Silent Hill Wiki
Silent Hill Wiki
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==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
*It is never explicitly stated what disease Mary had. It was known to cause lumps on her skin and hair loss. It has been speculated to be a form of cancer or leprosy. Silent Hill has had a history of illness, as [[Brookhaven Hospital]] was built in response to epidemics. It is possible that it is the same disease. One theory is that Mary obtained her disease during her vacation in Silent Hill. Another supernatural theory is that Silent Hill cursed her.
+
*It is never explicitly stated what disease Mary had. It was known to cause lumps on her skin and hair loss. It has been speculated to be a form of cancer or leprosy. Silent Hill has had a history of illness, as [[Brookhaven Hospital]] was built in response to epidemics. It is possible that it is the same disease. It is likely that Mary obtained her disease before or during her vacation in Silent Hill as she is shown coughing in Lakeview Hotel. One supernatural theory is that Silent Hill cursed her. Another theory is that she lingered beside Toluca Lake too long which may have had contaminated water or mist due to the apparent 67 people who died of illness and "sleep beneath the lake". James states that he and Mary once stared at the water of Toluca Lake for an entire day.
 
*When James says that his wife Mary has been dead for three years as he originally believes, it could be referencing how when Mary was diagnosed with the terminal illness she was told she would only have three more years to live, at the maximum. If this is true, then James could symbolically be saying that after the diagnosis of the disease, his wife was dead to him.
 
*When James says that his wife Mary has been dead for three years as he originally believes, it could be referencing how when Mary was diagnosed with the terminal illness she was told she would only have three more years to live, at the maximum. If this is true, then James could symbolically be saying that after the diagnosis of the disease, his wife was dead to him.
*If the "In Water" ending is canon, the [[Rosewater Memorial]] may serve as foreshadowing of Mary's fate.
+
*If the "In Water" ending is canon, the [[Rosewater Memorial]] may serve as foreshadowing of Mary's fate. She would have been the 68th to be affected to die of illness and be beneath the lake. Coincidentally, according to the timeline, Mary was born 1968.
 
*Some fans theorized that Mary was a patient at Brookhaven Hospital; however, Masahiro Ito confirmed on his Twitter page that this is false. Due to the connections to Rachel and [[Frank Sunderland]], it is more likely that she stayed at [[St. Jerome's Hospital]]. [https://twitter.com/#!/adsk4/status/199429502789619712]
 
*Some fans theorized that Mary was a patient at Brookhaven Hospital; however, Masahiro Ito confirmed on his Twitter page that this is false. Due to the connections to Rachel and [[Frank Sunderland]], it is more likely that she stayed at [[St. Jerome's Hospital]]. [https://twitter.com/#!/adsk4/status/199429502789619712]
 
*When James discovers the radio, Mary's voice says, ''"James, I'm here. Come to me. James. I'm waiting for you. Why did you kill me? James..."'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=d5xY4EDvEgk#]
 
*When James discovers the radio, Mary's voice says, ''"James, I'm here. Come to me. James. I'm waiting for you. Why did you kill me? James..."'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=d5xY4EDvEgk#]

Revision as of 04:03, 30 September 2014

Era-Sh2Era-ShdEra-ShbomEra-ComicsEra-Characters
Mary Shepherd-Sunderland
Maryshepherdsunderland
Mary as she appeared before becoming ill
Gender
Female
Age
25 (born 1968)
Status
Deceased

Cause of death
Suffocation
Hair color
Auburn brown
Eye color
Hazel brown
Occupation
Housewife
Appearances
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 4: The Room (mentioned)
Hunger (cameo)
Silent Hill: Downpour (cameo)
Silent Hill: Book of Memories (cameo)

This article is for the character. For the boss monster, see Mary (boss).
You've given me so much and I haven't been able to return a single thing. That's why I want you to live for yourself now. Do what's best for you, James. James... You made me happy.
—Mary to James in her letter.

Mary Shepherd-Sunderland is the deceased wife of James Sunderland. The couple had vacationed in Silent Hill a few years prior to the events of Silent Hill 2. Mary was a kind, sweet young woman who spent the last moments of her life in turmoil after being stricken with a terminal disease.

Biography

SH2 videotape

Mary in James's videotape.

James and Mary had met at a house party held by a mutual friend, and their affection evolved from a blazing passion to a peaceful and stable relationship. Before Mary and James were married, James would listen to Mary playing the piano. Mary liked to play the piano and even though she wasn't very good at it, James still loved to hear her play.

