Majora's Mask: Religious Metaphor?

[Super Goombario]

I heard something similar to this in an un-name place, and now I've been thinking about it...

Kokiri children turn into skull kids in the Lost Woods, Hylians turn into Stalfos. Link wandered into the Lost Woods to find Navi. He never found Navi, but he DID find this strange new world that can only be translated by the human mind; Link's imagination. Link dies in the Lost Woods, and Termina is a metaphor for Purgatory, the trials he must go through to reach "eternal peace".

In Twilight Princess, we see a large stalfos warrior known as the Hero's Shade, and he is the legendary Hero of Time. Apparently Link turned into a Stalfos and is now the Hero's Shade.

Also in Twilight Princess, we see a much... girlier Skull Kid than in Majora's Mask. Remember the creepy little Kokiri girl in OoT who you traded with to get the Biggoron sword? She's skull kid now.

Does it make sense?

[Ver-go-a-go-go]

Hmm, so you're saying that Link died in the lost woods, and that the events of MM were just a way of sleeping peacefully in death? I guess it COULD be possible, but it's kind of grim for my taste. I would rather than the events in MM were real, and that after them, Link found his back to Hyrule and lived a happy life until he dies. He could become the "teacher" in TP as a result of his heroic deeds in Termina.

As for the Skull Kid in TP, I think that's a pretty good theory. Personally, I have no explanation of where it came from, so your's makes sense to me.

[Nintendo_Master]

I heard something similar to this in an un-name place, and now I've been thinking about it...

Kokiri children turn into skull kids in the Lost Woods, Hylians turn into Stalfos. Link wandered into the Lost Woods to find Navi. He never found Navi, but he DID find this strange new world that can only be translated by the human mind; Link's imagination. Link dies in the Lost Woods, and Termina is a metaphor for Purgatory, the trials he must go through to reach "eternal peace".

In Twilight Princess, we see a large stalfos warrior known as the Hero's Shade, and he is the legendary Hero of Time. Apparently Link turned into a Stalfos and is now the Hero's Shade.

Also in Twilight Princess, we see a much... girlier Skull Kid than in Majora's Mask. Remember the creepy little Kokiri girl in OoT who you traded with to get the Biggoron sword? She's skull kid now.

Does it make sense?


I can see what you are getting at with these theories, but what is the girly skull kid in TP? My memory is a bit foggy...and even if she did turn into a skull kid, how do you know it is really her? There were several girl Kokori in the Village, and saying that it was her is kind of a long shot, unless she said something pertaining to any type of thing that she had done in OoT.

[Zemen]

It's a decently thought up theory but it fails in a couple of spots. First, at the end of MM, Link is seen waking up in the lost woods which implies that after saving Termina he went back to Hyrule (i.e. he's not dead).

Secondly, you are placing TP on the child timeline. There is no hero of time on the child timeline so the hero's shade cant be the hero of time.

The skull kid that you meet in TP says this, "that green outfit reminds me of this kid i ran into a while back" (not exact quote) which implies that its the same skull kid from MM.

[Nintendo_Master]

The skull kid that you meet in TP says this, "that green outfit reminds me of this kid i ran into a while back" (not exact quote) which implies that its the same skull kid from MM.

I'm sorry, I'm having a tough time remembering quite where you meet this skull kid. I'm not implying that you are lying, I'm just wondering who it is and where it is found...

[Zemen]

I'm sorry, I'm having a tough time remembering quite where you meet this skull kid. I'm not implying that you are lying, I'm just wondering who it is and where it is found...

I'm not 100% sure where. Try looking it up in a walkthrough or on Zeldawiki.

[Super Goombario]

You meet it in the Sacred Grove where you get the Master Sword and enter the 7th dungeon

[Zemen]

Skull kid in TP also knows Saria's Song which is another implication that it's the same Skull kid as in MM.

[Super Goombario]

No, that skull kid just randomly played the instrument, which is a DIFFERENT instrument than the original Skull Kid. Saria's Song is playing in the background.

[Nintendo_Master]

You meet it in the Sacred Grove where you get the Master Sword and enter the 7th dungeon
Is she the one with the horn that summons the puppets?

I'm sorry, I know this conversation isn't JUST about this skull kid, but I am really curious to know who this is!

[Super Goombario]

It in fact is JUST about that skull kid, I only mentioned the other Skull Kid in comparison to the TP one. Yes, the one that summons the puppets.

[Zemen]

Is she the one with the horn that summons the puppets?

I'm sorry, I know this conversation isn't JUST about this skull kid, but I am really curious to know who this is!

Yes, that is the Skull Kid, but the gender is technically unknown, although in MM Skull Kid is a he and it's heavily implied that it's the same Skull Kid i.e. a male.

[angelkid]

Link dies in the Lost Woods, and Termina is a metaphor for Purgatory, the trials he must go through to reach "eternal peace".


at the end of MM, Link is seen waking up in the lost woods which implies that after saving Termina he went back to Hyrule (i.e. he's not dead).

perhaps link doesnt die, but perhaps because comatose or something similar. perhaps termina is a metaphor as goombario said, but not for purgatory. more for fighting his way out of his coma. if link were to die in termina, then link would die full stop. but he doesnt die, therefore he wakes up in the lost woods.

