Majora's Mask » The Message of Majora’s Mask - Zelda Universe

By Hylian Dan, in Majora's Mask, The Legend on June 24th, 2008. Comments

By Hylian Dan

PART ONE

A few years ago, while I was replaying The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, I reached the top of Stone Tower and took another look at the strange scenery there before moving on. The gigantic pointing blood-stained hand again caught my attention. It seemed so strange, so ominous, like there was some cryptic meaning behind it that I just couldn’t place. But this time, something clicked in my mind.

I understood the significance of that pointing hand, the meaning that had always eluded me before. Now I wanted to know why it was there.

What secrets has the game been hiding all this time?

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Comments to “The Message of Majora’s Mask”

ulyesaz Says:
July 17th, 2008 at 7:58 am

i’love dis game

Skull Kid Says:
July 21st, 2008 at 4:34 am

I think the salesman, prior to acquiring the mask, probably did not believe in any such curse, it was a rare and valuable item, and he is a salesman, therefore, he wanted it, purely for commercial use, only once he laid his hands upon the mask, did he realize the true evil that slept within the mask, I assume it was then, that he vowed to guard the mask, to keep Majora from ever waking.

Skull Kid Says:
July 21st, 2008 at 4:43 am

aye, but I also thing you might have got one thing backwards, if Majora was sent to destroy the architects, or stop their blasphemy, why would they have monuments built to honor her? I believe the architects may have summoned majora as their own “goddess” of sorts to help them destroy the Goddesses. The Fierce Deity was the Goddesses guardian angel, or enforcer, sent to destroy Majora, while the goddesses would flip the tower to take care of the architects. If the fierce Deity was on the side of the architects against majora, why would there not me monuments to him?

Kahara Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

If that’s true, then why do you get The Fierce Deity Mask from the Majora kid on the moon? Wouldn’t every part of Majora despise the Fierce Deity for attempting to stop it? It just dosn’t make much sense…

Nogardodomokomododragon Says:
August 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm

If you notice at the begining of the game when he walks through a certain part of the cave the hallway turns upside down while gravity seems to flip with it as well thus proving the first part of this theory. But if this is true are there other paralel “flip” worlds in the LoZ? Such as in ocarina of time, forest temple if memory serves right. A certain hallway take you into an upside down version of a room. In this area could you possibly be in termina? a small enclosed cave of some sort? Probably not. But it does introduce a new idea to this theory, the possibility of a mirror hyrule or hyrule “two” as some people say in other theories. *see the gametrailers.com zelda theory video* in which termina Could still be doomed, in a great flood bringing us to the windwaker…and it goes on but no more rambling from me.

Katuko Says:
August 11th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

If Majora is a demon straight out of hell sent by the godesses to destroy Termina, then the Fierce Deity might be their way of controlling it. Once Majora finished its job, who’s to say it wouldn’t move on to other countries? So, the FD would be sent in to obliterate it. This might also be why Majora gives you the mask, it knows its power weaker than it and that it is destined to die. Yet, it makes a joke out of the deal, as it’s nature is, and wants one last “game”.

James Says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:51 pm

Wow, that was really interesting. When I was younger and I played it, I never really knew about the allusion to the tower of babel, and the hidden message behind MM.
Amazing article.

Linktomyass Says:
August 24th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Nice article man. I had a huge write up on MM about 9 months ago but i stoped writing it out of the blue (long distance work).

Your first article made me want to go play it again and I did. I had writen about my experiences and the feeling i had gotten as i played the game. Far different then when i played as a child. For this, MM has defenetly found a place in my heart.

I never did beat the game… I stoped writing after my experiences in Inkana.

The game is still saved, now that i finaly have time again… i think i shall go to clock tower and begin the final chapter in the MM story.

nice work man

darkbeastganon Says:
September 14th, 2008 at 9:07 pm

I like how you found and carved up the themes by looking at the game carefully. I’m still curious about the Fierce Deity though. Its fierce, right? How does that associate with faith?

Rabbott Says:
November 25th, 2008 at 7:52 pm

I have a question if the goddesses flipped the tower so that when the first time you show up it’s the worng way (the right way being the way the architects built it) wouldn’t the hand be cursing the ground and or hell. Also, how would they build it upside down, where getting out of the tower to go to the ground would be to head to the top?

TexasProudCowgirl Says:
November 26th, 2008 at 6:38 am

Wow, that is deep. I mean, that is really, really deep.

Legitz Says:
December 11th, 2008 at 8:57 am

That was such an excellent read.
It really opens up alot more thought paths related to this game.
Thankyou.

