Two Legends One Story: A Comparison Of Arthurian Legend And The Legend Of Zelda Franchise

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have been a staple story in many children’s lives. Tales of knights and dragons, witches and warlocks, princes and princesses have fascinated children and adults alike, leading to a combined experience of wonder shared by multiple generations. However, this isn’t just a western phenomenon. Japanese society has been influenced by the bushi, or the Samurai, an ancient sect of Japanese warriors. The bushi followed Bushido, or “the way of the warrior”. This ideology of Bushido is very similar to the ideology of chivalry and can be a direct comparison to chivalry. Due to the idea of bushido, children in Japan grow up with stories of ancient warriors, very similar to those of western children, which is why the Legend of Zelda franchise is so popular throughout the world. The impact this has is very important for society today. King Arthur, while not always depicted as a perfectly moral man, is seen as picturesque leader. Western leaders strive to follow his lead, and become not just a chivalrous leader, but a strong and righteous leader. Chivalry is a founding principal of today’s Western society, just like Bushido is for Japanese society. However, by purposefully reflecting Arthurian legend into the Legend of Zelda franchise, Nintendo, the company which created the Legend of Zelda, is showing the players of these games two things; the fact that Western and Japanese cultures, while different, have very many similarities and that the founding principles of both cultures are extremely similar. Children and adults alike are able to interact with the characters in the Legend of Zelda franchise, and by creating parallels between an ancient literary source, ancient mythology and modern art, society today is able to appreciate the works of the past in an even more vivid way. In this essay, I am going to argue that the Legend of Zelda franchise purposely reflects Arthurian legend, due to the fact that Japan’s society is fundamentally built on the idea of bushido, or “the way of the warrior”.