EG Analysis: The Legend of Zelda (Part II)
There is a classic archetype in high fantasy that involves a brave knight and a princess in distress. A beautiful and helpless princess is captured by an evil force and must be rescued by a valiant and courageous knight. It’s a fairly basic foundation from which many fiction pieces are written including video games. The Mario Bros. series, for instance, is a great example of fiction based on the simple formula of knight and princess. Mario, representing bravery and chivalry despite his doughy appearance, saves the beautiful, and seeming helpless, Princess Peach from the clutches of the evil, and often hilarious, Bowser.
What’s interesting is that this formula isn’t utilized much in the current pantheon of fiction. In fact, gaming fiction seems to have migrated toward a more “save the world” as opposed to just “save the distressed person” mentality. I suppose the traditional archetype of knight and princess is dated and stale for modern sensibilities. One series, however, has been faithful to the classic formula since its first appearance decades ago.
The Legend of Zelda, arguably, is defined by the traditional archetype. With Link as the brave knight and Zelda as the princess, the Legend of Zelda becomes the clear example of the classic formula. Does this mean that the Legend of Zelda is stale in today’s gaming world? Not necessarily. The formula is a simple foundation. The house can be built in many interesting ways as long as it is built on solid rock. Although the series has kept to the traditional formula, it has experimented in many themes from light vs. dark to the exploration of the seas to even the skies.
Personally, I feel the series has benefited greatly in keeping strictly to the classic archetype. The formula is simple and ubiquitous: save the girl. As sexist as it is, it is a premise that works. You can further extrapolate that the formula is also about good vs. evil. In which case, the classic archetype isn’t really a dyad featuring just the knight and princess. In actuality, the classic archetype is a triad relationship between the knight, princess, and villain.
The Legend of Zelda has always been about the triad between Link, Zelda, and Gannon. The Triforce, a symbolic relic of the series, is a metaphor of the relationship and interplay between the three characters: Link representing Courage, Zelda representing Wisdom, and Gannon representing Power. Another way of looking at the triad is the struggle between good versus evil and the wisdom that pulls both forces together.
In nature, the triangle is the strongest of all shapes. True strength comes when all three forces come together. Gannon isn’t necessarily evil. He is part of a greater whole. However, his want for more power, his greed, creates evil within. He is representative of the failings and weakness of man and the susceptibility to the base natures that create chaos and instability. When Gannon is defeated, when the desire for more power is kept in check, balance is restored and harmony and peace thrives.
Link, on the other hand, represents the most honorable parts of the human spirit: courage and selflessness. Humanity shines brightest when their courage shines through the fear and basic instinct of self survival is pushed aside in favor of helping others.
Zelda represents knowledge, a force of neither good nor evil. Knowledge is a tool that can be harnessed in ways the user intends. When used for noble intentions, it can progress humanity to a higher level of existence and prosperity. When used for ill intentions, it can bring destruction and anarchy.
The Legend of Zelda is simple on the surface: a brave knight saves the princess from evil. However, it is much more than that. The simple archetype isn’t simple at all. It isn’t about saving the princess. It isn’t really about thwarting evil. It is about the eternal struggle to keep balance between three distinct forces.
Although you can simply enjoy the Legend of Zelda on the surface level and be entertained by the simpler elements (i.e., dungeons, boomerangs, Epona, etc.), I think we should give the series more respect by appreciating the deeper elements of the series and the metaphors about humanity it portrays. Next time you play Link and defeat Gannon, think about gravity of your victory and how it doesn’t just represent the triumph over evil but the triumph of the human spirit.
