Post by Evie ❤✿ on Jun 27, 2019 6:21:07 GMT -5
This thread is about the dark or "yami" Nintendo symbolism of Majora's Mask; one of the most apparent.
Now with fan theories, it can be argued only Nintendo can reveal the meaning of the symbolism. However, fan interpretation is something that can bring communities together and give birth to new ideas - which makes them an important part of game culture.
The approach I'm going to talk about is Majora's Mask's themes of trauma, and how sometimes the only way to move on is to surrender or give up.
Link, as the Hero of Time (courage prophet) refusing to embrace death, and the apparent paradox of this being impossible:
In Ocarina of Time, Link began life as a regular boy without a fairy (his seemingly ordinary life and green tunic then) and he was not allowed to leave Kokiri Forest until he met Navi and the Great Deku Tree. This then, symbolises protection and security: but ultimately Link did acquire a fairy. Fairies are common symbolisms for magic. On one hand fairies symbolise witchcraft and deviation (commonly stereotyped negative qualities), however they also signify strength in embracing imagination, coping with the apparent meaningless of life (by extension religions can be argued as channelling fairies) and ancient Aboriginal dream time: that our dreams are important; they have abstract meaning the way they are, and that the entirety of life can be a big dream. Fairies are also symbolisms for friendship in lonely times and compassion.
Now, Link was chosen by fate; and he was lead out of the forest. Then came an important plot point; Young Link met Zelda and she was attacked by Ganondorf. Zelda then trusted Link with the Ocarina of Time; a person Ganondorf envious for power and in jealousy would dismiss Link as 'just a young boy', it is near the end of the game Ganondorf would say he 'slightly' underestimated Link's 'power', and would curse Link and Zelda in the abyss, claiming that he would return one day.
Hence became Link's adult era. Link did have the courage and pure of heart; so in taking the Master Sword the Sacred Realm trusted that he could stop Ganondorf but that Link would have to wait until he was old enough to possess the sword.
It was then something tragic happened to the land of Hyrule. Link was trusted to enter the Sacred Realm when old enough; but this opened up a portal (in parapsychology a "portal" signifies a vulnerability that can lead one to escape the realm of reality in religion it is symbolic of Satan) that Ganondorf abused to attempt to steal the Triforce. The Triforce hence split: into the Triforce of Courage, Wisdom and Power. Ganondorf acquired the Triforce of Power; hence he was able to rule over Hyrule with brute strength and ability to do so. Ultimately, Link (Hero of Time/prophet of courage) teamed up with Zelda (prophet of wisdom) and was able to defeat Ganondorf after many hardships. Yet as Zelda promised that Link would live as a normal child (having good intentions for Link and wanting him to prosper) and forget or hide the adventure, Link's fairy friend would never be seen again - Link's faithful friend, nor his faithful friend Epona. In the sequel, it was the Skull Kid who 'got rid of' Epona (I do not know whether she was killed to have a good idea as I have only completed Ocarina of Time not Majora's Mask).
Link then clearly must have experienced in his Temple of Time/hero branch past trauma/it is clear he faced many trials and faced many dark events. He was brave enough not to dismiss his highest past; the one in which he was the Hero of Time - symbolically then to prove his journey was not in vain, he is tested with his own mind and emotions (with some even extending it as far as that: by disobeying Zelda Link is dead, at least of the spiritual kind. The Happy Mask salesmans and the masks in general symbolise debt (and in Christianity, how whoever sins is a slave to sin; it could even be expressed as "no rest for the wicked" "the road to hell is filled with good intentions" - yet hell is not necessarily bad if one has faith, with Link as the wicked/fierce* one). In this respect then, Link must become wiser like Zelda, and in understanding his friends in the forms of masks). Link encounters many sadness in grief in Ocarina of Time; symbolic of Link having power in the dark era of Hyrule after Link pulled the Master Sword but then his friends not having it as Ganondorf would torment them - it links in with the many worlds theory in quantum physics; perhaps what must be hidden is kept hidden, so if these resemble Aboriginal dream time empathy is how we understand in terms of parables; and escape death.
Now what is fascinating is the angry moon is always said to hit Termina in a short number of days. But Link always needs more time, beginning with the two fairies he meets who both need it too, hence Link gets the ocarina. Now, my interpretation is that the two fairies Tatl and Tael are Navi herself - Tatl is Navi's sun sign; a gossipy spontaneous but wise person through her actions. Tael is Navi's shadow or moon side; Jung's negative interpretation of the anima as 'bitchy'/in Tao, sinister and the bottom of a hill; soul-work to be done (on a positive interpretation transparency in how one feels even if they do not possess full insight - which paradoxically leads to a form of greater insight), through the concept of female as envying life in children despite the fact that children will ultimately suffer like their mothers and fathers - and also in her name "Tael" on one hand is a lie/slander, on the other hand is self-integrity even in bitterness and open hearted/spiritual tales and imagination.
