Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, the internet has exponentially increased the speed by which humanity is able to communicate. From Facebook and Twitter feeds to Snapchat and Instagram boards, message transmission has never been easier. While the aforementioned mechanisms have proven expeditiously convenient, each creates a synthetic exchange that occasionally feels hollow and empty. Despite technological evolution, a form of communication remains timeless: the handwritten letter.
Perhaps nothing is more elegant or romantic than the exchange of handwritten prose. The individuality of one’s penmanship combined with the transfer of cognitive thought onto physical stationery gives rise to the most intimate sharing of feelings and emotions. Instead of merely reading words on a page of text, the recipient’s imagination attempts to recreate the exact scenario encompassing the sender as they penned their innermost thoughts.
While the anticipation of breaking the seal on an envelope is enthralling, this mode of conveyance requires two dedicated souls. This circumstance begs the question: what happens if the conversation is one-sided? Such is the story of Mr. Write from The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.
After defeating Moldorm in Tail Cave and saving BowWow from the Moblins, the Owl instructs Link to travel to Goponga Swamp. Upon finding a clearing in the northern region of Mysterious Woods en route to the second dungeon, Link discovers a secluded dwelling. Using the Roc’s Feather to traverse the craters that guard the residence, Link crosses the threshold into the home of a disorganized yet cheerful character.
Surrounded by crumpled papers and mountains of books, Mr. Write proudly reveals his love of correspondence; however, he sadly admits that his efforts have yet to produce a response. Unable to solve the writer’s predicament, Link says farewell and resumes his quest for the second Instrument of the Sirens. Little does the hero know the crucial role that Mr. Write will play in waking the Wind Fish.
It is not until Link visits Animal Village that the memory of the solitary author resurfaces. This bustling community of creatures is filled with charming personalities, but few are more charismatic than Christine. After presenting the lady goat with her favorite hibiscus flower, Christine petitions Link to deliver the object of Mr. Write’s affection: a handwritten reply.
With the sealed enclosure in hand, Link slowly begins his postmaster journey across Koholint Island. As he walks along Ukuku Prairie, the hero’s thoughts drift to his isolated and tormented friend. How long had Mr. Write attempted to communicate with the Koholint Island inhabitants? Why had no one reciprocated his kindness until now?
Despite his joyful exterior, Mr. Write must have undoubtedly succumbed to feelings of hopeless despair. For unlike the instantaneous feedback of technological transmission, the exchange of written correspondence offers no promise. Should the recipient choose not to respond, the other side is left to ascertain the reasons why.
Link once again crosses the doorstep of the lonely author, and the chaotic state of Mr. Write’s abode becomes all the more transparent. The overflowing wastebasket of crumpled papers is likely a stern reminder of repressed frustration. The scattered novels indicate a yearning for escape from reality. Not wanting to prolong the writer’s torment a moment longer, Link presents Mr. Write the object of his burning desire.
As Mr. Write’s hands trembled with excitement, I could not help but reflect upon my own recent history. Faced with a near-death experience, I was overcome with an insatiable desire for human connection. Despite the outcry of support from friends and family on social media, the most heartwarming and intimate display of support came from a single handwritten letter.
Although Christine’s response included a slight touch of photographic dishonesty, the spark of exhilaration to Mr. Write’s psyche was readily apparent. Overcome with excitement, he offers Link the first object that springs into his mind as a reward: a broom. Little did Mr. Write know that the exchange of letter for broom would be instrumental in Link’s quest to wake the Wind Fish. For without the trade, our hero would never have obtained the magnifying glass, which is used to traverse the path inside the Wind Fish’s egg.
Fueled by a desire to ensure his newfound relationship flourishes, Mr. Write immediately began crafting a swift rejoinder. Upon considering the alternatives for my own discourse, I weighed a plethora of expeditious opportunities. For while the internet offers a range of quick options, my encounters with Mr. Write have taught me that only one response is capable of conveying a truly authentic range of my innermost thoughts: the handwritten reply.