Prior to the events of Silent Hill 2, Mary and James vacationed in Silent Hill. They stayed in the Lakeview Hotel, where James recorded a video tape of Mary in Room 312, although he accidentally forgot the video tape in the hotel and the couple left Silent Hill. Mary stated in the video tape that she loved the town and would love to go to Silent Hill again one day.

Mary2

Mary's disease convinced her that she looked like a monster.

Not too long after their vacation, Mary fell ill with an incurable, terminal disease and was bedridden in a hospital. She was given three years to live, which she was forced to spend in the hospital. The disease had altered her skin tone to a sickly shade of tan and promoted hair loss, dissolving any traces of beauty she once possessed. Mary did not take her predicament well. In anger, she lashed out at those closest to her, especially James. James did not visit Mary in the hospital very frequently because the disease seemed to bring out tensions between the couple. Upon examining some liquor bottles in Heaven's Night, James states that he drinks "a fair bit", most likely due to missing Mary and the joy they once had.

Nevertheless, Mary was able to find sanity in thoughts of Silent Hill, the last place where she was happy. She talked about the town with another patient, the orphan Laura, and the two bonded. Mary would often wait for James, and Laura would console her when he did not show up; this is most likely why Laura states that Mary was always waiting for James and is hostile towards him. If things had worked out differently, Mary was willing to adopt Laura; in the "Leave" ending of the game, James leaves Silent Hill with Laura, possibly to carry out Mary's wish.

In the later days of her life, Mary wrote farewell letters to Laura and James and requested that her nurse, Rachel, give the notes to them after her death. Mary was permitted to return home for a short while, although it was only because her death was imminent and she was afraid James would not see her again before she passed away. At their home, James was tasked with being Mary's caretaker.

It was not the disease that killed Mary, but her husband James, who suffocated her in her bed with a pillow. James sees himself smothering Mary on the video tape that he forgot at the Lakeview Hotel years ago, and this is how he eventually remembers his homicide, having repressed the memory previously.

While the Book of Lost Memories suggests the possibility of James taking Mary's body with him to Silent Hill in the trunk of his car, the novelization affirms it and follows the "In Water" ending. However, Masahiro Ito, on his Twitter page, said that that he believed Mary's body was actually on the back seat. [1] When asked how James didn't notice her body, Ito replied that James had repressed the memory of her murder. [2]

Silent Hill 2

MaryPhoto

James starts his journey with two items: a Photo of Mary and Mary's Letter. Examining them frequently increases the odds of obtaining the Leave ending.

Although physically dead, Mary lives on as James's delusion. Repressing the memory of murdering Mary, James believes that he received a letter from Mary beckoning him to come to Silent Hill, where she is waiting for him in their "special place". He uses this as the basis for a delusion that Mary is still alive. He is also convinced that Mary died three years ago, when in reality, she was still alive a few days ago.[3]

Her voice and likeness appear numerous times throughout James’s journey, for example, Mary's dress is where James obtains his flashlight in the Wood Side Apartments. Another example is if James attempts to visit Room 312 and leave the gate, Mary's distant voice may cry out "James!" beyond the gate. It is also notable that when James first hears Mary's voice in his radio's static, she can be heard asking "Why did you kill me?"

Mary was also re-imagined as Maria, a creation of James’s will. Maria appears to be a sexier, more wild version of Mary, possibly what James thought Mary had lacked in some areas. Maria's scenario title, Born from a Wish, has some truth to it due to this. At one point in Born from a Wish, Maria can examine a teddy bear and she thinks that Laura would love it, showing that she has Mary's memories. Maria remembers what James did to Mary, but also remembers that underneath, he is a kind person. Occasionally, Maria reveals knowledge of Mary's past to James.

Near the end of the game, Mary's voice calls James to find her after James tells Laura that Mary is dead. James is led to a hallway in which the player hears a previous conversation that he and Mary had while she was still alive. In this conversation, James offers Mary flowers he has brought her. She immediately rejects them, lashing out at him and protesting that she is too disgusting and ugly to receive flowers. Shortly after this, she experiences another mood swing and begs James to forgive her, pleading for him to stay with her and assure her that she is not going to die.