Serenade Says:
December 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

He is the ‘Fierce Deity’ because of his god-like abilities and almost literally, no limiters on his power. He is a symbol of strength in this world of weakness – the one light shining through the dark.

One will guard their faith with whatever they can. The Fierce Deity acts upon his faith to assist the people in need. The blank eyes of the Fierce Deity serve as him being a symbol, not a set person.

There’s also the Mask Itself. This is but a theory of my own, but I believe that the mask would not turn everyone who dons it into that specific being, but rather, into a powerful being built on their own strength of their faith. By believing in the power of the mask, by putting faith into its frightening design, one can unleash true might to eliminate those that oppose their own faith.

As a finisher however, I give you text copy-pasted from the Zelda Wiki:

“He’s a ferocious god!”
—Anju (Manga)

-The Fierce Deity’s past remains largely unexplained in the game, though it is likely that it is an ancient being like Majora. It is unknown if Fierce Deity is like the Goron and Zora masks, with a soul sealed inside them, or like Majora’s Mask, where it is the soul. However, since Anju’s quote doesn’t divulge much, it is currently impossible to tell. The Fierce Deity was shown in the manga to corrupt even Link, leading the reader to believe the mask houses a very powerful spirit, even though Link did possess enough control to remove the mask at the end of the fight against Majora’s Mask.

Some speculate that the mask is Link’s Terminan counterpart, because the mask itself resembles Adult Link.-

Callum M Says:
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:11 am

Fantastic! Great pleasure reading your theories which are all supported brilliantly

Henrik Ljungdahl Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 1:12 am

OMG….

You are so deep man!! Everything truly makes sense!! WOW!! I just wanna say that you are amazing!!!!

MAJORAS MASK FOR THE WIN!!!

Keaton Says:
January 8th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Wow! Absolutely LOVE this article! =] Lots of great ideas are pointed out in this article, and it seems like it’s all true as well.

V-Thunder Says:
January 11th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

I always thought about Majora’s Mask being the most profound Zelda game made up to this day, but while reading your article I realized how much *more* there is to the game. To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of biblical parallels, but this one fits the overall setting of MM perfectly. What you worked out isn’t just a collection of theses – it’s a very well-built mental edifice that never contradicts itself. In my eyes.
On the one hand, your article makes me wonder what Nintendo originally intended when they put those naked gargoyle blocks into the game – on the other hand, I don’t want to know because knowledge of the “truth” (e.g. “grotesk creatures fit the Zelda theme, surprised?”) could possibly spoil your interpretation and, thus, render it sort of vain. Without ever knowing what Miyamoto and Co. really thought while developing the game, your article will continue to radiate the feeling of “attaining knowledge that makes you feel like you understood some part of a bigger coherence or a greater link”. Not in terms of “OMG Termina’s linked with the real world!!!111″ but in terms of people having *thought* of the game they were making. Real content.
Thanks for writing and posting!

Anymous Says:
January 13th, 2009 at 8:12 am

This is a great article!

I think that those who built Stone Tower was the Ikana!

And the Godesses making stone tower upside down to send them to hell was a mistake.

Because of that, Majora escaped from hell and caused all that trouble.

So the godesses sent Link to Termina, and Fierce Deity is probably the one who made Majora go to hell in the first place!

Drakky Says:
January 14th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

Great Article, Its like the bible for LoZ fans

kenny ingham Says:
January 17th, 2009 at 1:42 am

my thery is that majora was terrorizing peaple and no one couild stop her.then a man(the fierce deity)came and he droped his weapon and said,you see i have dropped my weapon,i will not fight you rather i will play a song for you. then the man played and majora danced till she died and was sealed in a mask.the man said this evil is to much for you,i shall hold on to it.(i think that the song mabe the oath to order and the peaple made that day a holiday.oh and the four giants came but retreted when the fierce diety was fine on his own.

kenny ingham Says:
January 17th, 2009 at 1:59 am

i can answear your quastion. maby majora found the f.d mask sometime ago and decided two give it to link so he would know what to expect.that was for kahara

tanner Says:
January 17th, 2009 at 2:05 am

hi i was playing majora’s mask the other day and found out that when you are stoping the thief from stealing the bombs you can get out your bow and shoot the bag and the guy explodes and it is funny!

xajora Says:
February 9th, 2009 at 11:36 pm

if majora is the enemy of faith, why is it that the single carpenter with faith is left to die directly under the moon each time you fail?
doesn’t that disallow trust?

in response to the fierce deity mask, the child wearing majora wanted that entity to be destroyed once and for all so he gave it to you to be destroyed with it.

i would also like to bring a point on the bosses of the game, they never die forever; symbolizing how evil and destruction will always be there and the player must decide wether to leave them to torture the lands each time, or for the peoples hopes to be shattered ( i found this to be very interesting when thinking about it)

I am very pleased with these articles as a whole however, as i believe majoras mask to be the best game ever

Kayle Says:
February 13th, 2009 at 11:38 pm

Some things to say.

