Theory: Why Heather doesn't have psychic powers
Posted: 04 Oct 2017
Why Heather doesn't have psychic powers
Or at least, not to the same extent that Alessa had.
Background: Her original form [Alessa], was an extremely powerful psychic who could float in the air, teleport, and even kill people with her mind. She was powerful enough to split her soul in two to create a reincarnation of herself [Cheryl]. Source: Silent Hill Official Guidebook
The 7-year old Cheryl we see in SH1 does not possess any of Alessa's supernatural powers. Nor is it ever shown in game or stated by the developers that Cheryl would manifest those powers later in her life, should Alessa not have intervened. With this in mind, we can only assume that the reincarnated version of Alessa [Cheryl] was a 'pure vessel' created to obstruct Dahlia's plans, and her only "power" was her spiritual bond with Alessa that allowed her to sense that half of her soul was calling for help. Dahlia knew that half a soul wouldn't be enough to complete the ritual.
At the end of SH1: Both halves of the soul were restored into one body and given by 'God' to Harry Mason in the form of a newborn, which still had a piece of that 'God' inside of it - as this newborn would grow up to become Heather, so would that piece inside of her grow and mature until she [Alessa] was ready to give birth to 'God' again. Source: Silent Hill 1 and Silent Hill 3
17 years later, Heather was pulled back to Silent Hill as the 'God' inside of her reached maturation. This was being orchestrated by Claudia, Alessa's childhood friend, whom seeked to fulfill Dahlia's plan and finish what she started. Although not as powerful as Alessa, Claudia was a psychic herself, capable of summoning 'monsters' and therefore having some sort of influence on the Otherworld. The bizarre events in SH3 were therefore not happening directly because of Heather, but rather as a combination of 'God' growing inside of her and Claudia's presence. Source: Book of Lost Memories
Which brings us back to the first question: Why doesn't Heather have psychic powers like her original form [Alessa] used to have?
You'd think that Heather would be much harder for Claudia to catch if she was able to levitate and teleport herself like Alessa did. But the truth is that Heather does not possess those powers; in fact, she doesn't seem to possess any supernatural powers at all. Why? Because even though Heather technically IS Alessa and has most if not all of Alessa's original memories, she also has the memories of Alessa's first reincarnation [Cheryl]. At the end of SH3, Heather actually ceases to call herself Heather and instead chooses the name her father gave to her [Cheryl]. Undoubtedly, she did this out of love for her father - But could it also be a subtle hint to why she doesn't have Alessa's powers?
Answer & Explanation
When both halves of the soul were restored into one body in SH1, 'God' also stripped Alessa of her powers and left nothing but the ability to give birth to 'God'. As such, this newborn was another 'pure vessel', but in a different way - this time it was 'God''s vessel, and not Alessa's.
So, what about Vincent saying that Heather and Claudia both have powers? This can very easily be explained by the reputation Alessa previously had made among members of the cult in Silent Hill; Vincent had probably heard everything about it and knew what Alessa was capable off - Just because he thinks that Heather has the same powers Alessa used to have, doesn't mean she actually has them.
Once the fetus of 'God' leaves Heather's body at the end of SH3, she becomes a normal girl. She can now go on with her life and be happy, which is heavily implied in the [Normal] ending.
I like this explanation because it makes so much more sense and has a deeper symbolic meaning to it. Rather than pretending that Heather "just doesn't know how to manifest or use her powers" or "the powers lies dormant and her kids will be psychics" or something stupid like that, this explanation will make everything come to full circle.
If we go back to SH1, Alessa at one point wanted to die - That was the whole point of her placing the Seal of Metatron all over town, which would've also prevented the birth of 'God'. Now, we do not know if Alessa did this out of pure selflessness or if there is more to it - But I'd like to think there is more to it. Alessa was bullied for being different as kid, she was called a witch and were told to "drop dead" by her classmates. She despised having psychic powers. All she ever wanted was to be with her mother, call it a "normal and happy life" if you will.
If my theory is right, then after SH3 this "new" Alessa [Cheryl] becomes what she always wanted to be but couldn't be - just a normal girl.
