Who Cursed Link?
Introduction
Link, the legendary hero of the Land of Hyrule, is no stranger to adversity and hardship. He has braved numerous battles, tackled treacherous landscapes, and battled against the most formidable foes in the Land of Hyrule. At the heart of Link’s story is a mysterious figure who has placed a lasting curse on the hero and his loved ones. Let us explore who cursed Link and what led to such a dark fate.
The Curse of Demise
In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Link is explicitly told by Demise, the main antagonist of the game, that he has cursed Link and Zelda’s descendants for eternity. As a reincarnated Hylian hero, Link was chosen by the gods to save Hyrule from danger. However, Demise’s hatred towards the Gods and his own defeat motivated him to exact revenge.
Demise’s Rebirth
In his final confrontation, Demise transforms his dark soul into a spiritual form, seeking to maintain his hatred and resentment within the fabric of time and space. The Golden Goddesses, collectively, sealed away Demise’s essence to prevent evil from returning, but unbeknownst to humanity, this seal only transferred his malice into its various incarnations, affecting the lineages of all reincarnated Hyrian heroes.
Ganondorf: A Progeny of Demise’s Hate
Ganon, also known as Calamity Ganondorf, is rumored to be the manifestation of Demise’s eternal retribution. This interpretation further reinforces the connection between Ganondorf as the chosen vessel of Hatred. This theory asserts that Ganon is fundamentally an incarnation of Demise’s rage and a never-ending manifestation of the Gods’ protection. The link between Demise and Ganondorf suggests that an endless cycle of evil awaits Hyrule.
Recurrence of Demise
This recurring theme is consistently evident in various Legend of Zelda titles throughout the series, such as Majora’s Mask and Twilight Princess, where remnants of Demise’s vengeful spirit rears its head in the battles between heroes and the very embodiment of malice Twili, indicating a cycle of evil eternally unfolding.
-
Table: Curse Cycle Throughout the Series Cycle Hero Enemy/Opponent Eternal Cycle [Reincarnated Zelda’s Hero] [Ganondorf/Proximity to Hatred]
Other Potential Pessimists
In consideration of the overall theme presented in The Legend of Zelda, there arise a few characters that come to mind who may seem fitting candidates to be potentially cursed or reincarnated for evil. Among these entities include:
- Bongo-Bongo, or Majora’s Three-Faced incarnation in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Majora’s Mask
Bongo-Bongo exudes a chilling presence on his faceless form reminiscent of the very darkness instilled in Ganondorf’s eyes, leaving reason to question if Bongo-Bongo serves as Dark Link’s incarnation in his Shadow Struggle with the incarnated evil force, potentially embodying a different level of cursed retribution:
Conclusion
Link faces a myriad of enemies seeking to exploit his fate intertwined with Demise’s eternity, culminating in each of their dark deeds across the Zelda universe. Furthermore, there remains an implication of Ganondorf not only as an instrument Calamity as much as Demise might have willed but another dimension in his essence embodying eternal wrath, casting doubt over Link’s continued fight. Ultimately, Zelda and its various protagonists appear trapped in this recurring drama between love, duty and redemption against Demise-cursed incarnations.
Sources:
[1]- https://www.vintageisthenewold.com/faq/go-to-answer/116639
…and others from the URLs provided.