Ancient tribe that sealed Majora’s Mask may have been the Sheikah (since the races here mirror Hyrule’s races). It’s said that the race that sealed the Mask has all vanished. (If you count Kafei as a Sheikah, you could say that the few survivors have simply faded into society and some of their descendants bear their traits.) If they worshiped in the Shadow Temple of Hyrule, they’d be the type to use an evil mask in hexing rituals.

I wouldn’t say that the Goddesses sent Majora to Termina as judgment exactly, but that the people’s rebellious actions in embracing the mask released the demon. Their world is therefore suffering the consequences of that rebellion, and the goddesses would therefore be compassionate in allowing Link to save them from the folly of their ancestors.

Another important link I’ve found in the games is that between hope/faith and courage. I had a professor once say, “It takes courage to hope.” When you’re discouraged, you lose faith; when you lose faith, you’re discouraged. Link was chosen by the Triforce of Courage because of his own courage. He was the one hope for Hyrule, the embodiment of their hope, if you will. The characters in Ikana are full of comments about Link’s power, or LIGHT. Hope is often represented as an undying light. Link provides hope for all of Termina, including the spirits—-he gives their souls rest by carrying their torch for them and saving their respective peoples. By allowing Link to come, the goddesses have given Termina hope.

Going much further out on a limb: If the Fierce Diety’s mask is counted as a transformation mask similar to the others and contains a spirit that Link must put at rest by carrying out its last will, then that spirit’s one goal is to defeat Majora; and the Fierce Deity would probably be an entity about equal in status to Majora. I’ve always inferred that the ghost who gives Link entrance into Ikana is implying the Fierce Deity when he mentions “seeking the one who is stronger than you are”. This may mean the giant’s mask, but that mask implies no personality and just makes Link bigger (it doesn’t have a special resting place in the mask subscreen either). I feel that’s a waste of a mysterious comment, but it’s possible. The Fierce Deity is undeniably stronger than Link is.

In support of the faith/hope theme, this ghost also comments “If you have faith in your skills [try healing these troubled spirits].” And also “the spirits wander in search of one who can save them”.

Q Says:
February 17th, 2009 at 4:26 am

majora is totally crazy and just wants to f**k shit up(you could compare it to the joker from batman}the way the incarnation dances around really proves this. when you meet the majora kid on the moon he says he wants to play. but if you given away all your masks he takes notice of this . probably thinking some thign along the lines of -he thinks well this wont be much fun hes barely got anything to fight me with- so he gives you the mask to make things fair

Lavoakah Says:
February 27th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

This… this sort of stuff is what made “Neon Genisis- Evangelion” a legend umong anime. The hidden meanings throughout… that’s why I loved it.
I never saw this coming… My all time favourite childhood game… had such a deep meaning… so many things hidden and hinted…
This makes me love this game even more. I knew there had to be something, some more to it… but you made it clear for me! Thank you.

Abysmal Zero Says:
March 7th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Wow, your article has certainly put a new light on Majora’s Mask for me! It’s fantastic to think of Termina more in terms of a land with a rich, dark history–it’s so easy to get caught up with OOT’s storyline and then not be able to appreciate MM as much.

I wonder though if the Twili from TP have something to do with Majora though? The Fused Shadow certainly looks like the Majora’s Mask, not to mention that the Twili were banished to another realm–or maybe they are a parallel, since Hyrule is parallel to Termina, so maybe the Twili are the equivalent in Hyrule to the hexers in Termina.

zeldafan Says:
March 7th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

i just relized that in ocaraina of time the light medalion and the zora’s saphire have a simalar style

zeldafan Says:
March 7th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

i think your on to something but what about the other characters in wind waker and majora’s mask?

kennyingham Says:
March 7th, 2009 at 9:30 pm

WOW this article is crazy.I mean everything fits perfectly together!
makes you think

kennyingham Says:
March 7th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

mabey the twili were the ones who sent majora’s wrath to the worl if you think about it

tanner Says:
March 8th, 2009 at 1:42 am

arue but majora is a demon and she’s evil so why would she do that?

