The Zelda Series’ Hidden Dwarves

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In numerous aspects, The Legend of Zelda is deeply connected to classic fantasy motifs. The vague background of the Zelda mythos, bolstered by multiple intertwined timelines, along with its extensive history, provides ample opportunity for it to creatively rework these tropes and establish a unique narrative persona. This has led to the creation of its own interpretations of fairies, mermaids, and similar creatures.

In the realm of The Legend of Zelda, characters like Hylians resemble classic elven figures, dwelling in harmony with humans, possessing pointed ears, and maintaining a vague spiritual link to the divine. Creatures such as Blin, including Moblins and Bokoblins, embody traditional goblin-like qualities. However, one race stands out for its lack of clarity: Dwarves.

In The Legend of Zelda series, Hylians are akin to classical elves, coexisting with humans, characterized by pointed ears, and subtly linked to the divine. Blin, which includes Moblins and Bokoblins, follows classic fantasy depictions of goblins. However, Dwarves remain somewhat unclear within this high fantasy world.

Do Dwarves Exist In the Zelda Universe?

Dwarves Are Featured in A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds

In the game “A Link to the Past”, Link travels to Kakariko Village where he can meet a dwarf blacksmith whose sibling is imprisoned in the Dark World. Once the brother is freed, these dwarves will enhance Link’s weaponry. The same dwarves resurface in “A Link Between Worlds” and are depicted as sturdy, bearded, and robust, aligning with typical characteristics of this fictional race.

In these instances, Zelda series directly mentions Dwarves, leaving fans puzzled about their true identity. While it seems plausible that they resemble the Dwarves from Lord of the Rings with similar traits like blacksmithing, a lack of other Dwarves in subsequent games hints at the possibility that these characters might have a form of dwarfism, explaining their classification.

In this interpretation, the Zelda series could be seen as sharing themes with A Song of Ice and Fire, where characters who have dwarfism, including Tyrion Lannister and Penny, are often viewed as belonging to another distinct group, even though they merely suffer from a little-understood health issue.

Dwarves May Have Been Replaced by Gorons

An additional convincing interpretation for the earlier mentioned Dwarf references could be a more self-referential one. In 1991 when “A Link to the Past” was released, the “Zelda” franchise was still in its infancy. It’s plausible that Nintendo was exploring various fantasy themes during this period, and dwarves might have been incorporated into the game almost instinctively as they are common characters within the genre due to their widespread use.

In time, the game “Ocarina of Time” introduced the characters known as Gorons. Though they appear quite different due to their rock-like forms, these stouthearted individuals share many similarities with classic fantasy dwarves. They are hearty warriors who have a natural affinity for mining and blacksmithing, much like traditional dwarves. Dwarves are frequently portrayed as residing in subterranean environments and displaying unwavering loyalty to their kin, traits that Gorons also embody. It seems the “Zelda” series sought an established character type, and the Gorons were created as a more distinctive variation of dwarves.

How Dwarves Could Come Back to Zelda

After discussing all points, it’s worth noting that Dwarves could potentially reappear in both ALttP and ALBW. If Nintendo decides to alter the style of Zelda again after TOTK, their return might not require extensive explanation. A creative way to incorporate them into the story could be by suggesting that Dwarves are descendants of the Minish, a race mentioned as ancient in the Zelda series. Another possibility is that Tingle, from Majora’s Mask, may have some Dwarf blood, explaining his small stature despite not being biologically related to the Kokiri.

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2025-03-13 19:27