Modern politics in ‘the legend of Zelda’. A closer view on the video game.

A good day to all of you. As the title might tell you, this is a theory thread about the legend of zelda. The first legend of zelda, to be more specific.

-Politics in Zelda? Is it even possible?

As a matter of facts, it is. I will explain that in this thread. Some of you might already turn away now. However, for the ones who are interested: this might be a long read for you. So please take your time for this.

The first thing I want to do however, is thank the ones that are interested in reading and discussing about this.

-The legend of Zelda

The game which I’m going to talk about is The first legend of Zelda from 1987. It was a marvellous game. In that time, it was considered: highly next-gen. It also set a standard for the zelda games that came out later. There is however a stunning difference that divides this game from the other Zelda games: hidden political messages. I found this by observing certain symbols.

-Hidden political meanings? In zelda? …… I think you’re crazy, Potestas!

Whatever you’re going to say, I’m not crazy. In fact, I’m a completely normal intelligent gamer and forum user. And I’m sure most of you would agree with me if you would read all of this. Besides, it’s not the first time something like this shows up! Remember the theories about communism in Mario? Well, it seems pretty plausible to me. Considering both games have been made shortly after each other, something equal in Zelda wouldn’t amaze me.

-Now, on to the actual theory then?

For my theory, I state the following:

‘There are political ideals in the legend of Zelda.’

You don’t believe me, right? Well, that’s the nature of a human being. Always questioning if something is true. There are exceptions…. But let’s just assume many of you want to have evidence. Of course, this thread wouldn’t be complete if I haven’t.

-So, let’s take a look at the dungeon layouts, shall we?

Well, not all of them are symbols, but the first three dungeons surely have a symbolic layout.

Take a look at this:

As you can see, each dungeon has it’s distinctive shape. Level 1 looks like an eagle. Level 2 looks like a moon… or not…. And level 3 looks like a swastika. You might not have known it until know, but each of these dungeon layouts symbolize a political ideal.

How? Well, let’s start with level one.

-Capitalism in zelda.

I think level one symbolizes Capitalism. Why? First, take a look at it’s shape.

The shape of level one is an eagle. What does the eagle symbolize? Well, lot’s of things. The most common meaning of this symbol is power. And it is used everywhere. However, this symbol is most widely known as the symbol of the American government and the C.I.A. It has also been used often to symbolize the German government. It is even printed on the German euro (The European currency).

What does this tell us? I ask you this: What was and is the leading political ideal of Europe and America? Capitalism indeed. Yes, I agree that this sounds pretty vague. So let me give you another piece of information.

Now, listen carefully and remember this well. In the lower sections of dungeon we find skeletons. In the higher region we see moblins with boomerangs. You’re probably going to say: So what?

Then I might remember you that Capitalism clearly divides the rich people from the poor people, Because everybody aims on making profit. This profit making society would only make the rich richer and the poor poorer. And this dungeon makes this division too.

Imagine this: The skeletons, with their rusty weapons, symbolize the poor people. The barely have something too eat. But like headless zombies, they just try to survive in the harsh conditions of Capitalism.

The moblins symbolize the richer people. Unlike the poor ones, they are able to buy high quality boomerangs. They also have plenty of food. The skeletons are so skinny that they don’t have any flesh, but these moblins almost seem fat to me.

The division that the poor people are living in the lower sections and the rich people in the higher sections looks like pure logic to me.

I will give more information about this later. Let’s continue with level 2.

-Communism in Zelda.

As much as level one symbolizes Capitalism, level 2 symbolizes Communism. Well, that’s what I think.

Again, we’ll first take a look at it’s shape.

Most people would surely say that it has the shape of a moon. Somehow, I see something else.

Notice how the lower region is somewhat thicker then the higher region. If I were to make a dungeon with the shape of a moon, I would make symmetrical, but somehow it isn’t. However, making the lower part of the moon thicker has some thinking behind it.

What if it weren’t a moon? I somehow think that a different shape would be more suitable. So, what about the sickle? As in ‘Hammer and sickle’?

Notice how the grip of the sickle would extend the moon-shape if it were a moon. If this dungeon were to have the shape of a sickle however, then the current shape would make a lot of sense to me.

This might again sound vague to you… Then what about the monsters?

Well, for starters, there’s no clear division as with level one. Hmm…. Wasn’t that exactly one of the communistic ideals? Not making any difference in humans?

Also, bringing the production sources in the hands of the people, is pretty much one of the main rules of Communism. The people share their factories. And they share their fate And somehow, the moblins tend to do so too.

The same moblins as in level one, are now back. However, when I was fighting them, I noticed how all of the moblins in the same room died once I killed one of them. This means they share their amount of life!

-Fascism in Zelda.

If level one symbolizes Capitalism and level two communism, it would almost seem logical if level three were to symbolize Fascism. If your theory makes so much sense to the people, you don’t need evidence. I will however, of course, give you proof.

Well, the shape of dungeon is says enough.

Well, most people recognize this sign. And for the ones unfamiliar with it: This is a swastika. A symbol used by the Germans to identify Hitler’s fascism in the second world war.

Before that, it was used by the Romans. They tied up four identical axes on a large stick only to be used as a show of for their status. Rich individuals afforded flag bearers to carry the symbol. The more bearers a person had, the more power or money he had.

Shiggy would only put this kind of shape in if it were to have a hidden meaning. If not, it would just be some sort of neo-nazi propaganda. I hold no doubt that the Roman sign could have been illustrated too. However, more people would recognize a German Swastika then the Roman Fasces.

And what about the monsters?

