Because The Legend of Zelda series contains an in-depth and enchanting plot, the video game's narrative heavily relies on the use of themes in the portrayal of the nature of the universe of Hyrule, its characters, and its quests. Much like imagery and symbolism within the video game's structure, The Legend of Zelda series is built upon a majority of themes that are found in Christian theology. Such Christian-inspired themes are the theme of good versus evil, the theme of creation and fall, and the nature of death and the afterlife; the Christian perspective of the soul and its connection with the self. 

​

 

 

 

Throughout popular myth, the notion of good versus evil has been prevalent throughout the history of storytelling, and is one of the most common conventional themes in video games, television shows, literature, etc. The theme is often considered to be a universal part of the human condition[#]. One variation of this topic is the battle between individuals and their ideologies, such as one side representing the good, and one side portraying the evil[#]. In the case of The Legend of Zelda series' narrative, the principal representation of good versus evil is portrayed through the protagonists Link and Princess Zelda, illustrating the good, and the antagonist Ganon, representing the evil. 

​

In religion and spirituality, the idea of good and evil is a very common conception. In the Christian worldview, the essence of evil is typically understood as anything contrasting the will or character of God. Respectively, the concept of good is any thought or attitude that is consistent with God's character or will. In Christianity, God represents the ultimate good, while Satan, God's adversary, represents everything contrasting Him. Such an opposition, according to Christian Science, is a result of the misunderstanding of God's reality, thus a misconception of the goodness of nature[#]. In the Book of Genesis, it is commonly interpreted that the serpent in Genesis 3 is the first appearance of Satan in the Old Testament. In the narrative of Genesis, the conniving serpent convinces Adam and Eve to betray God, causing their banishment from the Garden of Eden and thus dooming them to mortality[#]. In modern times, Christians maintain the ideologies of Satan, as they believe that he is responsible for the world's corruption and chaos[#]. 

​

In The Legend of Zelda series, the antagonist, Ganon, is used to represent universal evil. For instance, in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the use of Ganondorf, the human manifestation of Ganon, builds on modern-day Christian concepts of Satan, in so that Ganondorf is specifically used to parallel the potential corruption of the hearts of humans. Moreover, the narrative uses Ganondorf's character to exemplify how such evil can cause severe consequences in the larger framework of humanity[#]. In Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf's ultimate goal is to attain the sacred relic the Triforce, the transcendent symbol of power, wisdom, and courage in the land of Hyrule. The legend of the Triforce states that whomever holds all three pieces of the relic will be granted the desires of the wielder's heart[#]. By achieving the Triforce, Ganondorf causes turmoil and destruction to befall the land of Hyrule, thus reflecting out into the world what lies within his heart. Furthermore, upon possessing the Triforce, another component of the legend manifests; The prophecy also states that, if the wielder of the Triforce has a heart that does not have perfect harmony of the three virtues of the Triforce, the relic will split into three pieces. If the Triforce separates, its holder will maintain the portion representing their most developed quality, while the other two pieces will seek a hiding place in the bodies of those chosen by destiny[#]. In Ganondorf's case, the Triforce does separate, and he maintains the Triforce of Power, while the other two pieces find a temporary home in Link and Princess Zelda. Contrasting Ganon, the hearts of Princess Zelda and Link represent the virtues of wisdom and courage, respectively. Zelda and Link use such traits to protect the realm from Ganon's destruction, thus reuniting the segments of the Triforce back together and reintroducing harmony to the realm. 

​

In The Legend of Zelda series, Shigeru Miyamoto and the creators of Zelda use the Triforce to exemplify the significance of power, and how those with power choose to apply it can greatly affect humanity as a whole. Having been left behind by the divine creators of the realm, moreover considering that it is comprised of a major virtue of each Goddess, the Triforce is the divine physical manifestation of the Three Golden Goddesses and their character and will. In relevance to the religion of Christianity, the Triforce represents the transcendent will of God, thus demonstrating the requirement of such transcendence to overcome sin and embrace a Christ-like nature. Thus, the creators of The Legend of Zelda series demonstrate a common conception within Christianity, specifically how the misuse of power can cause corruption and chaos, while using transcendent power of the will of God will maintain and encourage universal harmony[#]. 

​

​

​

​