The Real Conflict in The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
By: Blue Rose
If you are between the ages of 10 and 20, and haven't ever played Ocarina of Time, you're probably living under rock. The game was released in 1998 to high critical acclaim, with perfect review scores in Gamespot, IGN, and Electronic Gaming Monthly. The game sold around 7.6 million copies worldwide.
While the game is one of the best known in the industry, many might not know what the actual conflict is about:
Link's sexuality.
As the first game in the Cannon of The Legend of Zelda Series, the game becomes about Link defining himself, especially with regard to his gender roles, and his sexuality.
Now, I could bore you with random speculations about, physical manifestation of Link's conflicting sexuality, and over-analyzations of the stories major characters.....so I think I will.
MAIN CONFLICT OF THE STORY
Link's main adversary in the game is Ganondorf. Born into the Gerudo tribe, Ganondorf is the only male to be born to the Gerudos in 100 years.
Ganondorf represents Link's homosexuality, and his affinity toward cross-dressing. Link constantly battles with both Ganondorf, and curses Ganandorf has placed upon certain people. These curses represent bridges burned by Link's flamboyant sexuality, and the conflicts and battles represent the emotional road-bumps he and his friends/family had to overcome to come to a place of peace.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Ganondorf - The Great King of Evil
Ganandorf's character includes a cartoonish masculinity, coupled with some very feminine features. His costume is very ornate, he appears to be wearing some sort of make-up, and his flaming red hair (no pun intended) appears to be styled in a way that takes WAY too much effort for the abilities of hair products in feudal farm life.
Ganondorf's main goal in Ocarina of Time is to conquer the entire world. This goal represents the inner-sexual conflict in Link, by showing how his homosexuality wants to overtake him completely, even though he clings to his heterosexuality.
ZeldaPedia describes Ganondorf as "... one of the most powerful characters in the series". Ganondorf, in Ocarina of Time, is shown to have literally supernatural powers over the lands of Hyrule, which shows just how strong of a hold Link's homosexuality has on him in this game
Zelda - Sheik
Zelda appears as yet another guide in Link's life to help him through his conflict. She, in order to escape Ganondorf, dresses as a male to disguise herself. Zelda understands what Link is going through as far as blurring the lines between masculinity and femininity, and how he feels he may be losing his identity if he doesn't embrace what his society dictates as his gender role. So, Zelda appears at different times in the game to help Link through his journey.
Link - The Kokirian Hero
Born a Hyrulian, Link is abandoned by his mother in the Kokiri Forest and found by Saria. He is raised there, without a father, and becomes an outcast from the other children.
Link's lack of a male role model is a huge contributor to his questions about his masculinity, and the fact that he is essentially the male of the household forces him to hold on that masculinity as tightly as he can in order to be strong for his mother.
Link is contrasting from the other Kokiri both physically, and socially. He is seen as an "Outsider" his entire life, and grows up with many unanswered questions.
These questions begin to manifest themselves more and more as he gets older in a few ways.
As link grows into an adult, he dons a pair of tights; a garment which none of the other Kokiri wear, His ear becomes pierced, and his feminine elvish features become much more defined.
Navi - Link's Companion
Navi is Link's primary guide throughout his journey. Navi follows him everywhere helping him overcome every challenge.
She constantly points out the weak-spot in Link's foes, telling him how to overcome the different facets of his sexuality he struggles with.*
Din, Farore, and Nayru - The Golden goddesses
The deities of Ocarina of Time are known as "The Golden goddesses". The three female spirits created both the land of Hyrule, and the natural law by which all living things are governed.
The three goddesses show how, in Link's universe, femininity is a very strong force. The three deities each have their own respective personalities that they leave behind in their piece of the Triforce: Din - power, Farore - Courage, and Nayru - Wisdom.
These three personality traits are, in turn, passed on to Link in his struggle to understand his sexuality.