Tracy Says:
March 9th, 2009 at 12:45 am

I really enjoyed this article. I’m not completely sold that all of this was intentional, but I definitely want to believe that it was. I love the dark, twisted feel of Majora’s Mask and this theory makes it even darker and more twisted. I wish you had included more about the Fierce Deity though, because I never considered it part of the story and I don’t remember much about it. Does anybody ever even mention it?

paledragon64 Says:
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 am

I felt that your main argument about the stone temple/goddesses/giants was pretty strong in the beginning, but you didn't really back it up well. You just put it out there and never concluded, and the rest of your arguments were off-topic.

Your individual arguments were compelling, though. I especially liked the one about faith/doubt being a theme in the game. If you organize your thoughts better, it'll make a bigger impact. Thank you for putting effort into making this.

the great erbavore » It’s bothersome. Says:
March 30th, 2009 at 8:19 pm

[...] someone over at Emulysian Fields shared a neat article about Zelda: Majora’s Mask (Found right here). After reading it, my urge to re-play the game skyrocketed to 4,500%. I immediately downloaded an [...]

JefferyRLC Says:
March 31st, 2009 at 5:33 pm

This was enjoyable to read, but I do believe you are confused.

Termina is it's own world/reality. It is a parallel of Hyrule, but is in no way connected to Hyrule. When Link chased Skull Kid through the forest, they came across a hole in space-time that took them to Termina. Much like the Mirror of Twilight in Twilight Princess is a doorway to the Twilight Realm.

In Majora's Mask, there is no evidence, suggestion, hint, or anything else to suggest the Goddesses even exist in Termina. And based off personal experiences in the game, I honestly believe they don't. If they did, then at some point the Trifoce should come into place, seeing as it's the symbol of their power. And since the Trifoce doesn't reveal itself at any point, one can assume that it doesn't exist in Termina either.

It is stated that the Four Giants are only guardians, not gods. And to reenforce that, there's no context in the game that suggests the people ever worshipped them. Based on the way Anju's grandmother told the story of the Four Giants, it's more likely the people don't really believe they exist, much like how most people don't believe in fairies or ghosts.

Stone Temple Tower itself seems to me that it functioned more as a seal of evil than a tower of Babel. I know Majora's Mask is far from traditional Legend of Zelda, but in most instances where evil arises in a Legend of Zelda game, people resort to sealing it awake. It seems the curse on Ikana Kingdom was a result from tampering with the seal of Stone Tower.

As for the details of the origins of Majora's Mask and even the Fierce Deity's Mask, the creators intentionally have not told us. Their true nature is up for the player to discern. To be honest, I'd be more inclined to stating that Majora's Mask itself is the Termina incarnation of Ganon, and the Fierce Deity Mask is the Termina incarnation of Link.

Nevertheless, it was still a good idea. And it you had a lot of good ideas. Just realize that Majora's Mask is a Zelda all on it's own. The less you associate it with traditional Legend of Zelda games, the more sense it will make.

Marceux Says:
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 am

@ JefferyRLC:

There is no explicitly stated "hole" in space-time that leads to Termina. Really, it could be anything.

As for your assertion that there is no hint that the goddesses exist in Termina, did you not see the image of the Triforce in the Stone Temple Tower on some of the blocks? Also, the Ocarina of Time should be the biggest indicator of the existence of the Three Goddesses inside Termina. Why does the Ocarina actually work in this land? You could argue that the item has power on its own, but the same song (composed for/by the goddesses) in both Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask has two completely different effects in both games. In Majora's Mask Link has greater control of time as oppose to the previous game. The tune is devine, as is the instrument.

You could be right about the Four Giants, the Stone Temple Tower, or anything really when it comes to back-story of the things left ambiguous, but that's the beauty of the game. There is enough ambiguity but also enough "message" that the game is clearly trying to discuss or comment or propose a theme on the human experience, and we could sort out the details any way we please. This author chose "belief", and through the evidence he provided, and imagery he proposed, I'm inclined to agree.

zeldabro Says:
April 4th, 2009 at 1:18 am

OH MY GOD I BEAT THE GAME AFTER A MONTH OF GAMEPLAY!!!

zeldabro Says:
April 4th, 2009 at 1:20 am

OH MY GOD you need to check that again

kennyingham Says:
April 4th, 2009 at 1:22 am

yeah jefferyRLC check again

jesse Says:
April 4th, 2009 at 6:59 am

excellent. MM is the total black sheep of the zelda series but an absolute gem. i know people who hate it because it's different and too hard and i get very upset with them for not realizing those are the reasons it's great. it's dark and delightfully twisted. i didn't really see all that stone tower stuff before tho… thanks for posting! now where did i put that game…

Peter Sarikas Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 10:07 am

First, before anything… YES! Champlain student! Awesome! I'm sitting in Pearl Hall, Champlain College, right now, reading this, at 6:00 AM.

