I often find myself disliking characters such as the Rito Prince Komali from The Wind Waker because he is one of those characters who is both the owner of the exact item I need to progress in the story and the only one in my way of getting it. In addition, the only things keeping me from just ripping it from his hands are that I’m a nice person and the game won’t allow me to. This means I then have to go on a seemingly unavoidable quest to get what I need. However, there’s something different about Komali’s character arc that makes him endearing rather than irritating.
I formed my initial impression of Komali through other characters before even speaking to him. Link must talk to both the Rito Chieftain and Medli before he can meet Komali in person. However, before seeing the prince, those conversations set Link up for the worst. The Rito Chieftain wants Link to restore Komali’s courage, which has all but disappeared after the death of his grandmother and the seemingly incurable rage of the Sky Spirit Valoo, which prevents him from receiving his wings. To complete his task, Link is given a letter for Komali and some advice on how to deal with the cowardly prince.
When Link speaks to Medli to retrieve the letter for Komali, she asks Link not to be offended by Komali’s behavior and claims that he has no bad intentions. She even blames his current personality on her own failings.
Through these interactions, my hopes for Komali were pretty low. I was expecting a typical, cowardly crybaby like the annoying characters with similar introductions who I’d met in other games. To my surprise, this is where Komali proved to be different.
Komali is not much to look at when Link first meets him. The only striking feature about him is that he is curled around Din’s Pearl, one of the items that Link needs in order to raise the Tower of the Gods. He’s small both physically and emotionally, with his closed-off body language and an air of loneliness radiating from him. Even the music in his room turns somber.
When Link delivers the letter, Komali gets angry, saying that nobody understands what he is going through and that it is impossible for anyone to approach Valoo in his current state. Indignantly, he claims that he will listen to anything Link has to say if he can bring back someone who can clear all the currently impossible trials of Dragon Roost Cavern.
This exchange shows that Komali is not simply a coward. He is lost without his grandmother, the previous owner of Din’s Pearl, and none of the other Rito seem to acknowledge his grief except for Medli. Link also learns from Medli that the Rito Chieftain is distant from his son, which is made clear by the fact that the chief merely writes Komali a letter instead of addressing his son in person. From this interaction, Link’s objective changes from acquiring Din’s Pearl to helping the Rito, Valoo, and especially Komali.
I did not feel the urge to just take the item I needed, because this was a kid who needed help. So, Link and Medli tackle the challenges of Dragon Roost Cavern and defeat the monster, Gohma, who is causing Valoo’s rage.
Upon Link’s return, Komali and Medli are the first people to greet him. Komali apologizes for doubting Link’s courage and resolves to become more like him. To prove this resolve, Komali gifts Din’s Pearl, his prized possession and last part of his grandmother, to Link before running off to earn his wings. It is a rewarding scene, and I left Dragon Roost Island with a satisfied smile.
This is not the last time that Link sees Komali. The Rito Prince arrives with his new wings to rescue Link and Tetra after Link challenges Ganondorf for the first time. From this and further interactions with Komali, his growth is clear. Not only is Komali sporting his new wings, but his wardrobe has changed. He has grown up a lot since his first meeting with Link.
This growth is why I love Komali. He shows that life in The Wind Waker is not stagnant. In Link’s absence, Komali changes exactly like he said he would, proving that Link is truly making a difference in the lives of every character he meets.
