The Intersection of The Legend of Zelda and Mental Health - Assessing Zelda and Link in Ocarina of Time
Zelda and Link in session with one of Hyrule’s therapists
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is often celebrated for its groundbreaking gameplay, captivating story, and deep lore. But beneath the epic quest lies a story of immense emotional and psychological weight, for both Princess Zelda and Link. Zelda’s journey in Ocarina of Time reflects the mental and emotional toll that destiny and responsibility can place on someone so young, offering a unique lens to explore several mental health themes. While Ocarina of Time primarily focuses on Link’s heroic quest to save Hyrule, it also subtly explores the immense psychological toll of his journey. Link's story is one of loss, isolation, and immense responsibility, often framed in a way that raises important questions about the mental health of a "child of destiny" who must endure overwhelming challenges, trauma, and loneliness.
Princess Zelda and the Pressure of Destiny
At the beginning of Ocarina of Time, Zelda is just a child. Yet, she already bears the weight of her kingdom’s future on her shoulders. After the game’s first dungeon and Link successfully sneaks his way into the castle, Zelda is staring through a courtyard window as her father, the King of Hyrule, meets with Ganondorf in the throne room. She intuitively knows that Ganondorf, the Gerudo King, cannot be trusted. Just like Link, she had a nightmare/premonition, foreseeing the darkness Ganondorf will bring to Hyrule. However, as a young princess, Zelda’s warnings fall on deaf ears in the royal court. The only person who believes her is her guardian, Impa, who becomes a source of emotional support and strength during these early years.
It’s no wonder Zelda teaches Link "Zelda's Lullaby" through Impa—it’s a sign of trust, a song passed down by Hyrule’s Royal Family for generations , and a gesture of her need to find allies in a world that refuses to listen to her. Her isolation, doubt, and fear manifest in this quiet yet powerful moment. Even as a child, Zelda must grapple with the crushing realization that no one will take her seriously, placing her in a mental state where she feels responsible for saving her kingdom but powerless to do so. This intense burden would weigh on anyone, let alone a young girl tasked with stopping an impending catastrophe.
Seven Years of Hiding
When Link is sealed away in the Sacred Realm for seven years, Zelda’s situation becomes even more dire. With Link gone and Ganondorf rising to power, Zelda makes a drastic decision: she goes into hiding, transforming herself into Sheik, a member of the Sheikah tribe. This is not just a tactical move—it’s a psychological and emotional survival strategy.
For seven years, Zelda watches as her kingdom falls into darkness. She has to remain hidden, disguised as someone she’s not, constantly carrying the weight of her royal identity in secret. This prolonged isolation and the constant fear of being discovered are immense mental strains. Zelda essentially sacrifices her identity to keep hope alive, waiting for the return of the hero she once believed in as a child. T he patience and endurance required to maintain this disguise, all while watching her people suffer under Ganondorf’s rule, would test anyone’s mental fortitude.
I feel there's so much potential to expand on *Ocarina of Time*’s story by showing what happens off-camera, behind the scenes. For example, exploring what Zelda was up to during her seven years in hiding would greatly enrich the game’s lore. A remake could dive into these untold stories and expand the narrative in meaningful ways—something I've written about extensively here.
Coping with Trauma
The trauma Zelda experiences during this seven year span is intense. She loses her home, her kingdom, and her identity, all while holding onto the knowledge that she played a role in the events that allowed Ganondorf to rise to power. The pressure to remain strong, even in the face of overwhelming despair, shows a deep resilience, but it also hints at the toll this has taken on her mental health. She also has no idea when Link will appear.
Her transformation into Sheik for survival purposes must be incredibly stressful. Zelda spends the second half of the game, in the future, in survival mode - evading Ganondorf and remaining steadfast and careful not to be discovered. This act of self-preservation is understandable, but it also reflects the psychological weight she carries—living in hiding for so long, repressing her true self, all while waiting for a chance to make things right.
The Importance of Support
Despite the immense pressure, Zelda does not endure this journey alone. Impa, her loyal protector, is one of the few people who believes in her vision from the very beginning. Impa’s presence, particularly in Zelda’s early years, provides a sense of stability and guidance. Impa not only believes in Zelda’s foresight but also helps her navigate the political and emotional landscape of the royal court.
Link, though absent for seven years, is also a key figure in Zelda’s emotional world. Her faith in his return sustains her through the darkest times. It’s this belief that allows Zelda to keep fighting, even when all hope seems lost. The fact that she has someone she can count on, someone who will eventually help lift the burden of saving Hyrule, is critical to her resilience.