[Nintendo_Master]

Yes, that is the Skull Kid, but the gender is technically unknown, although in MM Skull Kid is a he and it's heavily implied that it's the same Skull Kid i.e. a male.

O.K. Thank you. Question officially answered. Moving on.

[Zemen]

perhaps link doesnt die, but perhaps because comatose or something similar. perhaps termina is a metaphor as goombario said, but not for purgatory. more for fighting his way out of his coma. if link were to die in termina, then link would die full stop. but he doesnt die, therefore he wakes up in the lost woods.

Doubtful. In WW, Phantom Ganon's sword has Hylian written on it. The Hylian translates to Zabora Gubora which are the names of the Terminian blacksmiths in MM. It could just be an easter egg, but if it is meant to be more than that then this is evidence that MM is, indeed, a parallel dimension and not some afterlife or coma-induced world.

[basement24]

I just assumed in OoT young Link died at some point and there's only one timeline. I know they say there's two, but I don't see why you can't have Adult Link going home to be young Link again, and young Link never making it to the point in time where he was transported as an adult. This would make sense that MM was Link's time before the final death. Although if the Hero's Shade seemed to be an adult, so this might mess this up if it's definite that the Hero's Shade is that specific Link.

[Zemen]

I just assumed in OoT young Link died at some point and there's only one timeline. I know they say there's two, but I don't see why you can't have Adult Link going home to be young Link again, and young Link never making it to the point in time where he was transported as an adult. This would make sense that MM was Link's time before the final death. Although if the Hero's Shade seemed to be an adult, so this might mess this up if it's definite that the Hero's Shade is that specific Link.

There HAS to be a split. I don't understand how people still don't believe in the split.

The BS of WW specifically says that after the Hero of Time defeats Ganondorf he disappears. In the end of OoT, after Link defeats Ganondorf, he is sent back to his childhood. This explains why the BS of WW says he disappeared.

If Link went back in time to his childhood and never went through the adventure he had then he NEVER would have become the Hero of Time which means, on a linear timeline, OoT would be the ONLY game that has or talks about the Hero of Time but the fact that WW uses the term "Hero of Time" means it HAS to take place after the adult part of OoT. The fact that MM features the same kid Link means it HAS to take place after Link gets sent back to his childhood. That, right there, proves a split timeline. ON TOP OF THAT THE CREATORS HAVE TOLD US THERE IS A SPLIT TIMELINE. I don't think it can get anymore obvious.

[Kaynil]

I think Zemen must be so tired of repeating himself by now about the split theory, hahah, I know I've read this at least five times by now. -_-"

It is interesting,. personally I don't think Link died there, I always thought it was something happening. If I'd consider a metaphor would be more in the lines like they said about the coma, as Links struggles in the whole Majora's Mask episode and manages to overcome it. The Shade Warrior of Twilight Princess, some people think is Link, myself not included, so it doesn't really make much weight for me to believe that.

Still, interesting way to take the game.

[Zemen]

The creators have also stated that Termina is a parallel dimension. That sort of rules out the idea of it being an after life or coma world.

[DvSag]

Not entirely true.

Even some scientists theorize that alternate dimensions (aka: alternate plains of existence that share our same world and all of its laws, even though we do not see them) could be "heaven", "hell", "purgatory", "limbo", "Valhalla", "Olympus", and other mythical/religious places reachable only by death. Same could be said about Hyrule's relation to Termina.

[Zemen]

Not entirely true.

Even some scientists theorize that alternate dimensions (aka: alternate plains of existence that share our same world and all of its laws, even though we do not see them) could be "heaven", "hell", "purgatory", "limbo", "Valhalla", "Olympus", and other mythical/religious places reachable only by death. Same could be said about Hyrule's relation to Termina.

The same COULD be true about Termina if, and only if, the creators were basing it on that idea, which is not made obvious at all. The HMS has indirectly said that he can travel between Hyrule and Termina. That right there makes it highly unlikely that it is any sort of afterlife because it would make no sense if one of the "dead" can travel between life and death as he pleases. Also, the creators ONLY mention it being a parallel dimension. The game was made YEARS ago and if it was more than just a parallel dimension then we would know. The creators would have no problem telling us, seeing as how MM is set in concrete as to where it goes on the timeline.

[Skull_Kid]

Doubtful. In WW, Phantom Ganon's sword has Hylian written on it. The Hylian translates to Zabora Gubora which are the names of the Terminian blacksmiths in MM. It could just be an easter egg, but if it is meant to be more than that then this is evidence that MM is, indeed, a parallel dimension and not some afterlife or coma-induced world.

