Does the fate of Hyrule really depend on such a lazy boy?

Hyrule is in peril. Again. Whether it be Ganon or some other big baddie, Link is always the one to vanquish the evil. Because when you think of a farm boy, a carefree islander, or a child living a lie as a Kokiri, you think — “Yeah, he’s right for the job.” But although it may seem that Link is the most unqualified person for the job of saving Hyrule, if not him, then who?

I woke up like this 

In most of the 3D entries, Link’s adventure begins with him being woken up – whether it be by a bird, little sister, or fairy. This alone can elude to Link’s laziness. But is Link really lazy? When he finally begins his quest, most people don’t even know that he’s trying to save Hyrule. Some people even ridicule him and make his tasks harder. Nevertheless, he does it anyway. In Majora’s Mask, pretty much everyone is in denial of the looming peril, and the few who do know what’s going on have chosen to cower in fear or simply accept the situation. He could have chosen to ignore it as well. If he was really lazy, wouldn’t he just walk away? 

Ignorance is bliss

When there is peace, there is no need for action. Link often lives in an isolated world that is without conflict, poverty, or segregation. He is comfortable with his meager existence. Happy, even. In Skyward Sword, Link literally has his head in the clouds. He is completely oblivious to the world below. His only problem in life is finding his Loftwing so he can win the Wing Ceremony. It isn’t until Zelda is taken from him that he learns about the expansive world below. Once Link steps foot outside of what he knows, he sees the pain, suffering, and complexities of the world around him. And it is because of this that he becomes motivated to help those in need. 

This same pattern can be found in almost every Zelda title. In the narrative archetype that is the Hero’s Journey, this is called the “Threshold” — the hero’s first step into the unknown. It is often triggered by a “Supernatural aid,” which can be interpreted as Navi in Ocarina of Time, Midna in Twilight Princess, or Fi in Skyward Sword. But for the hero to actually take that first step, they need a motive, or a “Call to action.” And in the Zelda series, more often than not, that is love. 

A heart is a heavy burden

Whether it be platonic or romantic (as romantic as the series can get), Link feels deeply for those around him. He finds strength in the pursuit to protect those he loves. Let’s take Twilight Princess’ Link for example. He works as a rancher’s assistant in a small, quaint village. It seems like he is satisfied with this existence – living peacefully amongst his friends. 

But it isn’t until one such friend, Ilia, is taken by King Bulblin, that he finds the will and the courage to get her back, no matter the cost. Unfortunately, Link’s journey is not a straight line — he must battle all sorts of terrors and help a whole cast of other characters to finally save his friend. But does he complain? No. As the story progresses, we see that Link is not the lazy boy that one might think he is. He believes in helping others, regardless of their relation to him. He takes the time (if you allow him) to do an abundance of sidequests for random NPCs that do nothing to advance the plot. And although Midna’s quest benefits him in the beginning, he continues to help her even after saving Ilia.

Another example of Link’s passion can be found in Breath of the Wild. Link wakes up from a 100-year slumber without any memories. And yet he agrees to go on an epic quest to save a princess and a world that is unfamiliar to him. As he recovers his memories, he presses forward even harder, creating relationships with a colorful cast of characters along the way. His influence affects each of their lives in some way — whether it be for better or worse. Because Breath of the Wild is such a huge open-world game, you are able to decide whether Link will live a solitary existence or become immersed in the lives of those that are scattered across Hyrule. In fact, speedrunners are able to completely ignore the main quest and go straight to the final boss. Therefore, it’s important to question why you want to finish all of those quests — are you going for that 100% completion, or are you channeling Link’s passion, too?

Link brings out the good in everyone

Link’s driving force of love makes him relatable and makes you want to help him. It isn’t his decision alone to help others. You must make the choice to activate those quests. If you’re notoriously lazy when it comes to other video games, you may look the other way to avoid arduous fetch quests. But the world of Zelda makes you want to be a good person. It is good worldbuilding and storytelling that makes a game immersive. The attention to detail makes even the most insignificant character interesting. Despite Link’s lack of dialogue, it is easy to understand how he must feel after helping someone. Because you probably feel that way, too. 

Happiness Does Not Equate to Laziness 

At the end of these 3D titles, Link usually retires from the role of Hyrule’s savior. He goes back to his peaceful existence and sometimes even helps rebuild what was lost during his adventures. Link does not crave violence. He never wished to be a hero. Once his destiny is fulfilled and his loved ones are safe, he much prefers to live a peaceful life. And if you call happiness lazy, well, that’s your problem.