Mary says various things in each ending to James, who has become aware of the crime he has committed. It is conceivable that her death three years ago is merely James's delusion. In the "Maria" ending, Mary will be sitting on a bed at the top of Lakeview Hotel. She is pleased to see James, but is displeased about him needing Maria. "I wanted to see you... even an illusion of you," James states. Mary then angrily shouts "James, do you really think I could ever forgive you for what you did?!" Mary then turns into a monstrous version of herself. After James kills Mary again, he meets Maria but she coughs while they leave the town, implying that Maria may have Mary's illness, that James hasn't learned anything from his experiences in Silent Hill, and that the events that brought him there may repeat themselves. In all of the other endings, the woman who James has to defeat will be Maria instead of Mary.

JamesMary

James's final conversation with Mary.

In the "Leave" and "In Water" endings, James is seen having a final conversation with Mary. In this conversation, James is able to resolve things with Mary and move on with his life. Mary says, "James... please do something for me. Go on with your life." Mary then gives James the letter that he never received.

This scene in the "In Water" ending is a bit different. Instead of Mary telling James to go on with his life, she tells him that his suffering is enough of a punishment for what he did to her. "You killed me and you're suffering for it. It's enough, James." Mary then violently coughs, and James holds her hand as she dies. He sits silently for a few moments and then carries Mary's body out of the room. James believes he can't live without Mary and he suicides with Mary's body in his car, driving himself into Toluca Lake, stating "Now we can be together..."

In the "Rebirth" ending, James attempts to resurrect Mary, with unknown results, by rowing the boat he used to get to the hotel to the Church of the Rebirth on Toluca Lake Island.

Other appearances

Silent Hill: Downpour

Mary makes a cameo in the Surprise ending in Silent Hill: Downpour, strangely standing on the other side of the crowd from where James was. While this choice is open for interpretation, it still may have been a coincidence.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories

James Sunderlands BOM

Mary in Silent Hill: Book of Memories.

Mary appears in the joke ending of Silent Hill: Book of Memories. She and James are seen walking down the street, passing a girl who is coughing. James worries that Mary may become ill, but she assures him that she's fine.

Hunger

Hunger

Mary and James in Hunger.

In the comic Hunger, a younger Mary and James are seen enjoying their honeymoon in Silent Hill by Toluca Lake.

Creator's comment

Her name is taken from the victim Mary Jane Kelly in the "Jack the Ripper" case, who was living with the suspect Joseph Barnett as detailed in case files regarding the murders.

Quotes

  • "James... where are you? I'm waiting... waiting for you."
  • "Flowers? I don't want any damn flowers! Just go home already! Look! I'm disgusting! I don't deserve flowers. Between the disease and the drugs, I look like a monster."
  • "I'm no use to anyone. I'll be dead soon anyway. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. It'd be easier if they'd just kill me. But I guess the hospital is making a nice profit off me, they want to keep me alive."
  • "James... Wait.... Please don't go! Stay with me! Don't leave alone! I didn't mean what I said... Please James! Tell me I'll be okay... Tell me I'm not going to die. Help me..."
  • "That's not true, is it? You killed me..."
  • "Don't make excuses, James. I know I was a burden on you. You must have hated me. That's why you got rid of me."
  • "And that's why you needed this "Maria" person?"
  • "James... do you really think I could ever forgive you for what you did!?"
  • "I told you that I wanted to die, James. I wanted the pain to end."
  • "James... if that were true, then why do you look so sad?"
  • "James... Please... please do something for me. Go on with your life."
  • "In my restless dreams, I see that town. Silent Hill. You promised you'd take me there again someday... But you never did."
  • "Every day I stare up at the cracks in the ceiling and all I can think about is how unfair it all is."
  • "I feel so pathetic and ugly laying here, waiting for you."
  • "Even though our life together had to end like this, I still wouldn't trade it for the world. We had some wonderful years together."
  • "But I'm afraid, James. I'm afraid you don't really want me to come home."
  • "I can't tell you to remember me, but I can't bear for you to forget me."
  • "Laura... I love you like my very own daughter. If things had worked out differently, I was hoping to adopt you."