That sword has made me think about a lot of stuff...
Theoritacally, in the Adult Part of OoT, Link never went to Termina, and the moon probably crash landed into it.
But... what if the moon never came downin the adult part of OoT?
I'll explain: when you exit the temple of time in the adult part of OoT, all the Hyrule Castle Town is ravaged and full of Redeads, so, it is possible that the Happy Mask Salesman was also killed during the siege to the town, so, he never traveled into the Lost Woods and was never robbed by Skull Kid, wich also means that he was never possessed by Majora's Mask and never summoned the Moon to destroy Termina.
Maybe Ganondorf found a way of leaking into Termina through the Sacred Realm, maybe Zubora and Gabora were in fact Ganondorf's minions before he got "banished" in the scene we see in TP(the famous scene of the Arbiter's Grounds), or maybe... Koume and Kotake(yes, the TwinRova) got the sword forged and gave it to Phantom Ganon(they were never killed in the Child Part of OoT, and I really think that they are the same as the ones in OoT(they retain the same name, along with Guru Guru)

[Super Goombario]

What if the HMS is Death? There's not really much to further this idea, but it would REALLY make sense of the whole thing.

[Skull_Kid]

What if the HMS is Death? There's not really much to further this idea, but it would REALLY make sense of the whole thing.

There is not a single thing hinting for that, and if he would eventually be Death, why would he have a punny mask shop in OoT?
And I don't think it would help to make any sense out of anything.
Death is a cool character in Castlevania, but I don't think it would fit Zelda.
Also, Majora is already the Zelda equivalent to the Devil/evil superior entity

[Kaynil]

Yeah, Skull_kid, it actually makes you wonder how did this sword could have gotten into Phantom Ganon's hand. Myself I don't know what to think of it, my first reaction is just to throw it as an easter egg, since I always though MM chapter was closed with 'Link's return'.


Not entirely true.

Even some scientists theorize that alternate dimensions (...) could be "heaven", "hell", "purgatory", "limbo", "Valhalla", "Olympus", and other mythical/religious places reachable only by death. Same could be said about Hyrule's relation to Termina.

Yeah, because they have never said something among the lines that it cannot be taken in such a way. They have done it with LA and PH, so MM cannot be discarded as well just because the in-game hint doesn't point it as directly as in the other games.

[basement24]

There HAS to be a split. I don't understand how people still don't believe in the split.

I never said I don't believe in the split timeline. I actually do, it's the simplest and most effective answer, and as I said, I know they stated there's two. I just don't see why the one line is completely debunked, but it isn't to say I back it fully.

There's issues of where Kid Link disappears to if he's not in the Adult Link timeline, and just when does the timeline split, at the beginning of Adult Link's journey, or the end. And if Kid Link goes back to the beginning of the OoT adventure, then it creates and endless loop that never gets him to MM. I know they stated there's two timelines, but they've never given us answers to any of these issues, so it's up for debate and interpretation.

I've read your view a few times before, but I don't see it exactly the same way as you do. Neither of us are 100% right or wrong (I don't think anyone is when it comes to timelines because there's so little information given) because in the end, it's a video game, and they're not giving us a lot of information to go on. A lot of this is up to speculation and personal opinion on how different people interpreted what happened.

I'm open to any interpretation that makes sense. It's part of the fun of it all. :)

[Zemen]

There's issues of where Kid Link disappears to if he's not in the Adult Link timeline, and just when does the timeline split, at the beginning of Adult Link's journey, or the end. And if Kid Link goes back to the beginning of the OoT adventure, then it creates and endless loop that never gets him to MM. I know they stated there's two timelines, but they've never given us answers to any of these issues, so it's up for debate and interpretation.

The timeline splits after Link is sent back to his childhood. Why do you think this causes an endless loop? Link goes back to his childhood knowing whats gonna happen. He warns the king of what's going to happen which means that the king will keep an eye on Ganondorf rather than letting Ganondorf take over without warning. After Link warns the king he leaves Hyrule in search of navi and falls into his MM adventure. There doesn't need to be an endless loop. If in the future you step off of a curve and get hit by a bus and get sent back in time with the knowledge that you will get hit by a bus are still going to step off that curve? No, you wont.

Link went through a great adventure that caused destruction and the overtake of Hyrule. He got sent back to before that all happened. Is he going to warn the king of Ganondorf before it happens or is he gonna let things be and go through all of the trials again? There doesnt need to be an endless loop.

[basement24]

There doesn't need to be an endless loop, of course, but it's entirely possible.

I wouldn't step off the same curb to be hit by the same bus of course, but it depends on if you believe in destiny and fate. You can avoid walking in front of that bus, and you remain on the curb, but then it turns out the taxi behind the bus loses control and hops the curb and kills you anyway. By travelling back before it happened, you are able to avoid that precise moment with the first bus, but in the end, your ultimate fate is not avoidable.

It could be said that Link goes back and warns the King and all is fine in the world, or Link could just delay the inevitable and Ganondorf would take over regardless. Again, it's one of those things that we just don't have enough information about as to what exactly happened. It's a lot of educated theories by different people, and I believe they all have valid points to make. But in the end, the only people with the absolute answer are Miyamoto and the gang, and even then I have a feeling they aren't 100% sure. They're just along for the ride.

At any rate, we're wa-a-a-a-ay off topic now...