Dark Link and The Matrix

Dark Link. He's only appeared a handful of times in Zelda. Yet he has become a pretty popular character to fans. Why? I'm not really sure. Mostly because Dark Sides are cool. They're cool in Star Wars, cool in Spiderman, cool in Metroid, heck, even the Bible. And after reading some theories on Dark Link, I saw another connection. That connection being The Matrix.

Now, many see Dark Link as many different things, some see him as a ghost of a past warrior, or simply a reflection of Link. I even read one theory that said that Dark Link is Link of the other timeline. However, what most people believe is that Dark Link is a creation of Ganondorf. Either as a hazard or an actual second in command (this is seen in AoL). However I think Dark Link is somthing much more simple.

The Matrix, for those of you who haven't seen the trilogy, is basically about a computer program that people are literally plugged into without their knowledge. While this doesn't relate to Zelda this next part I believe does. Now in the Matrix, the main protagonist, Neo, has qualities similar to Link. But also does Dark Link have qualities similar to one of the main antagonists, Smith.

Now this may seem a bit strange. But, there are many similarities. First off, they are quite literally the same thing, only opposite. In the Matrix, Smith is the opposite side of the equation, his only purpose is to balance out the goodness in Neo. The same could be said about Link and Dark Link.

Secondly, skill in combat is equal. I'm sure many remember the frustratingly difficult battle in OoT. This is mostly because Dark Link moves and attacks EXACTLY like Link.

So my argument. That the Zelda Universe (no pun intended) is much like the Matrix in that certain laws must be followed. The main being equality. I believe that Dark Link is "the other side of the equation" whose sole purpose is to balance out the goodness in Link. The same could possibly be true regarding Termina VS Hyrule, Dark VS Light or Zelda VS Midna (in TP specifically) and in termina the Goddesses VS the Four Giants.

So to put it simply, Dark Link is the opposite of Link because the Universe has to find a balance. With Good there must be Bad, with light there must be Dark. That Kind of thinking.

I appologize if this is a bit muddled. It's late and I'm tired. I'll possibly edit tomorrow.

At first I was a tad confused, but I get ya now.
It's not specifically the Matrix you're comparing it too...but just the concept of equilibrium.

I don't really agree though, as the Dark Links have different backgrounds.
The one from AoL is presumably a "good" guy who is supposed to test Link to see if he's worthy of getting the ToC in my mind, whereas the ones in, say, FSA are spawned by the Dark Mirror and Ganon's evil.

Seeing as FSA has multiple ones, I don't think there's any sort of equilibrium. He's just a re-occurring character.

yeah that makes sense and like erimgard said. though i thought AoL dark link was the leader of the army trying to revive ganon

^
Not sure...I haven't beaten AoL yet :/
There are monsters trying to revive Ganon, but Link is also trying to get the ToC which was hidden by the king. The only way to do this is to put the six crystals in the temples, so it's sort of implied that the bosses of the temples are guardians, but I don't know if that's ever stated directly.

Originally Posted by michael12268

though i thought AoL dark link was the leader of the army trying to revive ganon

I think that's a theory that some people claim as fact.

Besides that, the end of the game shows Link's Shadow / Dark Link come out of Link himself.

YouTube - Zelda 2 - Dark Link without cheating

Almost seems like an illusion to me. Either way, I immediately saw it as a final test for Link before he could get the Triforce of Courage.

Dark Link in Ocarina of Time seems somewhat similar.

YouTube - TLOZ - Ocarina of Time - Mini-boss DARK LINK

I always saw him as an illusion created by the room. In fact, everything else in that room was illusionary.

And of course, as Erimgard pointed out, the Shadow Links in Four Swords Adventures were created by the Dark Mirror. Basically shadow copies of Link.

So it seems there really is no character called Dark Link. Just illusions and copies. But people like the concept of an evil Link doppelganger, so everybody fanfictualizes him into a character with an actual personality when the games give no such indication, except maybe in Four Swords Adventures where Shadow Link seems fairly expressive.

Well, in AoL it would seem to me that Dark Link jumping out of Link is actually proof that he is his dark side. As Erimgard pointed out, the bosses in the Great Palace are most likely guardians, however, in the Great Palace, Link fights Thunderbird and then Dark Link. Seems to me that Thunderbird is the guardian of the Palace, and that Dark Link is the final test of courage (he is, after all, vying for the ToC). Seems to me that the ultimate test would be to fight yourself, no? Also, in OoT, Navi's analysis of Dark Link says, "Fight yourself." That sounds like a little more than an illusion to m. Also, the Dark Links in TP are most definitely meant to represent the people of Hyrule turning on each other, another indication that Dark Link is Link's evil side.

I cannot say for sure in FSA, as I am not very knowledgeable in that game, other than what pertains to the timeline that is. But to me the other three all seem to be pointing towards the fact that Dark Link is simply a doppleganger of Link, only a manifestation of evil, rather than good.

This theory has always made sense to me despite everyone else seeming to think different. Glad to see that I'm not the only one that thinks this way, Catch~22.

Let me clarify quick, I'm not saying that Shadow/Dark Link isn't a dark version of Link, I just don't think it's an equilibrium, because there are multiple Shadow Links in FSA.
Also, in FSA, the Japanese text doesn't say anything about him being the manifestation of Link's evil....it actually says that it's a manifestation of the evil in whoever holds the Dark Mirror...which is Ganon.