Moving on.

Alot of this stuff, I didn't originally notice (I was too young), however, I did notice that the Triforce symbols in the Tower were inverted, at least sometimes, bringing to mind the rejection of the godesses in the way an inverted cross brings to mind rejection of Christ, and acceptance of Satan (Satanists wear an upside-down cross).

Also, what is you take on Fierce Deity? I now you mentioned him briefly, however, his name gives me pause. Fierce Deity. The name invokes the image of an angered God (duh). Perhaps he was something more? Maybe he broke the seal on Majora, and was trying to repent, or maybe he was involved with the Godesses to punish the people of the Termina.

Yeesh, I have to go replay this now,

Hylian Dan Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 4:05 am

Hey! Champlain student! I'm in Adirondack right now.

I think that the Fierce Deity is actually a representation of Link's true face. The talk about it's dark nature seems to me to be possible misdirection. I just don't see it as representing something at all corrupt.

The game makes a big deal out the question of what a person's true face really is, what with all the masks and other grotesque faces scattered throughout the game. It also deals a lot with the issue of being a child versus being an adult, and how Link reaches a level of true adulthood and maturity after the time-traveling trauma of Ocarina of Time.

At the opening of Majora's Mask, Link's true face is probably something like the Mirror Shield you eventually find. The OoT ordeal left him with scars of lost friendship, similar in some respects to Skull Kid's scars. But by the time Link interacts with all the strangers of Termina and they give him their masks, he is no longer a lost, lonely kid. Cremia recognizes this. His Fierce Deity form represents the adulthood he has found and the unshakable strength of heart he has gained from Termina.

Hypothetically there could be some backstory to the FD Mask, but the game doesn't provide any of it whatsoever. So the matter of the FD Mask's actual backstory strikes me as a fun, mysterious fan fiction prompt, rather than something critical to the story. However, the game does connect the FD Mask with the masks you earn by helping people find happiness, which makes me think this thematic explanation is more relevant.

The backstory of the FD Mask is a deliberately unresolvable mystery, but the mask fits in very smoothly with the overall story on a thematic level.

Deku Bryn Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 12:58 pm

I disagree with one point in this amazing article. Majora's mask. I believe it was created by the Twili (Twilight Princess). Need proof? Look at the eyes on MM, then look at the eye on Midna's portion of the fused shadow that she always wears. Similar? Nay. Identical (almost).

Also, isn't Termina a parralell universe? How do you know the godesses even govern it?

Apart from this, amazing article.

Marceux Says:
April 7th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

The Ocarina of Time is the biggest smoking gun about whether or not the Goddesses govern Termina. Why does the Ocarina of Time, an instrument of the goddesses, have any magical properties, especially the manipulation of time through a song developed as a prayer to the goddesses, if the world was not governed by the Goddesses?

And about Termina's nature as a parallel universe or dimension? That's just simple fan fiction. It is what it is. And it isn't Hyrule. That's all that matters. Everything else is up to the individual person to come up with.

Stephen Queen Says:
April 10th, 2009 at 3:44 pm

the author's original postulations on the fact that the ancient people built a tower, essentially to hell, may in fact, extend to the whole of the land, and well you can see where we could go with this. Perhaps it was not so evident in the article.
I'll share my thoughts in full upon replaying of the game.

it may be that all 5 areas were in some ways affronts to the gods, but that's just a passing thought as I go to bed.

Great read before I do. And on easter friday!

Zero Says:
April 12th, 2009 at 8:42 pm

I loved the story. I'm actually replaying the game again. But there is one thing that i'm not convinced with. That Link went home.
In WW the story told was that Link lost what made him a Hero when he left Hyrule. He lost..his courage, his tri-force. He was never seen again. That means he never returned.

Zero Says:
April 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am

First of all, sorry for the double post, but I was thinking of this the whole day. There is another thing that stood out to me. In the story there was a part about Majora escaping, but not how the powers were sealed.
What I think happend is that Majora was battling an older god of the anciened people. And then they depeated each other, or weakened. Then the mask sealesman came and played the song of healing. The god turned in the Fiercy Deity Mask and Majora in Majora's Mask.
This would mean the Salesman is indeed a deity himself. This way he would know about the song, Majora and the fate of the land.

