but both areas he patrols in are looped, so avoiding him should not be a difficult task for the player. James can acquire the creature's signature Great Knife should he visit Pyramid Head's quarters: a small, bloodied chamber crammed with caged corpses hung from the walls and an enormous ceiling fan.

Within the labyrinth are a few puzzles to be solved and two boss fights: Abstract Daddy (in protecting Angela Orosco from the creature) and a crazed Eddie Dombrowski, respectively. The rooms the bosses are in are themed towards each character's tragedy: the room containing the Abstract Daddy is Angela's, with moving pistons surrounding the wall to imply the incessant sexual abuse she experienced at her father's hands, and Eddie's room contains large carcasses wearing shorts, a sign of Eddie's broken psyche as a result of constant bullying.

Symbolism
The labyrinth could serve as a physical manifestation of the mentalities of James Sunderland, Angela Orosco, and Eddie Dombrowski. The design of certain portions of the maze seems symbolical of each character's twisted psychology; James's depression, Angela's trauma, and Eddie's paranoia are reflected in the changing ambiance, which in turn serves as a metaphor for their fears. Arguably, these characters must walk through the labyrinth to discover the truth behind their beckoning to Silent Hill.

James


James must dig deep within his own repressed memories to remember his actions. He finds Maria within the labyrinth and is troubled by her sudden reappearance and her memories of his time spent with his wife Mary. This, and the fact that Maria is held behind bars, is symbolic of James's desires and his inability to reach them, as well the depth of his repression. Of course, one can also look at the scene as if James is the one behind bars, as the scene is shot purposely to make the distinction obscure, highlighting James's growing guilt. Further symbolism of James's fractured person is apparent in Pyramid Head's appearance and his constant searching: Pyramid Head is restricted to patrolling one area in an endless loop, possibly representing the cycle of yearning, denial, and repressed guilt James is trapped in until he acknowledges his crime.

Angela
Angela has realized what she's done and is constantly haunted by memories within the labyrinth (namely Abstract Daddy). Upon encountering James within the labyrinth, she goes into further relapse, apparently still unable to cope with her past. She also pushes James away, as she believes that he is after the "same thing" as her father, expressing her disgust of men.

Eddie
Eddie's unsettled state of mind is shown in the labyrinth. He is found in a meat locker, completely beyond reason. Eddie's paranoia convinces him that James was always laughing at him behind his back, causing him to attack. The room he is found in is a freezer, highlighting his cold, uncaring attitude towards murder, and houses many slabs of meat wearing cloth which is reminiscent of Eddie's shorts.

Trivia



 * The labyrinth is the only location in Silent Hill 2 where Pyramid Head appears but can be completely avoided.
 * One room seems to have been inspired by one of Francis Bacon's works. Francis Bacon is a confirmed inspiration of the series in Book of Lost Memories.
 * "Room 208" is written on the door where James discovers Maria is dead in her prison cell. Previously, Room 208 is the room in the Wood Side Apartments where he sees the body of a man in front of a TV, which is a modified version of James's model. In Blue Creek Apartments, Room 208's doorknob may rattle if James attempts to enter and walks away from it. Later, in the Lakeview Hotel, James may hear a man sobbing when he walks past Room 208.
 * In the final area, James can find a grave belonging to Walter Sullivan, as well as Eddie and Angela. There is also a mysterious "Miriam K. - 'Traitor'" note, but who Miriam K. is has remained a mystery.

Gallery
Laberinto Лабиринт Labirinto