Oddworld Forums - Abe's stitches

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MOD edit: Discussion split from this thread.

Abe, why not remove the stitches from your lips? Don't they hurt?

Q: Why is Abe's mouth stitched up, all the other Mudukons' mouths aren't?

Alf: Abe's lips were stitched up to keep him from chanting. It didn't work, and Abe could have removed his stitches a long time ago, but he keeps them as a reminder of what he once was, and what awaits us all if he fails.

http://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/...earalf06.shtml

Knowing Alf's spelling mistakes, it might as well been "chatting" instead of "chanting"

According to the Oddworld Library:

Why are Abe’s lips stitched together?

There have been several conflicting answers given to explain why Abe’s lips are sewn together. In Abe’s Oddysee and Exoddus, all Mudokon face symbols used by the Magog Cartel, including both versions of the Mudokon Pops advert, show cartoon Mudokons with their lips stitched together while slaves are prohibited from talking to each other (and are shot if they do).This suggests that all Mudokons have their mouths sewn shut to stop them chatting with each other. Obviously, the stitching stretches once it is applied, or else Mudokons would not be able to GameSpeak.

Alf has confirmed that Abe is not the only Mudokon to have his mouth stitched; that the Glukkons’ lack of quality control means that, over time, the lip stitches get loose enough for the Mudokons to talk; and the Mudokons have the option of cutting their stitches out, but Abe keeps his as a reminder of his past. He has clarified that Abe had his mouth sewn shut as a baby because he was noisy and cried a lot, but has also said it was an unsuccessfil attempt to stop him from chanting.

In January 2005, Lorne appeared on G4tv.com, where he explained to the audience that Abe’s mother (Sam) sewed Abe’s lips together to keep him alive, and stated that there was a bigger reason, too. This explanation had also been proposed earlier; however, Abe’s stats page on Oddworld.com clearly states that he was hatched from an egg within the nursery of RuptureFarms, ‘Birthplace’ while Sam is held captive by the Vykkers (although presumably not in the Vykkers Labs destroyed in Munch’s Oddysee, as was the original idea).

unsuccessfil

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Which explanation about Abe's stitches do we accept as canon these days? I've personally never understood the "chanting" explanation. It's also fairly evident that not all mudokons have their lips stitched. Abe is referred to as "stitch lips" by various characters, indicating a unique identity. The stitches also look crude, as opposed to interns, though you could argue that the Magog Cartel isn't as surgical as the Vykkers Conglomerate. Still, as it stands, there are no other known mudokons with stitched lips. More than one would have slipped through the cracks.

Sam sewing them shut to save the future messiah's life has far more thematic resonance than any other explanation. It's also a great contrast to a loving, caring mother who once tried to save the life of each of her children, to the depressed, pill-popping layabout who was supposed to appear in Munch's Oddysee.

EDIT: If a mod sees this, could we split this topic off into its own thread in Oddworld Discussion? I think it's an interesting topic.

I have the same question.

Wasn't OP's original question "why doesn't he remove them?" Not "why does he have them?"

Removing stitches may not be so easy because the wounds around ropes have already healed, and an attempt to get it out may not succeed at all, or be painful, will reopen it again.
I know some African tribes make holes in their ears and insert earring rings into them. Over time, small rings are replaced with large ones, the hole increases, and without them the ear lobe can no longer exist, because there is almost nothing left of it. Here may be the same - holes from the stitches will be to big.

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Wasn't OP's original question "why doesn't he remove them?" Not "why does he have them?"

Vlam answered that question immediately. The conversation moved on.

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Vlam answered that question immediately. The conversation moved on.

Oopsie. Carry on everyone. :p

I always liked to think that if the Quintology was ever completed, it would end with Abe finally cutting off his stitches.

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I always liked to think that if tge Quintology was ever completed, it would end with Abe finally cutting off his stitches.

I'm still amazing nobody found the hidden room with the scissors in in NnT.

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I'm still amazing nobody found the hidden room with the scissors in in NnT.

Say whaaaaaat...?!

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Say whaaaaaat...?! ��

Pardon moi?!
Don't be pullin our legs now :fuzconf:

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I'm still amazing [...]

Humble, as always :tard:

Alex, I thought you wanted people to find out by themselves...

Pro-tip: when Abe cuts his stitches with the scissors it unlocks extra GameSpeak as Abe can talk more freely.

Ordering Mudokons to do back flips is priceless.

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Alex, I thought you wanted people to find out by themselves...

Sometimes you've just gotta help 'em along.

Xp
What a couple a stinkers
Jk