Trivia

  • It is never explicitly stated what disease Mary had. It was known to cause lumps on her skin and hair loss. It has been speculated to be a form of cancer or leprosy. Silent Hill has had a history of illness, as Brookhaven Hospital was built in response to epidemics. It is possible that it is the same disease. It is likely that Mary obtained her disease before or during her vacation in Silent Hill as she is shown coughing in Lakeview Hotel. One supernatural theory is that Silent Hill cursed her. Another theory is that she lingered beside Toluca Lake too long which may have had contaminated water or mist due to the apparent 67 people who died of illness and "sleep beneath the lake". James states that he and Mary once stared at the water of Toluca Lake for an entire day.
  • When James says that his wife Mary has been dead for three years as he originally believes, it could be referencing how when Mary was diagnosed with the terminal illness she was told she would only have three more years to live, at the maximum. If this is true, then James could symbolically be saying that after the diagnosis of the disease, his wife was dead to him.
  • If the "In Water" ending is canon, the Rosewater Memorial may serve as foreshadowing of Mary's fate. She would have been the 68th to be affected to die of illness and be beneath the lake. Coincidentally, according to the timeline, Mary was born 1968.
  • Some fans theorized that Mary was a patient at Brookhaven Hospital; however, Masahiro Ito confirmed on his Twitter page that this is false. Due to the connections to Rachel and Frank Sunderland, it is more likely that she stayed at St. Jerome's Hospital. [4]
  • When James discovers the radio, Mary's voice says, "James, I'm here. Come to me. James. I'm waiting for you. Why did you kill me? James..." [5]
  • Audio of Mary screaming when James watches the video tape were removed from the final version for unknown reasons. [6] This could be due to the controversial subject of euthanasia, or Team Silent may have found Mary's screaming to be too excessive/extreme/disturbing and wanted a more subtle approach.
  • Audio of Mary reading her letter to Laura were also removed from the final version for unknown reasons. [7]
  • Mary shares her maiden name with Alex Shepherd and, by extension, his family in Silent Hill: Homecoming.
    • When asked about the relation in an interview, Tomm Hulett said it was a mere coincidence, and that there is no relation between the two characters.
  • In Silent Hill 3, Mary is referenced by Heather Mason if the player has a Silent Hill 2 save file and examines the mailbox in the apartment. Heather says, "There's no mail here, not even from a dead wife. Well, it's not like I have one of those anyway."
  • In Silent Hill: Shattered Memories's UFO Ending, James suddenly comes into the therapy room and asks Dr. Kaufmann if his appointment is today, only to discover it is tomorrow. Dr. Kaufmann mentions that he hasn't seen James's wife in a while. Then the scene abruptly changes and Cheryl Mason becomes Mira and Dr. K. becomes an alien. James can be seen hiding from Mary's monster form (which is in the upper-left corner of the room) behind Dr. K's chair.

Gallery

For a complete list of images of Mary Shepherd-Sunderland, please see Mary images.