Zero Says:
April 13th, 2009 at 11:58 am

Further And, maby I'm going out on a limb now, the salesman lost the Mask on his way to Hyrule and started to search for a hero in Hyrule when he lost it. He was in Hyrule for OoT, maby he was the same. He mett Link and gave hime the task of selling the Masks for him as a test. This would also explain that he was "following him".
The only hole is what he did with the mask. If you would conclude that the masked child with the mask was the salesman long ago (or in another form) he would have kept it. But if that would be the case why would he go to hyrule if it worked al this time.
If you think eh loked it back beneed the Stone Tower, why would he go back and why would that child on the moon have the mask?
I'm still thinking this one through, so when I have the answer to this one, I'll post it.

Ariam_Maxim Says:
April 13th, 2009 at 4:42 pm

If you ever want to scare the living shizuka out of you, play the opening to ESCAFLOWNE THE MOVIE while watching the intro to Majoras Mask, when the clock tower appears and after the spinning mask salesman fades out. Afterwards, when you've watched the whole intro to the music of the opening to ESCAFLOWNE THE MOVIE, watch the whole movie and watch for any signficant things that start to echo reminiscent of Majora's Mask or even any title in the Zelda series. Now thats trippin' balls!

Zero Says:
April 16th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

Which opening did you mean (from ESCAFLOWNE). The english or the original japanees and from what part of the intro.

Ariam Maxim Says:
April 17th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

Oh my God, the DVD MOIVE is in BOTH languages. I forgot. In Dvd settings switch the audio track to solo score only which sets ESCAFLOWNE The Movie to the music soundtrack during playback. Then press play.
So when you ask which part, I'm literally telling you it's the very minute it opens right after the first name of the staff credits appear at the beginning. You want to pause the movie right after that first name, open Majora's Mask whether its on your emulator or television and unhit pause on ESCAFLOWNE right when the Clock tower appears in the Title Sequence to MAJORA'S MASK. It's easy!

Jeremiah Says:
April 19th, 2009 at 3:02 am

Well, you earlier stated that you receive the FD mask after giving your masks(which represent the happiness, faith, and resolution Link brought to Termina) away.

It could be that the Fierce Deity Mask is in fact a symbolic combination of all of Termina's newfound faith against Majora's Mask, which brought the unhappiness. While wearing the Fierce Deity Mask, you can crush all three of Majora's forms without breaking a sweat. This power could fit in with the Faith theme of the game by showing that together, the people's collective faith can overthrow the shackles of evil.

NathanIsMyName Says:
April 21st, 2009 at 8:47 pm

Now how long do we have to wait for someone to find the hidden meanings and backstories for TP?

Ariam Maxim Says:
April 24th, 2009 at 11:15 am

Alright, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. This one took m a while but I finally uncovered it a couple of months ago. At the end of Ocarina of Time when Link returned to Hyrule via the sacred time chamber in the Temple of Time, the Master Sword created two timelines existing in two alternating realities. The first timeline was the one wherein young Link and Princess Zelda became lovers until the hero embarked on a quest to find where Navi had gone in those several months following Links closing the Door of Time. Through this, Majora's Mask begins which also takes place AFTER the Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages chapters. Now, when Link closed the Door of Time, and re-wrote Hyrules history, Ganondorf was exposed through Link and Zeldas testamony to the king supported by the triforce marks that was on each of the backs of the three main characters hands which was why, following Ganondorfs execution, you see that he broke free of his chains at the Arbiters Grounds due to the Power of the Triforce that he possessed. Also, during that time, he was still in possession of the Solid Black Gerudo Stallion which he gave up when he became king in the other timeline seven years in the future. Twilight Princess takes place several hundred years after Young Link abandoned the kingdom that had named him a legend, where Ganondorf returned through the manipulation of a despotic king who was once a butler to Princess Midna of the Twili, but insurrected after being friven to madness by the circumstances that led the tribe to it's exile thousands of years ago at the hand of the Goddessess of the Triforce who forbade the Twili from possessing the sacred relic of the holy land of Hyrule. It should also be noted that shadow link is in fact Twili Magic used to reflect the soul of whomsoever it deems worthy to challenge and thus Shadow Link was formed in the Water Temple in Ocarina of Time. You keeping up so far?
Anyway, so, The Wind Waker takes place several hundred years after Ganondorfs return to Hyrule following the weakening of the seven sages seal following what I believe was either the defloration or death-after-birth of Princess Zelda which weakened the holy union of the sages spirits and enabled Ganon to return, because if you remember, Tetra is a direct descendant by birth, of Princess Zelda of Hyrule, not a reincarnation like in Twilight princess. Becasue in Majora's Mask Princess Zelda tells Link that there will come a day when she shall meet him again. That line tragically referrs to their reunion in another life when they would meet as a wolf and a prisoner in a robe within the walls of Hyrule Castle in Twilight Princess, not The Wind Waker, because it takes place the other alternate timeline, the one created seven years in the future, sealed away by the closing of the Door of Time from the timeline where Twilight Princess takes place.
In closing, in Twilight Princess, Link finally ends Ganondorfs life at the edge of The Master Sword closing the book on that timeline and establishing eternal peace for Hyrule while in The Wind Waker, King Daphne touches the Triforce and wishes for the destruction of Hyrule for the sake of the kingdoms descendants against Ganondorfs wishes to rule the new world through the revitalization of the old. However, King Daphne's heart is not pure, and thus the triforce, if you watch closley, splits into three parts as the Sheikan legend states about the Triforce in Ocarina of Time. When Link smashes the Master Sword into Ganondorfs skull, he breaks the Gerudo lifestone every gerudo possessess on their forehead as a sort of achilles heel, when he breaks this life force, Ganondorf turns into a pillar of stone and dies unlike Twilight Princess where he dies but his life stone is left untouched on his forehead. Review all of this as you go through the stories and you will see that everything that I have stated is both accurate and on point with everything in the games. I'm 21 now and have been studying The Legend of Zelda since I was 15. Maybe even younger. Lastly, With the death of the old world, the new world is born and thus the age of advanced technology comes into view in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
So to answer any and all questions on Twilight Princess once and for all times, Twilight Princess takes place several hundred years after Young Link abandons Hyrule to search for his beloved gaurdian fairy, Navi.
And The Wind Waker takes place several hundred years after the fall of Ganons Tower & defloration or death of Princess Zelda, Sage of Wisdom.

