Chosen One or Scapegoat?

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Imagine that one day, the entire world as you know it turns upside down, all is in chaos, people are rioting in the streets, and a corrupt overlord has your once peaceful land in an iron grip. You would naturally turn to your army, or some other national defense, right? Wrong. Instead, you turn to a young lad who merely resembles a legend your community believes saved them long, long ago. This boy has little to no experience in just about anything, save for local tasks, but you are going to entrust him with the seemingly impossible job of saving the entire world before total evil passes over your home.

Twilight-Princess-Link

This is what happens, in most cases, for Link, the hero of The Legend of Zelda series. Although he is just a young man, who has never left his town or village, the local leader tells him that he is the only one who can stop a force of pure darkness. Nearly every person, except for a few skeptics, put their undying faith in Link, and gives him minimal protection and/or weaponry before sending him out into the great unknown to try and reclaim their world for the greater good. In this now cruel world Link finds strange creatures, new races, and enough magic to write a children’s book with. However, does Link ever turn back? Does Link look at what is ahead of him? Does he realize that there is way too much on his plate, and turn back to the safety of his home and comfort of his bed? Of course not, for that would be a logical approach to this situation! I have never understood why Link so readily accepts this “destiny” of his, nor have I understood why he trusted all who give him advice. Yes, in the end it’s all helpful, but if I were in his boots, I would not trust a word out of anyone’s mouth.

Triforce_WW

Looking at this from a different perspective, however, Link has no reason not to trust anyone in his community. He’s grown up around them, befriended them and, really, is an outstanding citizen. If those who know of Link’s possession of the Triforce of Courage could provide him with proper training, equipment and plan of action, then he may be a suitable option for taking on the antagonist of that game. To put an unexperienced boy out into the realm of turmoil like that, to do what he has to do, with the limited knowledge he has, however, is a death wish!

zelda-links

Link hardly gets any help from those who he meets on his journey, either. I’m replaying Wind Waker right now, so I feel obligated to mention that Link does get aid from Zelda in the final battle of the game, against Ganon. Even then, she gets knocked out after a few hits, so Zelda is nearly useless. Different characters that Link meets throughout his journey to cleanse the world offer him some sort of aid, in the forms of new equipment and helpful tips, but none actually offer to join him on this arduous expedition against an overpowering evil.

Now that you all now know my thoughts on this subject, I want to know what you think! Please share your respective, and respectful, comments, as well as things that you would like to change if you could.

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About Author

Luke Corbitt is in his Junior year in high school, but he has enjoyed playing Zelda games for many years. The Hidden Triforce is Luke's first contribution to the Zelda community, and he's excited to learn as well as pass on knowledge. As well as writing for The Hidden Triforce, Luke is in the Newspaper club at his school. Some interests are baseball, volleyball, and ridding the world of evil on his trusty steed, Bucephalus.

  • Pete

    In Twilight Princess there is a band of resistance fighters that do actually directly help him a few times.

    • Noah Glaser

      They help him in one real way right there at the very end of the game. But I always thought it was a dumb cop-out. Link takes damage all game long; he is hit with arrows, bombs, massive axes, etc with no problem. Then they made this scene out to be a big deal. Link has taken much worse than that

      • Pete

        True, the first time I played it, I thought the same thing. I was just pointing out that someone tried to help Link in one of the games. Unfortunately the game makers can’t do everything perfect. Maybe someday. :)

        • Luke Corbitt

          That is what I’m hoping they do with Hyrule Warriors, allow Link to have allies that stay with him all the time, so he doesn’t have to fight alone, or with seemingly unhelpful allies

  • Jack Sabol

    Maybe the Npc’s are smarter than link in a sense where they know when something is dangerous or not

    • Luke Corbitt

      So maybe, if Link’s sword isn’t out, for example, nobody would bother him, because he doesn’t look dangerous? Then once he draws it, the enemies kind of watch him, and are more suspicious?

  • Kezzia

    I actually spend a lot of time considering this. Perhaps the hero’s spirit motivates him to relentlessly hunt evil (and play minigames)?