I don't agree with the balance stuff. The balance in Zelda is between Wisdom, Power and Courage, mainly.

Then of course there are some good and evil stuff going on, but not in the same way. We have a bunch of artifacts like the MS and Light Arrows to rid of evil. We also have an evil artifact, the Trident of Power. Then we have a bunch of spirits, sages and maidens, etc. But I don't think there's a lot of thought put into some sort of balance.

That's pretty cool, but Midna is the twilight version of Zelda. Not the dark one.

I think Dark Link is in fact the opposite of Link or maybe just the evil from Link's heart that was released so he could become a hero, thus looking like Link.

My theory is that the gods/goddesses needed to make Link completely pure...so they extracted the evil from his heart thus creating Dark Link....that's my theory even though I agree with what Catch~22 about equilibrium.

Originally Posted by Omega1084

I think Dark Link is in fact the opposite of Link or maybe just the evil from Link's heart that was released so he could become a hero, thus looking like Link.

My theory is that the gods/goddesses needed to make Link completely pure...so they extracted the evil from his heart thus creating Dark Link....that's my theory even though I agree with what Catch~22 about equilibrium.

So he pulled a Son of Kattatsu?

Brownie points for those who get the reference.

Anyway, I suppose that's possible for AoL Link since we see his shadow jump out of him. But it'd be pointless at that point since he already killed Ganon months earlier and was a step away from getting the last piece of the Triforce.

In Ocarina of Time, it doesn't seem as likely to me since Dark Link seems to already be in the room when we enter, leaning against the tree.

Sorry to those of you that thought it was jumbled. I was tired and am currently on pain medication (whoop whoop whoop!)

On the subject of shadow link... I don't think that he is actually the same as dark Link. I have several reasons, one of which is that he's called a different name and of course there are lots of him. Whereas there is only one Dark Link at a time. (except of course in TP, but that's not really Dark LInk, more using him to tell a story.)

I used the example of the Matrix because it's a literal equation, I thought it would be more understandable that way, apparently not sorry guys.

I'm not using quotes, sorry. I'm responding to a lot of people.

While Midna is not evil, it could be argued that she is the opposite of Zelda, because she does inhabit the Dark (twilight) and Zelda the light.

One of my main arguments is the Fact that once you kill the Dark LInk in OoT, he keeps coming back, almost as if he's supposed to be there. Once you finally kill them all off, the room changes. Almost as if an equation has been toppled...

Originally Posted by Casual Matt

In Ocarina of Time, it doesn't seem as likely to me since Dark Link seems to already be in the room when we enter, leaning against the tree.

No, you have to go completely to the other side of the room first, then when you backtrack Dark link is leaning against the tree. This could be because Dark Link was pulled from Link's body by the room or something. If it was just a monster of Ganon's, he would have just been waiting there. The fact that you have to explore the illusionary room first makes me think that either Dark Link is an illusion created by the room to test you, or the room somehow pulled Dark Link from Link. In either case, he is Link's dark side. At least that's what I think.

i agree with aralith. i have always figured that dark link was the darkness within link himself. In AoL, he must conquer his darkness within for him to be worth of the triforce of courage. (again, dark link jumping out of link is evidence of this)

In OoT, the entire room dark link is in is reflective, inferring that Dark Link is, on some level, merely a refelection of link. Namely, a reflection of his darker side.

I haven't really played FSA much though, so i can't really comment about that...

Well, I dont know about AoL cause I never liked that game, but in OoT, I figure that dark link comes out as Links reflection. You know, how when you look at the water you see yourself. But only his evil side is reflected, as a test to see if he can overcome the darkness within him.

AOL Dark link=King's last test.

OOT Dark link= Link's evil reflection.

FS dark links=Enemys spawned by the dark mirror.

TP dark link=Interlopers(twilli ancestors) representation.

OOT Dark link= Link's evil reflection

Haha! I was right! (or atleast someone agrees with me....)

Originally Posted by xflame

In OoT, the entire room dark link is in is reflective, inferring that Dark Link is, on some level, merely a refelection of link. Namely, a reflection of his darker side.

Yes I also belive that dark link in OoT is a reflection of himself, well like you said, the entire room is reflective, also, when you first enter the room, you can see Link´s reflection in the water, you can explore the whole room and Dark Link will not appear until you step on that patch of sand with the tree in the middle of the room, after that, your reflection is no longer visible in the water, meaning that Link´s reflection somehow manifest into a living form.

I don't think that Dark Link is meant to balance Link because there are many Links that don't have a Dark Link (that we've seen anyway). Also, if Link destroyed Dark Link without being destroyed then there would be a lack of balance.

I totally agree with smallville boy. I could add that Links from OoT and AoL are the only ones (from the four mentionned) who seek or have the ToC. Fighting yourself is like a test of courage. Those two Dark Links are in no way evil. In fact, maybe the Goddesses dont even care for balance between good and evil, only balance between the three virtues (as said by Hombre de Mundo), thus maybe explaining the divine prank in TP.
Now imagine the scene of Link fearing himself... LOL!