zeldafan Says:
May 14th, 2009 at 3:21 am

ok someone pleae respond a.s.a.p, you know how the triforce has a hole in it and the termanians have those fairies of power courage and wisdom. well maby the last piece was taken by the termanians representing faith. because the main theme is faith so i think the termanians took that last piece when they were at war with hyrule.

Ariam Maxim Says:
May 14th, 2009 at 1:26 pm

Uh no.

zeldafan Says:
May 26th, 2009 at 12:25 am

well i was thingking in thery, i know that is not the real reason thogh there is a small chance of that possibility. so i am just saying in thery.

Majora's Reincarnate Says:
June 1st, 2009 at 4:24 pm

You actually might be on to something…
Think about this- In Hyrule and OoT, there are three Goddesses and the Triforce has 3 parts. In Termina and MM, there are 4 Guardian Giants and 4 lands.
Now, I'm probably totally wrong here, but aren't odd numbers like 3 considered feminine and even numbers like 4 considered to be masculine?

bluefire Says:
June 1st, 2009 at 11:39 pm

Going back to the time thing, the Ocarina of Time is also blue.

Dash092996 Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 am

This theory is amazing! I've always liked fan-made theories, just to see whta goes through people's minds. I agree with you on the meaning of the game is about faith, 100%, but the one thing I don't though is the pillars. I think they represent the four giants, but do they HAVE to be phallic? It could have been a crazy coincidence. I'm also shocked that out of my number one favorite game for over nine years and me playing it hundreds of times, I've NEVER noticed the Triforces. >.< Thos HAVE to mean something.

LOZ Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 pm

they probably didnt know the tower was flipped

LOZ Says:
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:52 pm

WW may not necessarily apply to MM. It is a legend which the true story may not be told exactly or correctly. However I have no evidence to support this so…yeah….

LOZ Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 am

About what you said about the cross…
on page 3 the author does have something that might support your theory on the cross:

"Throughout the game you can see many variations of a sort of compass emblem, a design showing four circles (or other shapes) arranged in a cross pattern."

Note the "cross pattern". However that might overlap more to the representation of the importance of the number 4.

In accordance to the fierce deity…
the fierce deity might possibly be related to the traveler in the Majora's mask side story (in the manga). This can be supported by the fact that when Link wore the FD mask he looked older or rather much like the traveler. This maybe possible, however, why the traveler represents the fierce deity is a mystery. My guess is something related to how he was able to put the beast (possibly Majora O_o?) to rest and crave the Majora's mask out of the beast's armor. The traveler's resemblance to Link has led me to theorize that the traveler could be Link or something in similar connection. Do remember that all the Links in all the games are not exactly the same person. This could support the "traveler-link-deity" relationship. Doesn't really make sense if you don't read the side story. ><;;

