Paul is in a bad condition following the accident and has to be resuscitated. We can only presume then that he was not over the limit, but whether his alcohol intake affected his driving, in order to cause the crash is something The Narrator considers, as earlier in the game, he accuses him of being drunk. But The Narrator tells us later in the game that he was not drunk. He was travelling on his way back to Wolverhampton. Paul is first accused of being drunk behind the wheel, as alcohol is on his breath as he had some drinks following a sales conference in Exeter.

Paul is in another car, who loses control somewhere between the Sandford turn off and the Welcome Break (so the crash is recent, last 10-15 years or so), skids and crashes into the car carrying The Narrator and Esther. Not long ago Esther and The Narrator were travelling in the same car along the M5 between Exeter and Bristol. He is a sales executive who lived in Wolverhampton. Paul is key to why we have ended up here, playing this game, as The Narrator, on this island. He was not popular, and died soon after he built the house. He planned to build his house, raise animals and eventually have a family. Jacobson was a man who moved to the island around the time of Donnelly. I believe the book was much liked by The Narrator and his wife, which is why they visited the island in the past. The book can be found in the house at the top of the hill in Chapter 2. His book was found by The Narrator in 1974 EDIT: (I believe shortly after Esthers death) found the book in a library and stole it. Donnelly wrote about Jacobson and noted everything that happened on the island. So perhaps the Narrator is younger than I originally thought.ĭonnelly is a writer from the past who often visited the island that the Narrator is currently walking, who has also visited the island often. *EDIT* Based on the comments made below by others from their observations (thank you to all!), it also appears Esther was pregnant with the Narrators child. She was around the same age as The Narrator at at the time of her death, which I believe was recent. She has died, while in the presence of The Narrator and a gentleman called Paul. (see EDIT under Esther).Įsther was in a relationship (possibly married) to The Narrator. I am inclined to think that his age sits him in his 50s, the voice you here is also definately suited to a man at this age. he is composed near the start of the game, and by the end he becomes more erratic in his thinking. He is lonely, ridden with guilt and is lost without Esther, who has died. He was in a relationship (possibly married) to Esther, who throughout the game is mentioned as the letters whom the Narrator is writing to are addressed to Esther.

His name is not revealed at any point in the game. The Narrator is who you control throughout the game. So please, do not read on if you've not played it, and if you haven't played it, wait until it comes down to £1.74 on Steam and pick it up.

Having played it twice through now and studied others interpretations, here's mine with pointers on key items.Īnd yes, a reminder, there are SPOILERS in this. However, if you have played and are wanting to read another take on the story.īut it appears there is much discussion on what the story is actually about. If you are now enticed to spend just a few quid on this delightful work of art, don't read anymore as it will spoil it for you. Think yourself immersed into a story that slowly grows on you as you move your way forward. But you don't quite understand what you're in until the music, the sounds and the visuals lift you out of normality. But you're not competing against anything, you are simply playing the role of a narrator of a story that you listen to while walking a set course across an island. While not strictly a game, it requires player interaction in order to complete it. A little gem of an experience can be found while trawling through the extensive list of games on Steam called 'Dear Esther'.

Minute of islands ending explained