The ending, and meaning of Dear Esther explained!

[buggyjug]

I think that you were a seagull the entire time. That explains the magical realism because seagulls see things differently than humans. That is why at the end you were a seagull.

[BiuerBoris]

seagull with a flashlight... interesting... I like your theory

[illgib]

Not you again.
You people have the poetry sensibility of a rock.

It's symbolism not imagery, if you can't understand that simple fact you can't even understand the whole game.

[Mendacious Calamity]

Originally posted by illgib:

Not you again.
You people have the poetry sensibility of a rock.

It's symbolism not imagery, if you can't understand that simple fact you can't even understand the whole game.

UNDERSTAND THE GAME MY WAY OR NOT AT ALL! RARRRGGH!

[illgib]

Calm your tits dude!
It's not "understand my way or go away" it's simply stupid think that you're a seagull all the time, seagulls make hurt sound falling into the cave? They hold flaslight? They walk? Why don'y fly all the time?
You're a person, not sure who you're, but you're not a seagull, and it's universaly know, dude!

[buggyjug]

What wouldn't make a hurt sound when it falls? Also, since animals can see better in the dark, it gave the apperence of a flashlight. Remember, animals interpret things differently, this is why it appeared to be holding a flashlight. Why didn't you see a shadow of a human? You only saw the shadow of the seagull.

[illgib]

Ok you can't be serious.

[buggyjug]

More serious than a seagull.

[86TMH]

I just finished it and no idea what was going on. Did we die in a car accident or something? Seemed to me like you had some sort of unfinished business and the island was some sort of pugatory. I have no idea but a few times when i drowned etc he would say ''come back'' and again at the very end of the game. Is it an island for lost souls?

[buggyjug]

Very close my friend! I believe, it is a land where all the dead seagulls congregate to make paper boats. See, seagulls cannot swim, and you fell into the ocean. You drowned, and now you can make paper boats with all your dead seagull friends.

[buggyjug]

The fall off the lighthouse represented you drowning!!!! And the shadow seagull represents your now dead self!

[buggyjug]

Thats some symbolism for you ;)

[86TMH]

Originally posted by KHbuggyjug:

Thats some symbolism for you ;)

You just blew my mind

[Paragon]

the island is a metaphor for how we truely are alone and how a life of solitude and regret will lead to your demise. the seagul was the expression of how the man in the game killed himself to stop his pain in the world: his regret, how the person he loved so dearly died while he was deleusinol and unable to see her one last time. he becomes an alcholholic and is unhappy with himself, so he writes letters to himself hoping that seeing his words writen on paper would ease his pain, but it did not. the seagull flying was a symbolism of his life being wisked away to the clouds where the gulls fly, and the clouds float. as his new body leaves this island he goes off into the gleaming moon light as his vision fades.

thats my interpertation of it.

[buggyjug]

Well, according to illgib, you can only understand the game my way or not at all!

Actually yes, that is very insightfull. That is probably the most probable probability of the symbolism and imagry. My question is, why was he talking about the island like he had been there before? Does that mean this isn't the first time he has experienced lonelyness? Or the more logical conclusion, seagulls have a sense that allows them to fly south for the winter. Did he know about the island since his sense told his little seagull self all about it? Its cold in the winter, too cold for a seagull. Maybe those caves were too cold, and he needed to stretch his wings? Warmth can cure the dark depths of depression, especially seagull love.

[Paragon]

Originally posted by buggyjug:

What wouldn't make a hurt sound when it falls? Also, since animals can see better in the dark, it gave the apperence of a flashlight. Remember, animals interpret things differently, this is why it appeared to be holding a flashlight. Why didn't you see a shadow of a human? You only saw the shadow of the seagull. :cluck:

because source engine cant display your shadow becasue you dont have a physical model...