Surviving (Climate) Calamity and Upheaval: Real-world Lessons from Hyrule

One of Zelda’s defining features is its expansive, environmental storytelling. As Link, you get to explore the natural and social environment of Hyrule, utilising natural resources and forming bonds with Hyrule’s different communities. Success in the series is largely contingent on developing a deep understanding of, and connection to the land and its inhabitants. This chapter explores the series' relationship to environmental issues, in particular focussing on the connections between Link, Zelda and the natural environment. The land of Hyrule in the Zelda series is oftentimes under threat, not unlike our current world. Many of Ganon’s threats and representations throughout the series manifest environmentally, akin to smog, pollution and degradation. The Calamity and The Upheaval are two crises faced by Hyrule, that are represented and dealt with differently by the player and the inhabitants of hyrule. By primarily focussing on Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, this chapter explores what Zelda can teach us about our capacity for collective resilience and collaboration in times of environmental and social crisis. It explores how change efforts are limited and constrained by their social and historical contexts. It explores how wisdom, courage and power shape and change the world we live in for the better, and sometimes for the worse. We explore how in each context the (remaining) characters demonstrate different forms of compassionate heroism, and work together to change the world they live. Finally, we discuss the way the series can impact our behaviour and desire for social and pro-environmental change in the real world.