JAMES;
James is filled with grief over the death of his late wife, Mary, from an illness. Yet after receiving a letter from her beckoning him to Silent Hill, he travels there without a thought. Once he has arrived in Silent Hill he begins to notice things are definitely not as they should be. Through many confrontations and through much searching he comes to  realize that he himself had killed Mary before she was able to die of her disease. The knowledge of this had been hidden deep down inside him the whole time, yet it was slowly brought to the surface due to Silent Hill.

PURPOSE;
Unknowing at first, Maria thinks that she is just like any other person trying to find their way through Silent Hill. But as she soon discovers she has a greater purpose. She was created by the town just like any other monster to punish James for what he has done. Maria was created in the image of Mary, but as James would have liked her: sexy, outgoing, seductive, caring, etc. Her sole purpose is to remind James of his horrible act of murdering Mary. She must become close to him in order for him to feel for her and then just as they begin to accomplish something she is brutally murdered right before his eyes. This slowly allows James to realize what he has done.

RELATIONSHIPS;
 James; Maria meets James for the first time at Rosewater Park; oddly enough the place he'd been looking for Mary. She immediately becomes infatuated with James and wants him to constantly be by her side. She uses her body and the fact that she looks like Mary to persuade him into wanting her. Maria finds a comfort in James that she can't find anywhere else. 

Laura; Although she never meets Laura she seems genuinely concerned about her. She feels a connection for Laura and wishes to find and help her, like Mary did. 

Ernest; He is the first person she meets when she wakes up. He refuses the idea of working together and wishes to be by himself. Maria attempts to persuade him so that she won't be alone, but she fails. In the end he reveals to her her true fate and she leaves him alone.


BUTTERFLIES;
Something you may have noticed throughout the course of the game is that there are butterflies strewn everywhere. One of the most noticeable butterflies is Maria's tattoo. So it looks pretty, right? Well there's actually a deeper meaning to them. Here I will try and explain this.

There is a Native American legend that says, "If you have a secret wish, capture a butterfly and whisper your wish to it. Since butterflies cannot speak, your secret is ever safe in their keeping. Release the butterfly, and it will carry your wish to the Great Spirit, who alone knows the thoughts of butterflies. By setting the butterfly free, you are helping to restore the balance of nature, and your wish will surely be granted."

Butterfly symbolism is also closely tied to the idea of spirits and souls. It has been used in many religions and cultures. For example, psyche is the Greek word for both soul and butterfly. The belief was that butterflies were human souls searching for a new reincarnation. Such as Mary's soul becoming Maria.

Also, The butterfly is a powerful symbol for transformation. It leaves the safety of the cocoon in it's new form. Early Christians believed that Christ started out as a caterpillar and underwent a transformation, or chrysalis, in the tomb before emerging in pure form as the butterfly. This is similar with Maria becoming a person based on Mary, or a 'new' better Mary that is more to James' liking. 

In some places a black butterfly represents death, and so, the final boss of the game has a swarm of black butterflies flying around her that attack James. 

NAME;
The name of Maria gives you the desire to understand and to help others but, at the same time you can become too involved in their problems and, as a result, worry too much. You desire a home and family of your own and have the ability to create understanding and harmony in family association as you are pliable, forgiving, and tactful. You love children and would not hesitate to care for any children who might need you. Whenever possible, you avoid argument and turmoil because you prefer not to face an issue if it means hurting anyone's feelings. You shrink from sordidness and poverty because you feel very deeply for anyone in unfortunate circumstances. Though you recognize your responsibilities, you are inclined to put things off until you are forced to take action. If given the opportunity, you could develop musical and artistic abilities. This name is a fairly healthy influence, although it does not give you as much vitality as many people have. Any tension centres in the fluid functions causing overweight, varicose veins, swelling of the legs and ankles, kidney trouble, bladder trouble, or female problems.

FATE;
When we are first introduced to Maria she is a scared and lonely woman with the sole goal of finding someone to comfort and protect her. Yet after Ernest reveals to her her true purpose she becomes suicidal. She cannot take the fact that she was merely created for James; she's not even a real person. She contemplates ending her life, but then realizes it wouldn't gain her anything and decides to fulfill her fate.

Yet after she brutally impaled in the basement hallway of the Brook Haven Hospital her personality changes drastically. The next time James meets her she is locked in a cell in the labyrinth. Her tone seems somewhat bitter and sarcastic and she speaks as though she is in a daze. The remarks she makes are things only Mary would be able to know, but then she replies 'I'm not your Mary.'  Yet then as if to persuade him into 'saving' her she becomes extremely seductive and offers herself to him, yet says 'I can't do anything through these bars...'. James complies almost eagerly, yet somewhat dazed and attempts to free her. Yet by the time he reaches her she is already dead.

The last time James confronts Maria is when she appears to be Mary. James has realized what her purpose was and says that he's done with her. Outraged that the sole person in which she exists for doesn't want her, she transforms into her true form and loses all humanity. She attacks James with a bitter rage, but he prevails.