In the course of a lifetime, a person will devote a substantial portion of their youthful energy to an occupation. For many, the daily grind of punching a timecard is simply a means of providing for a household. But for a lucky few, the intersection of passion and profession creates a vocational bliss that they never want to end. Each passing day is as equally gratifying as it is melancholy because eventually all good things must come to an end.
Such is the case for one of my favorite characters in Majora’s Mask. No longer able to take care of herself, Anju’s Grandmother is a permanent resident of the Stock Pot Inn along with her caretaker and granddaughter, Anju. While she might appear to be a simple elderly woman who enjoys a good book, there is more to “Granny” than meets the eye.
As Link approaches the innkeeper’s last known relative, we get the impression that Anju’s Grandmother suffers from dementia. She seemingly mistakes Link (and even Anju) for her deceased son Tortus but offers to read us a story so long as our chores are finished. Ever the lover of a good tale, Link obliges.
But these are no ordinary stories. In fact, our two choices appear more akin to a history textbook than a Cinderella fairytale. So long as Link can remain awake, Anju’s Grandmother provides a detailed account of the Four Giants as well as the Carnival of Time. Just to ensure we are paying attention, Granny quizzes Link on the details of the story and rewards a correct response with the sweetest of all candies: a Piece of Heart.
While the prize is welcomed, the entire encounter feels out of place. Why would an elderly woman, who appears to suffer from amnesia, be reading a history book? And why would she quiz us on details that are so relevant to the game’s story? The answer to both questions lie in the pages of a diary and a mask of a key character.
By reading the diary entries of Anju’s Grandmother each day, we quickly learn that this elderly grandma is much more aware than she appears on the surface. Granny reveals not only that she has little fondness for Anju’s cooking but also that she is aware that the town must flee for Romani Ranch to escape the moon’s demise. These complex and coherent thoughts are by no means penned by the hand of a senile individual. So does Anju’s Grandmother seemingly pretend to be elderly and forgetful?
It is not until Link acquires Kafei’s Mask that we grasp the full extent of the story of Anju’s Grandmother. Upon approaching the elderly storyteller with the mask donned, Anju’s Grandmother mistakes Link for yet another person. But instead of confusing Link for her deceased son, Granny makes an curious remark about Kafei’s father, Mayor Dotour.
She reveals that Mayor Dotour was picked on as a child and that she would routinely comfort him. Why would she comfort some other family’s child? And what circumstance would place Anju’s Grandmother in a situation where she interacted with not just a childhood Dotour but several children who would pick on the future mayor?
After careful consideration, the pieces slowly began to fall into place. For you see, Anju’s Grandmother is neither senile or strange. My theory is that she is simply an elderly woman who appears to be missing her career as the retired Clock Town school teacher. Knowing that she is likely a burden on her grandchild, she hides her secret distaste for Anju’s cooking with behaviors of dementia so as to not disappoint her only remaining relative. Relegated to a room at the Stock Pot Inn, I personally believe that Granny longs for the days of classroom education and silently prays that someone will stop by for a lesson.
All said, Anju’s Grandmother is one of the sweetest and most thoughtful characters in Clock Town. So when you go to visit Granny for your two heart-shaped pieces of candy in future playthroughs, remember the struggle that our elderly community faces. For most, a career will simply be a means of sustaining a household. But for a select few, it will be their life’s passion. For you see, we all will grow old someday. But perhaps a chance encounter with a compassionate youth is all that is needed to remind us of better times. So take a few moments (or in the case of Link, a few hours or even until dawn) to be considerate and kindly oblige.
