Lillian Shepherd
From Silent Hill Wiki
| “ | I miss your brother, Alex.
- Lillian, lamenting Joshua's absence. | ” |
Lillian Shepherd is a character in Silent Hill: Homecoming, and the mother to Joshua and Alex Shepherd, the game's protagonist. Her family line is one of the four that founded the town of Shepherd's Glen, which was named after them.
Role
When Alex returns home, he finds his mother in a catatonic state, telling him how everyone has gone and how she missed his brother. She is in possession of a gun, which Alex takes from her. Alex promises her that he will find Josh, which is the only thing she can bring herself to talk about, Josh's whereabouts seeming to be the only thing that matters to her at this point. Upon doing so, she decides to end the conversation here, refusing to talk to the player if interacted with. Instead she merely asks you rhetorically if you are looking for Josh.
She is later captured by the Order and taken to Silent Hill. When Alex finds her in prison, she is bound by a crucifix type device that is slowly stretching her body. In pain, she begs her son to kill her. The player must then make a choice whether to shoot her to end her suffering, or to refuse and let her live through the pain of being ripped in half. The choice effects the ending you get in the game.
Personality
When Alex first arrives home at the beginning of the game he finds his mother sitting in a rocking chair in the living room. Her expression is distant, and she is rocking back and forth mindlessly. This was the spot where she used to cradle Josh as a baby, so her choice to remain here despite the state of the town appears to be due to emotional attachment and her refusal to let go of her memories of Josh. When Alex approaches her, she stops rocking and acknowledges his presence, though her expression is vacant and her voice distant and weary. She is clearly suffering from the effects of the town, and the events over the years that have led up to Alex's return have greatly taken their toll on her mental state. She looks thin and gaunt, and decidedly depressed.
Lillian is surprised to see Alex, mentioning he has been gone too long. Rather than express any happiness to see her son, she instead worries about Alex's brother Josh, and how she misses him. It is at this point that Alex notices the gun she is cradling in her lap. He gently retrieves the gun from her, promising her that he will find Josh for her. Noticing his mother's dress is wet, a horrific screeching noise is heard from outside the room. Alex asks his mother what it is, and she cryptically answers; "The basement." Lillian then refuses to communicate with him further.
It is found out after her capture and the truths of the town's history are revealed that she and her husband had been unable to show affection or love towards Alex with the knowledge that he would one day have to die. This explains the cold relationship they had with him, the seemingly preferential treatment they gave Josh, and the lack of any emotion she displays at seeing him return.
After being questioned by Alex in regards to a note he had found, she is kidnapped by The Order and placed in solitary confinement. It is here, when Alex finally finds her tied to a crucifix-like machine which slowly stretches her body, that she shows remorse for her actions. She says she is sorry for the way they treated him, and explains to him that she and his father always wanted to love him. The pact with The Order, which forced them to sacrifice one of their children, was the only reason she couldn't love them both, and had to choose one of them to die. As she is slowly stretched, she suffers immense pain, and pleads with Alex to end her suffering. Depending on the player's decision, Alex will put an end to her suffering by shooting her just before the machine rips her in half. If the player decides to force her to endure the pain, she will be fully conscious while the machine rips her body in two. The consequence of Alex's actions will alter the ending of the game.
| Characters in Silent Hill: Homecoming | |
|---|---|
| Main Characters | |
| Minor Characters | |