v · e · d
Characters
Major Characters
James Sunderland - Mary Shepherd-Sunderland - Angela Orosco - Laura - Eddie Dombrowski - Maria
Other Characters
Ernest Baldwin - Amy Baldwin - Mary's Doctor - Rachel - Thomas Orosco - Mrs. Orosco - Jennifer Carroll - Patrick Chester - Mira - Harry Mason - Greys - Scott Fairbanks - Walter Sullivan
Monsters
Abstract Daddy - Bubble Head Nurse - Creeper - Flesh Lip - Lying Figure - Mandarin - Mannequin - Mary - Prisoners - Pyramid Head
Weapons
Chainsaw - Chinese Cleaver - Great Knife - Great Spear - Handgun - Hyper Spray - Pipe - Revolver - Rifle - Shotgun - Wooden Plank
Locations
Baldwin Mansion - Blue Creek Apartments - Brookhaven Hospital - Church of the Rebirth - Dog House - Heaven's Night - Jacks Inn - Labyrinth - Lakeview Hotel - Lake Shore Restaurant - Neely's Bar - Motor Home - Observation Deck - Pete's Bowl-O-Rama - Rosewater Park - Silent Hill Historical Society - Silent Hill Ranch - Silent Hill Woods - South Vale (Carroll Street - Katz Street - Lindsey Street - Nathan Avenue - Neely Street - Rendell Street - Saul Street - Vachss Road - Wiltse Road) - Texxon Gas - Toluca Graveyard - Toluca Lake - Toluca Lake Island - Toluca Prison - Wiltse Coal Mine - Wood Side Apartments
Terms
Flashlight - Fog World - Little Baroness - Manifestation - Map - Monster - Otherworld - Radio - Red Square - Siren - Seal of Metatron - UFO Ending - Sexuality - Toilets
Archives
Memos - Items - Keys - Puzzles - Soundtrack - Secrets and Unlockables - Pachislot
v · e · d
Characters
Major Characters
Murphy Pendleton - Charlie Pendleton - Carol Pendleton - Anne Marie Cunningham - Howard Blackwood - John P. Sater - Patrick Napier - Frank Coleridge - George Sewell - Bobby Ricks - Nun
Other Characters
Sanchez - Homer - M. Koons - Bryan Handley - Ariadne Johnson - Melissa Matlan - Glen Milton - Ricky - Daniel Stephens - Chloe Zane - Mary Shepherd-Sunderland - James Sunderland - Laura - Heather Mason
Weapons
Baseball Bat - Bogeyman's Hammer - Bottle - Brick - Chair - Colt - Crowbar - Demon Statue - Double Headed Axe - Fire Axe - Fire Extinguisher - Fork - Frying Pan - Golden Gun - Golf Club - Hammer - Handle - Hand-to-Hand - Hatchet - Ladder Hook - Knife - Lamp - Meat Cleaver - Nailgun - Pickaxe - Pitchfork - Plank - Rake - Rifle - Rock - Shotgun - Shovel - Steel Pipe - Vase - Wrench - Tomahawk
Monsters
Bogeyman - Doll (Shadow) - Monocle Man - Nurse - Prisoner Juggernaut - Prisoner Minion - Pyramid Head - Screamer - Tormented Soul - Void - Wall Corpse - Weeping Bat - Wheelman- Bubble Head Nurse
Locations
Aerial Tram Station - Centennial Building - Chastain Heights - Chastain Heights Cinema - Devil's Pit - Devil's Pitstop - Interstate Gas Station - Hardware Store - Hillside - Logan's Park - Monroe Cemetery - Overlook Penitentiary - Pearl Creek - Pearl Creek Bank - Pleasant River - Port District - Ryall State Prison - St. Maria's Monastery - Underground Subway - Toluca Lake
Terms
Trinkets - Flashlight - Fog World - Map - Monster - Otherworld - Real World - Sidequest - Siren - Walkie-talkie - Manifestation - Seal of Metatron - Welcome Sign - Halo of the Sun
Archives
Items - Keys - Puzzles - Soundtrack - Secrets and Unlockables - Memos - Pachislot
v · e · d
Characters
Major Characters
Ashley Baker - Derek Copeland - Graham Reynolds - Howard Blackwood - Jack Merrick - Katie Collins - Matthew Collins - Protagonist - Lorelai Reynolds - Shannon - Trent Baker
Other Characters
Alex Shepherd - Cybil Bennett - Emma - Harry Mason - Heather Mason - James Sunderland - Jason - Joshua Shepherd - Lisa Garland - Mary Shepherd-Sunderland - Mira - Murphy Pendleton - Travis Grady - Walter Sullivan
Monsters
Air Screamer - Blood Baby - Blood Guardian - Blood Mama - Bogeyman - Bubble Head Nurse - Butcher - Double Head - Earth Guardian - Fire Guardian - Flesh Lip - Ghost - Grey Child - Insane Cancer - Light Guardian - Needler - Mother - Pyramid Head - Raw Shock - Tremer - Schism - Steel Guardian - Swarm - Valtiel - Water Guardian - Wood Guardian - Wood Sapling
Weapons
A. Y. Guitar - Assault Rifle - Baseball Bat - Bare Hands - Beam Saber - Bogeyman's Hammer - Chainsaw - Circular Saw - Crossbow - Crowbar - Dagger of Melchior - Earth Sword - Fire Axe - Fire Sword - Flamethrower - Great Cleaver - Great Knife - Great Spear - Grenade - Guitar - Handgun - Hyper Spray - Katana - Knife - Maul - Meat Cleaver - Laser Gun - Pickaxe - Pillow - Pipe - Princess Heart - Robbie Doll - Rock Drill - Shovel - Shotgun - Steel Sword - Stun Gun - Sword of Obedience - Submachine Gun - Television - Torch - TV Remote - Water Sword - Wine Bottle - Wood Sword - Wood Plank
Locations
Howard's Shop - Library - Forsaken Room - Otherworld
Terms
Monster - Flashlight - Accessories - Artifacts - Karma Meter - Book of Memories - Welcome Sign
Archives
Memos - Broadcasts - Michelle's Diary
v · e · d
Characters
Whately - Rosy - Aickmann - Douglas Brenneman - Mario - Bryce Canavan - Perkins - Mary Shepherd-Sunderland - James Sunderland
Monsters
Insane Cancer - Nurse - Samael - Scraper
Locations
Brookhaven Hospital - Silent Hill - Silent Hill Gazette - Toluca Lake
Terms
Brand of Samael - Fog World - Monster - Otherworld - Real World - Manifestation - The Book of Samael
Creators
Scott Ciencin - IDW Publishing - Konami