ranch hand

Like every other Link, TP's Link is a common boy who grows up with little to no family. He resides in Ordon Forest, right outside of Ordon Village. How long he resided there, whether it was only for a small amount of time or all his 16 years, is unknown, but we do know that he had a strong attachment to it and its people. Like Ilia, we know Link was a worker, as he worked as a ranch hand for Fado. The village children looked up to him, especially Colin who viewed him as a role model. Link and Ilia are around the same age, so it comes as no surprise that they shared a close relationship as best friends.

representation

In the begining of TP, Link, like Ilia, lived a simple life. He lived just outside Ordon Village in a treehouse. One can assume that while he was close to the villagers, his living away from them signified that he did not develop too deep a bond with them. Yes, he was best friends with Ilia and a role model to the children, but perhaps it was this detachment from others that allowed him to embark on a journey without reluctance. Yes, initially he set out to save his friends, but we see that at the end of the game, he leaves. Whether or not he returns is irrelevant- his detachment, regardless of how much he cares for his friends, is indeed present, just as it was with other Links in the TLoZ series. This detachment leads to growth which leads to freedom, physically and spiritually. Link grows from a naive boy, unaware of the wonders of the world, and grows into a fighter. His growth in morale allows him to develop a closer bond with Ilia, which gives hope that one day he may return to her. On the other hand, being suddenly thrust into the role of a hero leaves him searching for himself, and that is where his detachment truly comes in- leaving Ordon at the end of the game. It is this embodiment of emotions that wholly represents the hero archetype, which TP's Link fits the mold perfectly.