Just who is Link?

[Torrasque]

This may seem like a stupid question since we all know who Link is, he's the protagonist in every Zelda game, the guy who saves the land from the forces of evil. The land could be Hyrule past or present, Termina field, or a transformed Hyrule that is mostly submerged. The evil could be Vaati, Ganondorf, or Akuma Demise. What always stays the same, is a hero rises up to face the villain and saves the land--and saves the princess who always becomes Zelda, but that is irrelevant for this discussion.

But just who or what is Link?
Is he an immortal being that is reborn whenever the times call for a hero to save the land? Is it a set of skills and instincts that transform any farm boy or adopted Hylian kid into the hero of time? Is it a set of genes that lie dormant until the time comes that turn a normal kid into a badass sword master and dungeon solver?

That is my question for you.

*guy (who I shall call Bob for no reason) says a picture of Link from Wind Waker is not link*

Bob: It was a kid from some small village who got clothes like the Hero Of Time's on his birthday. That character is definitely NOT Link. Link is merely mentioned at the beginning of that game, and only as said Hero Of Time.

Me: Link, the Hero of Time, is an idea that manifests itself in people across the land and across time. Link himself is not reborn, the idea and skill-set of Link is reborn. Just like Zelda is.
That is why you get Link in the time of OoT, WW, Oracle of Ages, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, etc.
The Link from Twilight Princess is a farm boy that gets caught up in the troubles of the kingdom. The Link from Skyward Sword is a normal kid trying to become a knight. The Link from OoT is an adopted Hylian raised as a Kokiri that finds out he has this legendary power within him.
YOUR Link exists in one game. MY Link exists in every game no matter the time or place.

Bob: If you go by the original story line, then it is impossible to have Link in all of them. Miyomoto said that OoT is the first in the story line, followed by Zelda 1 and then 2. The rest are more like a reincarnation of Link, but not actually Link.
As well, in WW, you see a statue of Link in Hyrule Castle under the ocean, which shows us that Link was the original Hero of Time, but there have been more similar heroes that have shown up over the ages.

Me: Honestly, the Terminator time-line makes more sense than the Zelda time-line. And the Terminator time line is a wtf mess.

Bob: This is true. So very true.

 

[Torrasque]

*tumbleweed blows by*
No one wants to weigh in on this? =|

 

[geK0]

I always just saw it as somebody being chosen to be the next "link" when the Gods need one.

 

[Furioso]

Skyward Sword gave him more of a personality, his lips creep me the hell out in that though, I also liked the Windwaker Zelda who started off on a quest to save his sister no matter the risks... and then finds out he is the hero of the prophecy and blah blah same old

 

[Vancleef]

Interesting... I've always thought there was a "Link and Zelda bloodline" or something, but them being "reincarnated" in every game after Zelda 2 makes more sense. (you know, Magic and stuff)

 

[malestrithe]

The Legend of Zelda is one story told over and over again. The first time the story was told, it was very basic, but over time, the story became more complex with each storyteller coming in and adding their own twist to the tale. The good stuff became a part of the story, while the bad stuff was forgotten about. This make it no different than the myriad of different versions of Robin Hood that's been told over the years.

"Once upon a time," the story goes, "a boy named Link goes on a quest. He is told to go rescue the princess of the kingdom where he lives. Along the way, he gets the things that he needs to defeat all of the great evil's powers. When he rescues the princess and saves the kingdom, he returns home. His duty is done."

In the context of the story, he is just a boy that has no special abilities other than a direct connection to the Triforce and the Great Spirits of that universe. He is not destined to be the savior of Hyrule unless the story called for it. He is not descended from Great guardians of years past. Link is not even a title that is given to male kids all over the kingdom.

 

[Guffe]

I'm more for the reincarnation that the God of Evil talked about at the ending in Skyward Sword. That has pretty much been my thought since a Kid, that always when a evil power is ressurected something wakes in a person of Destiny to keep the balance of the world.
Then again I also like the idea of every story being simply the same but with a different story teller so that's why it is so different every time. (you know, stories going down generations through speak and no one writing it down so it changes...)

 

[PinkiePyro]

from the manga it seems like it has to do with bloodline/genes to me as they all metion link being from a family of royal elite knights

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

He's 'Link' as in a link in the chain of heroes. I doubt that Nintendo thought about it that much from the start but the three characters who have always found some way to reappear in each new storyline are Link, Zelda and Ganondorf- all holders of the three Triforce pieces in Ocarina of Time, the storyline they've proclaimed to be the first one chronologically.

Of course usually Ganondorf breaks out of some kind of ethereal prison instead of getting reincarnated as a new person due to wishing for immortality. Thousands of years of experience over his enemy and he still loses...