Well, again, there is one particular foe that drew my attention. The knights. Or better, the stalfos. I don’t have a pic ready, but I believe a description of how they look might be enough. The stalfos are fully armoured. The armor isn’t very special. But the shield this enemy carries sure is.

The shield has a shape of a cross on it. Link has too. Don’t worry, I will get back to that later.

The cross on the shield is, and must be, a symbol of Christianity. One of the world’s main religions. I am a Christian and I’m proud of it, but that’s not relevant. One thing that is relevant is the fact that Hitler was a Christain. And also that Anti-Semitism is a Christian thing.

Anti-Semitism is a result of the constant hate for the Jews amongst Christians. Why? A Jew betrayed Jesus. In his youth, Hitler saw a German Anti-Semitic play. And it changed his life. Anti-Semitism became a part of Hitler’ fascism. And that’s a fact.

Therefore, if the knights were Anti-Semitic soldiers, it would make sense if the dungeon were to symbolize Fascism.

So now you know what I think. Level one symbolized Capitalism, Level two Communism and level three, fascism.

Well, this might not be enough proof, so I will present you another fact that links these dungeons with the appropriate political ideals.

-The rise of the ideals.

Yes, the rise of them! More precisely, the order of their rises! You are probably going to say:

‘Why is level one Capitalism, level two Communism and level three Fascism? It could have been different as well! What if level one was Fascism and level two were Capitalism? Does this order matter?’

Then I say that there is some logic thinking behind this order. Why? Their rises indeed!

Here’s another piece of history for you!

Back during the industrial revolution during the late 18^th and early 19^th century, came the rise of Capitalism. Machines allowed the rich individuals to become even richer. The industrial revolution also made the poor poorer. Some jobs disappeared. But there also came new ones. However, capitalism was something that appeared during the industrial revolution.

As a reaction on Capitalism, Communism appeared in the late 19^th century and in the early 20^th century. Communists were strictly against the rich-poor division and decided that the production sources should be in hands of the people so that the wealth could be better balanced.

In the 20^th century, Germany accepted their loss in the First World War and came into an economical crisis because of the agreement of Versailles. It was this economical crisis that allowed Hitler to grab his chance and persuade the people to help him with the rise of his fascism.

As you can see, first the rise of Capitalism, then the rise of Communism and finally, the rise of Fascism.

And in ‘the legend of Zelda’ this order is the same. First level one, the symbol of Capitalism. Then level two, the symbol of Communism. And finally, level three, the symbol of Fascism.

-But… what is Link then? And what about the bosses?

Well, I think Link symbolizes the people. Yes, the people. It’s just another theory, but it would make much sense.

Just like the knights in the third dungeon, Link has a cross on his shield. In the other Zelda games, (not sure about AOL) this cross is gone. Why? Because this is the only Zelda game with a hidden meaning! And for that, the cross is needed!

Christianity is a common belief amongst the people. That’s a fact. The three political ideals stopped because of the people. That’s a fact. And it’s exactly what Shiggy is trying to symbolize with this game. Woah! I’ve gone a bit to fast, haven’t I?

So let me explain. Because communism rose, capitalism stopped in certain regions. It was stopped because of the people and not because of the select individuals that made up Communism. Without the people supporting him, Carl Marx would never be that popular.

Communism fell on the same way. The people only wanted to do what was the best for them. In that meant: getting a lot of money. Especially the rich people never liked Communism. And they had the power. Carl Marx said in ‘Das kapital’ that one time, the poor people would revolt against the rich ones. This happened at some places and was called the Communistic revolution. However, a lot of countries disgusted the idea of Communism.

So, Communistic people made Capitalism fall in certain countries and Capitalistic people made Communism fall in certain countries.

They both fell because of the people supporting the ideals, not because of the brains behind it.

But what about Fascism?

Well, it fell on the same way. Fascism rose because the economical Crisis in Germany allowed Hitler to win the people’s support. It fell because the Alliance (Capitalism) and Russia (Communism) were both against it.

The people’s ethics and rules made it possible to stand up against Fascism and do something. And it was again the people, supporting other political ideals, that made it fall!

Each fell on the same way. And that is what link’s dungeon crossing symbolizes. The influence of the people supporting other political ideals.

Link symbolizes the people that are in conflict with the ideals of select individuals.

Then what about the bosses?

Well, I can now easily answer that question. Because Link symbolizes the people being in conflict with the select individuals, the bosses must symbolize those individuals!

Without their leaders, ideals lose a bit of their power. The defeat of the leaders gives the people new hope and Courage.

This courage is, of course, the triforce of courage. It’s not hard to imagine that. Why else would it been called, ‘the triforce of courage’

Of course, the political ideals of Capitalism and Communism are still active currently. That might explain why the bosses of level one and two reappear throughout the game.

Now take a look at the game. I believe these sentences mean exactly the same:

~Link goes through the dungeon, defeats the boss and takes a part of the ‘triforce of courage’.~

~The people are against the political ideals of certain individuals and take down these persons. By doing this, the people gain new courage.~

Let me then make a conclusion:

The people were the ones in conflict with the three political ideals. By taking down the select individuals that made these ideals up, they get more courage. The ideals were never gone, but the courage remains.

The game symbolically tells us that the power is in the hand of the people and not the ones that rule them. (Bosses, Ganon.)

By looking at this theory, I hope you all agree with me that this is, in fact, the hidden message of the game.

I also hope tat my theory changed your view on ‘the legend of Zelda’ forever. Well, it did to me. I now see that this game is perhaps just as well made as OOT or ALTTP. Why? Because there’s a clever hidden message in the game!

You only need some knowledge and thinking to decipher it.

I thank you all for reading my theory.

Feel free to discuss….

~Potestas