Daily Debate: What Are Zelda, Link And Ganondorf’s Greatest Fears?

Everyone is afraid of something whether it be spiders, heights or even the dark. It’s a part of what makes us human, and that we can all feel very vulnerable when tackling something we perceive as a threat. Whether we grow out of these fears or still face them every single day, it takes courage to face them head-on. This line of thought got me thinking about an interesting Daily Debate. What are Zelda, Link and Ganondorf’s greatest fears? The three main characters from The Legend of Zelda must be scared of something, right?

Zelda’s fears in Breath of the Wild seem very clear. She desperately wants to awaken her powers, so that she may seal Ganon away. Her greatest fear is that she will fail and Hyrule will be destroyed. This fear in many ways is fueled by pressure from her father, who believes that his daughter is becoming distracted from training by Sheikah technology. As Zelda visits the Springs of Courage, Power and Wisdom, she prays for a blessing to allow her powers to manifest. When this does not come to pass, it further exacerbates her fear and she blames herself.

Link has faced countless horrific monsters and fought against evil in many forms. It seems strange to consider that this courageous hero could be afraid of anything! Still, in the new Twilight Princess manga, comic book artists Akira Himekawa suggest that Link’s greatest fear is that he might not be able to save those that he cares about. He breaks down in tears when he finds Colin is safe and well, no doubt, overcome with relief.

Ganondorf’s greatest fear is much harder to define. Again, what could a powerful sorcerer possibly be afraid of?  In The Wind Waker, I got the sense that the Gerudo lived a hard life in the harsh desert landscape, and in comparison with Hyrule’s lush green fields and favourable climate, it just didn’t seem fair. The frigid gales brought death to the Gerudo and yet, Hyrule prospered. Ganondorf sought to transform the oceans back into the world he knew before being sealed. If Link and Zelda succeeded, not only would he face death, but his failure would mean letting his people down. Perhaps this was his greatest fear.     

So, what do you think are Zelda, Link and Ganondorf’s greatest fears? Is Link actually afraid of cows? Does Ganondorf fear the presence of Demise within himself? Let us know in the comments below!

Featured artwork: Urin