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The next Zelda, from the second game The Adventure of Link, certainly displays the characteristics of royalty and resolve. It turns out that, according to legend at least, this Zelda is actually the first Zelda, who was put into an eternal sleep by a magician long ago. She too was a princess, and it’s she after whom all the following Princess Zeldas are named. And it was her resolve, in the form of a similar refusal to betray the location of the Triforce, which resulted in her being cast forever into sleep. Similarly to the first game, the player does not directly interact with the character of Zelda until she is awoken by a victorious Link at the end of the game.

The next game in the series, A Link to the Past, presents a slightly different Zelda. In this game, Zelda is the princess of Hyrule as well as one of seven maidens, each descended from the Seven Wise Men. These sages long ago sealed the evil thief Ganon in the Golden Realm after he had stumbled upon it and obtained the Triforce of Power. The Golden Realm became the Dark World, and at the time Link’s third adventure begins, Ganon’s alter ego (Agahrim) in Hyrule strives to capture the seven maidens and imprison them in the Dark World in order to release Ganon. In this game, Zelda’s foresight is more literal, in the sense that Zelda actually has telepathic powers. This is how she alerts Link to her plight, so once again she provides the motivation for Link’s heroics by calling for help while otherwise awaiting rescue. This behavior exhibits her usual resolve, foresight, and wisdom.

However, Zelda is not always an important character in a Zelda game. In some, such as Majora’s Mask and Link’s Awakening, she is only mentioned in the set-up. But there is plenty of Zelda in Ocarina of Time, which tells the tale of Link’s adventure as Zelda dreams of Ganondorf’s evil and Link’s arrival at Hyrule Castle, along with an account of how the Triforce was first obtained from the Golden or Sacred Realm. And Zelda, as usual, gets the Triforce of Wisdom. She also displays her trademark royalty, wisdom, and foresight (both literal and figurative). But she also has a different role than usual, one that is more active.

In Ocarina of Time, Link is led to temples throughout Hyrule by a guide named Sheik. Sheik, it turns out, is Zelda in disguise or transformed somehow.82 Sheik is a much more masculine character than the usual Zelda, so as Sheik Zelda plays a much more active role in assisting Link. She accompanies him instead of merely directing his quest and then waiting for him to accomplish it. And as soon as she reveals herself as Zelda, a woman, she is captured by Ganondorf and must again wait for Link to rescue her. This has critical implications for Zelda’s femininity and the resolve that is usually associated with it. When, as Sheik, she steps into a more masculine role, Zelda loses the passivity that so characteristically marks her with resolve or resignation. But as soon as she reveals herself as Zelda, and a woman, she gets captured as usual. This emphasizes the close association between Zelda’s role as a woman and her resolve, typically associated with a sort of passive resignation with a fate that Link must rescue her from.

In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages Zelda is her typical self: royal, wise, and resolved. She also displays prophetic abilities, which inspire her to find Link. And she is, as usual, captured and in need of rescue, although this time from sacrifice by the Twinrova sisters. The Twinrova sisters, who were in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, reappear here in much more focal and malicious roles. Another recurring character from several previous games, Impa the attendant or nursemaid, presents an interesting contrast as a character to the Twinrova sisters. She obeys and assists Zelda in all of the games in which she appears in her capacity as Zelda’s guardian, whereas the Twinrova sisters are at the very least mischievous and in these games, frankly evil.

Finally, we meet two other female characters, the oracle of seasons Din and