It was through his friendships that strengthened him. Was avoiding that bravery or attachment to lust for life? It's not black and white as we have the choice in life to choose our friends/free will (in Buddhism, attachment gives what are called karmic particles; even with the power of infinite they cannot be erased). If Link has to do this, he has to be what he does not know in the form of a mask; and some could argue even Link is not brave enough yet, however Link is very brave even braver to have acknowledged what he does not know, and perhaps peacefully he could escape Termina.
*An optional mask for collecting all other masks in Majora's Mask is the fierce deity mask. This is a mask of Link himself as the 'bad guy'. In collecting the masks and understanding them then, Link must finally respect himself in abandoning his ego, as for some people Link was truly the bad guy. When Link succeeded and met the moon children (note: in spirituality the moon represents the unknown and birth through sleep), friends of Majora, he was told cryptically to ask Link to play good guys and bad guys. Actually thinking about this, the angry moon is a moon child too; but people fear him. Why then don't the people not disrupt the natural order and let the moon get rid of Termina (which being termina, may be a fantasy land; a phantasmorgia) - as accepting him is something they may need.
In the manga, I have read that Majora's past would involve a dragon (in spirituality the dragon symbolises what is stereotyped as 'evil', but in fact a reminder to humble ourselves because the dragon being an ancient creature and possessing his power clearly should be validated even if we do not or cannot understand him) - in fact the dragon archetype has mighty stamina/much greater even than the horse, who was betrayed, but the people, in viewing him as evil may have had arrogance - with the dragon's power and own faith in himself, he would ultimately succeed in some way though if the people are divided they are no better than him.
When Majora took off the mask, was it really the Great Deku Tree? Did the Great Deku Tree incarnate have self-guilt for what he did; was he banished from life as he actually did die? So going back in time to original events would incarnate him as Majora, because the Great Deku Tree has served its purpose with Link not needing to be the hero of time anymore based on Zelda's word.
And then I guess when all the characters in the Majora's Mask legend forgive themselves including even Link himself, the two fairies, Majora and the Moon children, Termina will gently pass away. Forgive in this sense is neutrality and validation.
Now with fan theories, it can be argued only Nintendo can reveal the meaning of the symbolism. However, fan interpretation is something that can bring communities together and give birth to new ideas - which makes them an important part of game culture.
The approach I'm going to talk about is Majora's Mask's themes of trauma, and how sometimes the only way to move on is to surrender or give up.
Link, as the Hero of Time (courage prophet) refusing to embrace death, and the apparent paradox of this being impossible:
In Ocarina of Time, Link began life as a regular boy without a fairy (his seemingly ordinary life and green tunic then) and he was not allowed to leave Kokiri Forest until he met Navi and the Great Deku Tree. This then, symbolises protection and security: but ultimately Link did acquire a fairy. Fairies are common symbolisms for magic. On one hand fairies symbolise witchcraft and deviation (commonly stereotyped negative qualities), however they also signify strength in embracing imagination, coping with the apparent meaningless of life (by extension religions can be argued as channelling fairies) and ancient Aboriginal dream time: that our dreams are important; they have abstract meaning the way they are, and that the entirety of life can be a big dream. Fairies are also symbolisms for friendship in lonely times and compassion.
Now, Link was chosen by fate; and he was lead out of the forest. Then came an important plot point; Young Link met Zelda and she was attacked by Ganondorf. Zelda then trusted Link with the Ocarina of Time; a person Ganondorf envious for power and in jealousy would dismiss Link as 'just a young boy', it is near the end of the game Ganondorf would say he 'slightly' underestimated Link's 'power', and would curse Link and Zelda in the abyss, claiming that he would return one day.
Hence became Link's adult era. Link did have the courage and pure of heart; so in taking the Master Sword the Sacred Realm trusted that he could stop Ganondorf but that Link would have to wait until he was old enough to possess the sword.