ughhh…
this isn't really related to your comment but….
um, "if" so the beast is Majora, when the tower was flipped and the people went to hell instead of heaven or the realm of the goddesses, it is possible that since the beast roamed hell, the people probably seeked the beast for its power to try to go against the goddesses as the article claims. It is either that or for their own selfish intentions seeked the beast's armor and suffered their own demise. This would support the fact that the goddesses supported Link's attempt at saving Termina and why the ocarina of time worked over and over to relay time for the 3-day interval. Of course, if the people tried to attain the power of the beast to turn on the goddesses this would support the article's claim of redeem after redemption.
Also the side story (in the manga) explains of how time was born or something like that. Which is related to how the beast was put to rest after dancing for 3 days and 3 nights, which is possibly related to how Link had to save Termina in 3 days.

UGH I confusing myself! Well anyways, if you read the manga you might understand better. Although you read the manga, keep in mind that the game and manga may not share the same intentions or meanings.

…but really I hope the game and manga applies to the intentional story or really all that I typed would be somewhat meaningless. ><;;

chowder Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 1:21 am

hey there….hey there.. hey there you pay there

Hylian Dan Says:
June 7th, 2009 at 2:34 am

WW takes place in the adult timeline of OoT, while MM and TP are set in the child timeline. WW does at times seem to make vague references to MM, so I think it's okay to chalk it up to time-travel confusion and possible retcons.

Examining the story of MM, the moral of the game makes it pretty necessary for Link to abandon his search for Navi. The game's ending shows him back in Hyrule's Lost Woods, however, so I believe that he's returning home. Navi is gone, but Zelda is still waiting for Link.

Arkham Says:
June 15th, 2009 at 4:30 am

Regarding:
“I think that the Fierce Deity is actually a representation of Link’s true face. The talk about it’s dark nature seems to me to be possible misdirection. I just don’t see it as representing something at all corrupt.”

Wasn’t the Fierce Deity Mask called the Oni Mask in the Japanese version of the game? Seeing as Oni means “demon,” it strikes me that there IS more to the Fierce Deity mask than just being a “lawful-good” polar opposite to Majora’s Mask. Maybe it’s something evil and maybe it isn’t (I suppose it would be rather odd for Link to be wearing an evil mask himself), but we can’t just dismiss the dark and ominous nature of the FD mask–it’s clearly there.

Samuel Says:
June 16th, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Fantastic article!
While reading it I came up with several other theories linking to this one, though I forgot them pretty fast :/

When we did a game analysis last year in school, I started with Majoras Mask.
It was an extremely massive job, i drawed everything in the game on paper: wall patterns, symbols and everything like that. I found some really interesting thing, like the face of stereotypical Lucifer if you looked at a pattern on a pillar in the clock tower. I stopped working on it kinda quick though, since we had like a month to do the task.

ParallelTraveler Says:
June 25th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

Very nice article. Overall I agree with your idea on the message of the game.
About the giant stone mask structure in the enterence of the last temple, I think it does not completely resembol Majora's Mask because over time the mask itself chanegd shape, like evolved or mutated. SO it use to looks like that. When you fight it still in mask form, the spikes moves and it can make grunts. (Then as the fight contineus you can see it directly tarnsform and mutate form) This would also support Midna's mask being realated to Majoras Mask because of it's shape shifting.
Also I think i'd would be safe to add Skull Kid was banished into a middle ground forest between Hyrule and Termania. After stealing Majora's Mask he was free to travel between the parallels.

ParallelTraveler Says:
June 25th, 2009 at 7:06 pm

It should also be noted the parallel relation between Termania and Hyrule isn't important to anything. The vague explaination of Termania being a parallel universe is most likely used because the designers did not want to over 50 new characters for the game. Otherwise Termania could have been geographicly connected to Hyrule. Keeping in mind Hyrule does not take up the entire Earth. -When giving a Goron the rock food, he mentions he hasn't had one since visiting the Dodongo caves in Hyrule. With all the close attention to art, dialogue, and atmospher, I'm sure if the designers didn't want the line in the game, they would have taken it out. So this could be their way of trying to say ''pay no attention to the parallelness of the worlds.''

Gooky Says:
July 1st, 2009 at 4:47 pm

Actually, in regards to your first paragraph there, that makes a lot of sense. The act of giving away all those masks, most of which grant you some kind of ability, or power (I know I wouldn't want to get rid of my Bunny Hood!), that's kind of a leap of faith. Which then rewards you with this ultimate symbol of faith, or whatever it is exactly. It's been ages since I've played and can't remember how it all goes exactly, but it sounds like it fits together quite nicely

PART ONE

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