Wouldn't that be a sweet ending to all the misery that Alessa went through?
Or at least, not to the same extent that Alessa had.
Background: Her original form [Alessa], was an extremely powerful psychic who could float in the air, teleport, and even kill people with her mind. She was powerful enough to split her soul in two to create a reincarnation of herself [Cheryl]. Source: Silent Hill Official Guidebook
The 7-year old Cheryl we see in SH1 does not possess any of Alessa's supernatural powers. Nor is it ever shown in game or stated by the developers that Cheryl would manifest those powers later in her life, should Alessa not have intervened. With this in mind, we can only assume that the reincarnated version of Alessa [Cheryl] was a 'pure vessel' created to obstruct Dahlia's plans, and her only "power" was her spiritual bond with Alessa that allowed her to sense that half of her soul was calling for help. Dahlia knew that half a soul wouldn't be enough to complete the ritual.
At the end of SH1: Both halves of the soul were restored into one body and given by 'God' to Harry Mason in the form of a newborn, which still had a piece of that 'God' inside of it - as this newborn would grow up to become Heather, so would that piece inside of her grow and mature until she [Alessa] was ready to give birth to 'God' again. Source: Silent Hill 1 and Silent Hill 3
17 years later, Heather was pulled back to Silent Hill as the 'God' inside of her reached maturation. This was being orchestrated by Claudia, Alessa's childhood friend, whom seeked to fulfill Dahlia's plan and finish what she started. Although not as powerful as Alessa, Claudia was a psychic herself, capable of summoning 'monsters' and therefore having some sort of influence on the Otherworld. The bizarre events in SH3 were therefore not happening directly because of Heather, but rather as a combination of 'God' growing inside of her and Claudia's presence. Source: Book of Lost Memories
Which brings us back to the first question: Why doesn't Heather have psychic powers like her original form [Alessa] used to have?
You'd think that Heather would be much harder for Claudia to catch if she was able to levitate and teleport herself like Alessa did. But the truth is that Heather does not possess those powers; in fact, she doesn't seem to possess any supernatural powers at all. Why? Because even though Heather technically IS Alessa and has most if not all of Alessa's original memories, she also has the memories of Alessa's first reincarnation [Cheryl]. At the end of SH3, Heather actually ceases to call herself Heather and instead chooses the name her father gave to her [Cheryl]. Undoubtedly, she did this out of love for her father - But could it also be a subtle hint to why she doesn't have Alessa's powers?
Answer & Explanation
When both halves of the soul were restored into one body in SH1, 'God' also stripped Alessa of her powers and left nothing but the ability to give birth to 'God'. As such, this newborn was another 'pure vessel', but in a different way - this time it was 'God''s vessel, and not Alessa's.
So, what about Vincent saying that Heather and Claudia both have powers? This can very easily be explained by the reputation Alessa previously had made among members of the cult in Silent Hill; Vincent had probably heard everything about it and knew what Alessa was capable off - Just because he thinks that Heather has the same powers Alessa used to have, doesn't mean she actually has them.
Once the fetus of 'God' leaves Heather's body at the end of SH3, she becomes a normal girl. She can now go on with her life and be happy, which is heavily implied in the [Normal] ending.
I like this explanation because it makes so much more sense and has a deeper symbolic meaning to it. Rather than pretending that Heather "just doesn't know how to manifest or use her powers" or "the powers lies dormant and her kids will be psychics" or something stupid like that, this explanation will make everything come to full circle.
If we go back to SH1, Alessa at one point wanted to die - That was the whole point of her placing the Seal of Metatron all over town, which would've also prevented the birth of 'God'. Now, we do not know if Alessa did this out of pure selflessness or if there is more to it - But I'd like to think there is more to it. Alessa was bullied for being different as kid, she was called a witch and were told to "drop dead" by her classmates. She despised having psychic powers. All she ever wanted was to be with her mother, call it a "normal and happy life" if you will.
If my theory is right, then after SH3 this "new" Alessa [Cheryl] becomes what she always wanted to be but couldn't be - just a normal girl.
Wouldn't that be a sweet ending to all the misery that Alessa went through?