It was then something tragic happened to the land of Hyrule. Link was trusted to enter the Sacred Realm when old enough; but this opened up a portal (in parapsychology a "portal" signifies a vulnerability that can lead one to escape the realm of reality in religion it is symbolic of Satan) that Ganondorf abused to attempt to steal the Triforce. The Triforce hence split: into the Triforce of Courage, Wisdom and Power. Ganondorf acquired the Triforce of Power; hence he was able to rule over Hyrule with brute strength and ability to do so. Ultimately, Link (Hero of Time/prophet of courage) teamed up with Zelda (prophet of wisdom) and was able to defeat Ganondorf after many hardships. Yet as Zelda promised that Link would live as a normal child (having good intentions for Link and wanting him to prosper) and forget or hide the adventure, Link's fairy friend would never be seen again - Link's faithful friend, nor his faithful friend Epona. In the sequel, it was the Skull Kid who 'got rid of' Epona (I do not know whether she was killed to have a good idea as I have only completed Ocarina of Time not Majora's Mask).
Link then clearly must have experienced in his Temple of Time/hero branch past trauma/it is clear he faced many trials and faced many dark events. He was brave enough not to dismiss his highest past; the one in which he was the Hero of Time - symbolically then to prove his journey was not in vain, he is tested with his own mind and emotions (with some even extending it as far as that: by disobeying Zelda Link is dead, at least of the spiritual kind. The Happy Mask salesmans and the masks in general symbolise debt (and in Christianity, how whoever sins is a slave to sin; it could even be expressed as "no rest for the wicked" "the road to hell is filled with good intentions" - yet hell is not necessarily bad if one has faith, with Link as the wicked/fierce* one). In this respect then, Link must become wiser like Zelda, and in understanding his friends in the forms of masks). Link encounters many sadness in grief in Ocarina of Time; symbolic of Link having power in the dark era of Hyrule after Link pulled the Master Sword but then his friends not having it as Ganondorf would torment them - it links in with the many worlds theory in quantum physics; perhaps what must be hidden is kept hidden, so if these resemble Aboriginal dream time empathy is how we understand in terms of parables; and escape death.
Now what is fascinating is the angry moon is always said to hit Termina in a short number of days. But Link always needs more time, beginning with the two fairies he meets who both need it too, hence Link gets the ocarina. Now, my interpretation is that the two fairies Tatl and Tael are Navi herself - Tatl is Navi's sun sign; a gossipy spontaneous but wise person through her actions. Tael is Navi's shadow or moon side; Jung's negative interpretation of the anima as 'bitchy'/in Tao, sinister and the bottom of a hill; soul-work to be done (on a positive interpretation transparency in how one feels even if they do not possess full insight - which paradoxically leads to a form of greater insight), through the concept of female as envying life in children despite the fact that children will ultimately suffer like their mothers and fathers - and also in her name "Tael" on one hand is a lie/slander, on the other hand is self-integrity even in bitterness and open hearted/spiritual tales and imagination.
It was through his friendships that strengthened him. Was avoiding that bravery or attachment to lust for life? It's not black and white as we have the choice in life to choose our friends/free will (in Buddhism, attachment gives what are called karmic particles; even with the power of infinite they cannot be erased). If Link has to do this, he has to be what he does not know in the form of a mask; and some could argue even Link is not brave enough yet, however Link is very brave even braver to have acknowledged what he does not know, and perhaps peacefully he could escape Termina.
*An optional mask for collecting all other masks in Majora's Mask is the fierce deity mask. This is a mask of Link himself as the 'bad guy'. In collecting the masks and understanding them then, Link must finally respect himself in abandoning his ego, as for some people Link was truly the bad guy. When Link succeeded and met the moon children (note: in spirituality the moon represents the unknown and birth through sleep), friends of Majora, he was told cryptically to ask Link to play good guys and bad guys. Actually thinking about this, the angry moon is a moon child too; but people fear him. Why then don't the people not disrupt the natural order and let the moon get rid of Termina (which being termina, may be a fantasy land; a phantasmorgia) - as accepting him is something they may need.
In the manga, I have read that Majora's past would involve a dragon (in spirituality the dragon symbolises what is stereotyped as 'evil', but in fact a reminder to humble ourselves because the dragon being an ancient creature and possessing his power clearly should be validated even if we do not or cannot understand him) - in fact the dragon archetype has mighty stamina/much greater even than the horse, who was betrayed, but the people, in viewing him as evil may have had arrogance - with the dragon's power and own faith in himself, he would ultimately succeed in some way though if the people are divided they are no better than him.
When Majora took off the mask, was it really the Great Deku Tree? Did the Great Deku Tree incarnate have self-guilt for what he did; was he banished from life as he actually did die? So going back in time to original events would incarnate him as Majora, because the Great Deku Tree has served its purpose with Link not needing to be the hero of time anymore based on Zelda's word.
And then I guess when all the characters in the Majora's Mask legend forgive themselves including even Link himself, the two fairies, Majora and the Moon children, Termina will gently pass away. Forgive in this sense is neutrality and validation.