What are Heart Containers?

Out of all of the recurring items in the Zelda franchise, Heart Pieces and Containers are some of the most useful. Not only do they extend Link’s heart meter, prolonging the length of your survival for the rest of the game, they give the player a sense of accomplishment after defeating a boss or managing to scrounge up the pieces necessary to complete an entire Heart Container. They also mark the completion of a dungeon, rewarding you with a trinket which does not further the story plot in any way, but is simply a treat for you. They can even be tied to fun challenges, whether it be collecting all the Heart Containers in an entire game or avoiding them altogether. But one thing the series has consistently neglected to mention is the origin of these mystical items. If these are real objects that Link collects, then where do they come from, and why do they exist? Hit the jump to read more about this unexplained phenomenon.

First, let’s look at the Heart Pieces themselves, what they’re made of and what they do. In many of the games,Heart Pieces seem to consist of a transparent, lustrous material, reminiscent of glass or crystal. In Twilight Princess, they are blue with red centers, ringed around with yellow, but the traditional appearance for the Heart Pieces is a small red heart inside a large clear one, and the Containers are a large red heart framed with white or pink. I would say that they are very artfully manufactured, to be elegant and beautiful, while maintaining an appearance which clearly implies their purpose. These were obviously made by an intelligent form of life, whether that be one of the races living in Hyrule or a benevolent deity wishing to send the land his or her goodwill. It is apparent by looking at them that these masterpieces did not appear by chance, which is probably the least likely explanation for their existence.

Heart Containers possess several powers, all of which we have seen in other items in the series. The most obvious of these is their power to restore Link’s hearts. This power is seen in many, many other places, such as regular hearts, potions, fairies, hot spring water, soup, and even rest, such as on chairs or beds. It is a fairly common power, one with which Link would be very familiar.

The second power of Heart Pieces is their ability to join together to form a complete object. While this isn’t as common, several items do come in shards or pieces which Link must put back together. For example, the key to the Goron Mines in Twilight Princess, the map to the surface from Skyward Sword, the Triforce in many games, etc. What makes this power different from the last is that many of the items which come in bits are special, one-of-a-kind, and often magical. Recovery hearts you can find almost anywhere, but there are only three pieces of the Triforce in existence.

The third trait which the Heart Containers possess is their ability to increase Link’s heart meter. While nothing else in the Zelda universe is able to do this, concept of furthering Link’s abilities is by no means new to the series. In several of the games, Link is able to extend his magic meter by visiting one of the great fairies. Stamina potions can be used to make his stamina gauge decrease less quickly, and certain magical drinks and items can briefly or permanently double his attack. So what do these three powers have in common? They are all related to magic. While heart recovery doesn’t always have to rely on magic, many of the things which possess this power do. Fairies, potions and magic water can all heal Link of his wounds by magic. The second power, being able to, as individual pieces, form together to make a whole, is only seen in special items specifically placed by deities or supernatural beings. And the third power, increasing Link’s heart meter, totally and completely relies on potent magic. All of the items which replicate this ability are magic, the most relatable being the prolonging of Link’s magic meter, which is granted by a great fairy.

It has already been established that the heart containers were created by an intelligent being, and now we see that the creator must have power over strong magic as well. While it is conceivable that a skilled sorcerer formed the heart containers and imbued them with magic, I don’t believe that this is the case. Consider the locations of the heart pieces and containers. They are scattered wide across the earth, some in caverns or deep inside dungeons. Some have been swallowed by hostile creatures and some have been found and claimed by inhabitants of the land. It would be incredibly difficult for one man, or even an entire race, to distribute the items in such a thorough way. Whoever put them there wanted Link to challenge himself in order to get them.

Which brings me to my conclusion. I believe that one of the gods or goddesses placed them there to encourage Link on his travels, to give him perseverance and hope. It isn’t a coincidence that they are all scattered in places in reach of the hero, and that they require a variety of items to attain. The deity is enticing Link to continue in his quest, with the hope of a small trinket to give him endurance. Besides, aren’t the goddesses always the ones watching over Link and creating a plan for him?

But who knows? Maybe I’m wrong, and the containers are really works of some past magician, or the prize of a past race. What do you think? Are the Heart Containers creations of a deity, a mortal, or just chance altogether? And, better yet, what does Link do with them after he collects them? Let me know in the comments what you think.