When it comes to The Legend of Zelda Franchising, Princess of Hyrule has a specific role in life to play. Not only does she personify the goddess of wisdom but she is also royal, so she is expected to be intelligent, modest, and traditionally feminine. She rarely wants something different for herself. But in The Legend of Zelda: A Breath of the WildZelda is struggling with the role she was born into. Unable to unlock her inner strength and fulfill her father’s lofty expectations, the world seems to be standing against her at every turn. Despite these pressures, she finds refuge in her chosen family and inner strength. That’s why I call her a bisexual woman. You helped me see my own worth and my own.

In the old games, Zelda was more like your typical princesses. Usually, you find her dressed inside Hyrule Castle or trapped in a dungeon. at Breath of the wildOften out in the fields, Zelda overlooks a rare frog or flower. As someone who likes to constantly talk about some mind-bending video game or a thought-provoking book, I totally understood it. I love sharing my feelings with close friends and the world at large. Whether she’s learning about native flora and fauna or ancient rangers, knowledge is something that propels her and fills her with purpose. The more excited she is about a new discovery, the faster she talks. But Zelda doesn’t always feel comfortable expressing her authentic self.

Breath of the wild Includes a heartbreaking scene in which the King of Hyrule confronts his daughter and scolds her. He searches in her for what gossip promoters have to say about her, how she wastes her time studying The Guardians, etc. In her father’s eyes, her true identity doesn’t matter much. According to him, she has a role to play which is totally nonsense. As Zelda inflames her hands out of frustration, it feels like a scene taken from my own life. Her anger is almost palpable. It is something I can deeply relate to. There is nothing more frustrating than being reprimanded for not meeting expectations or for failing to take on a role that someone else wants you to play, especially if it is from someone dear to you.

Like Zelda, I was expected to be someone I’m not. As a kid, I loved video games because they broadened my imagination and cleared my anxious mind. However, they were considered „childish things“ and rejected by my peers and family. In my early twenties, I was forced out of a locker while riding in the car. My relatives told me that I needed to go to church because I was dating a woman, as if divine intervention would somehow fix me. When I got a little older, I was advised to hide my sexual bisexuality from the man I was seeing. For many years, I couldn’t stand the pain. It collapsed like a poorly constructed sand castle under the weight of those expectations. Nothing strips you of your independence quite like feeling like you don’t have a voice.

My loved ones believed that bisexuality was not a real thing. They could not wrap their heads around the fact that a person can be attracted to both men and women. They could only see the world from a black and white perspective. The reaction I received was cruel, unfair and unjustified. But I learned a lot from it. I realized that I couldn’t live my life according to someone else’s plan. Up until that point, I was trying to be the perfect daughter and girlfriend. But the box other people put me in kept decreasing with each passing day. In order to live a more authentic life, I needed to seek help from my friends.

Unable to live up to her father’s expectations (which is crazy to deal with), Zelda turns to heroes for support. They are her chosen family and they accept it for what it is. They reinforce a safe space where she can express herself freely, whether she falls asleep on Urbosa’s shoulder or cries in Link’s arms. It is very important to have a strong support network, especially if you are dealing with prejudiced situations with your loved ones. Everyone deserves to feel loved and validated. Zelda heroes made me think about my chosen family and how they raised me during a really dark time in my life.

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In college, my relationship with my family was strained. I couldn’t talk to them about my sexuality without taking a million questions. Everything seemed gloomy and hopeless. I felt like I was drowning. But my friends, who are an adorable group of misfits with open minds and hearts, often took me for car rides around our hometown. They have allowed me to express my fears and my fears as they navigate up and down the busy highway that cuts through our town like an arrow. It was a facilitator. The gratitude I still have for them is immense and immeasurable. They were beacons of hope and light during those troubled times. They helped me find my strength when I was at my lowest point.

Zelda finds her strength too when she is at her lowest point. In one of the latest scenes, a crowd of aggressive guardians approaches her and the weak link. When she raises her hand to prevent Guardian from killing Link, her sealing force explodes from her in the form of a bright yellow light. After the light was dissipated, she was approached by a pair of Sheikha and Link’s bodyguards. The strength in Zelda’s voice is undeniable as it gives the guards clear instructions to hurry a helpless link to the Shrine of the Resurrection. Despite everything she’s been through, she persists. While Link has been praised for his physical prowess on the battlefield, I’ve always believed that Hyrule’s true hero is Zelda. She took control of her fate and found her inner voice.

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I found my voice, too. When I got out to my husband in my 30s, I was dazed. I actually wrote a script for myself because I was worried that I would freeze and choke on my own words. Even though he is one of the kindest and most open people I know, I still fear he will reject me. My anxiety likely stems from those past traumatic experiences. Thankfully, he was totally okay with it. He was only sad because I missed Pride Month a few weeks ago, because he wanted to celebrate it with me. He’s an amazing life partner, and I’m so lucky to have him in my corner. It took me a long time to get to this stage in life, but I’m so glad I did.

Zelda taught me a lot about finding my inner strength. Letting go of myself wasn’t an option. Zelda had to overcome her father’s doubts and find her voice. I had to overcome the inherent fanaticism of the people I loved. I wasn’t introduced to these experiences, but I definitely did. Not only is it about finding your inner strength, but also realizing that people can be wrong. Nobody decides what role they are supposed to play. I am good and deserve love and respect and no one can take that away.