The Great Deku Tree had been watching over the Kokiri Forest long before Link began his quest to save Hyrule. Possibly the oldest living being in Hyrule, the Great Deku Tree was a wise and caring giant whose only desire was to see the Kokiri, whom he saw as his children, prosper and live peaceful lives.
He also cared deeply for all living beings, which is evident by his willingness to let a dying mother leave her only child within the safety of the forest’s borders. It was this chance moment of compassion that set the wheels of fate in motion, and it was a fate that would center on the child and affect every innocent resident of the kingdom. It was also, unfortunately, the first step toward the Great Deku Tree’s greatest yet final show of dedication to the children he loved.
Before Link was summoned to begin his quest, the Great Deku Tree took a moment of quiet reflection to consider what had happened and what must be done. Ganondorf, the king of the Gerudo thieves, had paid him a visit. The king was adamant that the Great Deku Tree relinquish to him a sacred artifact entrusted to the tree for safekeeping. The Great Deku Tree, wise and noble, knew that Ganondorf was not to be trusted. He refused the king’s demands. Ganondorf had plans for this resistance, however.
The king had departed, and though none of the forest’s inhabitants knew what had happened between him and their guardian, the new urgency in the Great Deku Tree’s words was a clear signal of an upcoming danger. This was especially clear to Navi, the Fairy that the Great Deku Tree commanded to find and partner with aforementioned orphaned child. The Great Deku Tree had a plan, and it was time to let destiny carry that plan forward.
Once Navi returned with the boy, who was named Link, the Great Deku Tree wasted no time in telling the child why he had been summoned. Link stood in reverent silence as his caretaker told him about the evil that was penetrating the peaceful confines of the forest. It was an evil so great, even the Great Deku Tree was powerless to stop it. The Great Deku Tree had been cursed, and his only hope was to put his faith in Link by asking the boy to break the curse. Doing so meant that Link would need to brave the admittedly dangerous interiors of the Great Deku Tree’s body. It was a scenario Link never could have imagined, that would require him to summon his hidden courage and help his father figure.
This call for Link to act, I believe, demonstrates how truly great of a father the Great Deku Tree was. Link was a child and a loner who few seem to value. But the Great Deku Tree was the first exception. He was a parent who saw his child’s potential, his destiny. Like any good father, he knew what needed to be done to push his child to grow and mature. In Link’s case, it was to face a trial that would allow him to find his courage.
The Great Deku Tree often seemed distant to the Kokiri children. An audience with him was an honor. It stands to reason that Link was attached to him due to the Great Deku Tree’s patriarchal duties, but there’s also the possibility that Link was surprised by the Great Deku Tree’s desire to speak with him. Fathers are often expected to behave stoically around their children and to act as providers, not nurturers. Link might have seen the Great Deku Tree in this light. But there’s something important to note about this potential perception: It didn’t matter. Regardless of any optics, the Great Deku Tree was devoted to his children. His mind and heart were set on them, and he was intent on ensuring their protection. Link would learn that in time.
Link accepted the Great Deku Tree’s request, and he found and destroyed the source of the curse, the monstrous Gohma. The boy had performed admirably, but it was unfortunately too late. The curse had done what Ganondorf needed it to do, and had done so before Link had even begun his quest. The Great Deku Tree would soon be dead.
But the Great Deku Tree did not waste what little time he had left on grief. The Great Deku Tree told Link of Ganondorf’s evil, taught him the history of Hryule and the Triforce, asked him to seek out Princess Zelda for aid, and, with the last of his strength, imparted on Link the item that Ganondorf sought, the Kokiri Emerald. With nothing more to teach them, The Great Deku Tree tasked Link and Navi to save Hyrule before saying his last farewell and truly became one with the forest.
A good father is marked by his willingness to sacrifice for his family. It’s an unbreakable devotion to those who have depended on them. Honoring that value, The Great Deku Tree gave everything to keep Link and the others safe. He also did so with confidence. The Great Deku Tree would no longer be there to protect his children, but he knew he had done his job with Link. He had faith that Link, as the heroic man he would become, would continue to protect the Kokiri children. The Great Deku Tree was a father who knew best.