The Trifoce - I know it's not a character
The Triforce is split up into three pieces, and divided among three of the residents of Hyrule: Link, who obtains the Triforce of Courage, Zelda, who obtains the Triforce of Wisdom, and Ganondorf, who obtains the Triforce of power.
The three obtained their pieces of the Triforce when Ganondorf found the Triforce and tried to claim it. The Triforce rejects anyone who's wisdom, courage, and power aren't in perfect balance, and gives them the piece that best represents their person. So, when Ganondorf touched it, he obtained the Triforce of power, and Link and Zelda their respective pieces.
a. Link's Triforce
Link obtained the Triforce of courage, as a representation of the courage he needs to call his sexuality in question. In his society, seemingly no other person has this same conflict, so he must travel this journey alone; requiring great courage.
b. Zelda's Triforce
With the Triforce of wisdom, Zelda is a guide to help Link through his constant struggle. As a cross-dresser herself, Zelda/Sheik understands on some level what Link is going through, so she swoops-in at some key points in his life to help him along the way
c. Ganondorf's Triforce
Ganondorf's Triforce of power once again represents just how much power Link's inner homosexuality has over him. Ganondorf's personality is geared most toward power because Link views his homosexuality as a pseudo-monster with the ability to ruin his entire world.
Malon, Zelda, Ruto - Link's Love Interests
a. Malon
Malon is found at Lon Lon Ranch, and is the one who eventually gives Link his horse: Epona. Malon is the typical, mid-west, "Farmer's Daughter", and is one of the possible romantic interests of Link.
b. Zelda
As the princess of Hyrule, Zelda is the most likely of the candidates for Link's affections, especially since the game is named after her. This likelihood becomes ironic as she becomes one of the main contributors to Link understanding his sexuality.
c. Ruto
(No there's no nudity, she's a fish-person and has no visible reproductive body parts.)
Ruto is the princess of the Zora people. Link enters Jabu Jabu's belly in order to save her. This dungeon represents the hoops that Link is forced to jump through in order to fulfill what society says he must do as far as "courting" a girl.
The three love interests all represent different preconceived ideas Link has about women. Malon, represents how easy and natural heterosexual marriage was said to be in his society. Most of the people in his village would just settle down, get married, maybe have a few kids, but Link's life is in direct conflict with this ideal; he continues to battle and battle his confusing sexuality. Zelda represents the sort of, "Marry as high as you can" ideal established in their society. In the days of a Monarchical society, people of royalty tried to marry as high-up as they could, yet Link can't force himself into a romantic relationship with Zelda. Ruto represents the trials and conflicts of courting. Link literally jumps inside of a giant fish just to go after her. This further damages Link's view of heterosexual relationships
Saria - Link's Mother
Link's mother exudes femininity in this game. In addition to Link being exposed to so much femininity growing up, he sees masculinity as a pain in his mother's life. Since she is single, Link views heterosexual relationships as destructive. Heterosexuality has forced his mother to be alone. Due to her likely disregard for social trends, she ended-up without any gentlemen suitors. She refused to compromise her strong feminist personality and ended up forcing out all sexually viable candidates in her life.
CONCLUSION
Throughout Link's journey, he learns new things about his sexuality, he meets new people that reinforce these views, and he fights out an inner-conflict that forces him to define who he is.
This all builds to a climax in his final battle with his sexuality: his final battle with Ganondorf.
Ganondorf, after being defeated by Link**, only comes back even stronger in his more animalistic form, Ganon. Link's sexuality becomes the monster he has been afraid of this entire time, and he is forced to confront it in an epic battle that puts Gladiator to shame.
Link eventually overcomes this uncertainty, and emerges secure in who he is.
Reminding you to find your voice,
Blue Rose
P.S. i have to thank Zeldapedia for helping me find all this plot information!
P.P.S. If you have any questions or comments, you can now email me at my fan email, bluerose@s-words.org!!!
*Is it a coincidence that Navi is also a fairy? I think not.
**Spoiler Alert