Link and the Trauma of Loss and Abandonment
From birth, Link’s life is marked by tragedy. He was orphaned during the Great War and was entrusted to the Great Deku Tree by his dying mother before she succumbed to her wounds. Link grows up not knowing his true heritage, raised among the Kokiri, a forest-dwelling race of eternal children. Although he is accepted into their community, he’s never fully one of them. This sense of being an outsider shapes his entire identity.
Even as a child, Link experiences feelings of abandonment and rejection. He lacks a fairy, something every other Kokiri child has, and this difference makes him a target for bullying, particularly from Mido, the leader of the Kokiri. This early experience of being "othered" creates an emotional distance between Link and the only community he knows, fostering a sense of loneliness. Despite this, Link is chosen by the Great Deku Tree for a special task—to help save him from a deadly curse. However, despite Link’s efforts, the Deku Tree dies, as he as doomed before Link even tried to save him.
Link and the Pressure of Destiny
Link’s journey begins in solitude, with no family or strong support system to guide him. He is suddenly thrust into a world where he is expected to be the hero, tasked with traveling across Hyrule, entering dungeon after dungeon, and facing untold dangers. This constant pressure to succeed—to save not just the kingdom but also individuals like Princess Zelda and the Great Deku Tree—surely places a heavy burden on him.
For a child, this responsibility is unimaginable. Link has no time to process his emotions or the losses he’s already experienced; he is immediately sent on a mission of life-and-death stakes. His journey is relentless, leaving him little room to pause, grieve, or reflect on the incredible weight he is carrying.
Lost Time - Seven Years Sealed Away
The moment Link pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal, everything changes. He is sealed away in the Sacred Realm for seven long years, completely unaware of what is happening in the world he was destined to save. While he is preserved in physical stasis, those seven years represent a huge psychological burden. When Link re-emerges, he hasn’t grown or developed emotionally; he is still, at his core, a child, but now he finds himself in an adult’s body, in a world that has been ravaged by Ganondorf’s rule.
This sudden shift—a loss of seven formative years—likely leaves Link feeling disoriented and disconnected. He must quickly adapt to this post-apocalyptic Hyrule, a world he was supposed to protect, yet which has fallen into ruin during his absence. For someone already burdened by immense pressure and loss, this could compound feelings of helplessness and failure.
Isolation of a Hero and the Impact of Loss and Trauma
Throughout his adventure, Link is almost entirely alone. He receives guidance from figures like Navi and the Sages, but the path he walks is solitary. There is no peer or confidant with whom he can share the emotional weight of his journey. While other characters, like Zelda, carry their own struggles, Link is forced to shoulder the immediate burden of fighting and defeating Ganondorf.
By the time Link confronts Ganondorf, he has experienced more loss than most people endure in a lifetime. From the death of the Great Deku Tree to the destruction of his home and the loss of seven years of his life, Link’s story is one of profound trauma. Yet, he continues to fight—not for himself, but for the greater good.
This selflessness is admirable, but it also raises questions about Link’s emotional state. How does someone cope with such overwhelming responsibility? Does Link ever have a chance to mourn his losses, or is he constantly moving from one task to the next, never stopping long enough to heal? Because he has the Triforce of Courage, Link' just selflessly presses on with the quest of destiny.
Conclusion: Zelda and Link’s Mental Health Journeys
In Ocarina of Time, both Princess Zelda and Link embark on journeys that are as much about emotional endurance as they are about saving Hyrule. Zelda’s path goes far beyond the typical "damsel in distress" narrative—she faces immense psychological pressure from a young age, bearing the burden of knowing Ganondorf’s true intentions while living in isolation, with only Impa to trust. Disguising herself as Sheik for seven years, Zelda endures trauma, loneliness, and the loss of her kingdom, yet her resilience and unwavering hope drive her forward. Her mental health struggles reflect the real-life challenges of those who carry the weight of responsibility on their shoulders, reminding us that inner strength is as vital as physical courage.
Link’s journey, too, is one of profound psychological endurance. Orphaned during the Great War, growing up as an outsider among the Kokiri, and later bearing the responsibility of saving Hyrule, Link experiences loss and isolation at every turn. His quest demands selflessness, but it comes at the cost of his emotional well-being, as he faces traumatic events, the death of the Great Deku Tree, and the disorienting loss of seven years of his life. Though Link’s resilience is remarkable, his story highlights the often-overlooked emotional toll that destiny imposes on him.
Together, Zelda and Link's stories remind us that even in magical, fictional worlds, the psychological and emotional struggles of the characters are deeply human. Nintendo doesn’t explicitly delve into the psychological anguish these characters endure until Majora’s Mask, where such themes are no longer subtext but are brought to the forefront. However, when viewing Ocarina of Time through a mental health lens, it becomes clear that both Zelda and Link’s journeys serve as powerful metaphors for the importance of mental health, resilience, and hope in the face of overwhelming odds.