Majora's Mask (Object)

From Zelda Wiki, the Zelda encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article refers to the actual mask in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. You may be looking for the Majora's Mask (Boss), the final boss that appears within the game.

Template:Featured Template:Object Template:Spoiler Majora's Mask (Pronounced /mæ ˈdʒɔː rə/) is a mask and the primary antagonist in the game of the same name, once used by a nameless tribe as a form of hexing and torture.[1] This mask is primarily seen being worn over the face of the game's supposed antagonist, Skull Kid, who uses its dark magic to rage terror across Termina.[2]

Role in the Game

The mask is first introduced after the Happy Mask Salesman removes the curse that was placed on Link by Skull Kid. The salesman explains that the mask is an ancient artifact that was used by an ancient tribe for its bewitching rituals, but the mask's wicked power became so great that it was sealed away to prevent a great catastrophe. However, since the ancient tribe vanished, no one accurately knows the true nature of its power. The salesman fears the great devastation that could befall Termina if the mask is not taken back from the Skull Kid.[3]

For a majority of the game, the mask is worn by Skull Kid on the Clock Tower, drawing the Moon to Termina.[4] Although the Skull Kid was unaware, Majora's Mask gradually began to take complete control of his mind, turning his harmless pranks on people to acts with malicious intents.[5] Due to this, prior to the game's events, Skull Kid used the power of the mask to prank and curse others around him, such as Kafei.[6]

On the Clock Tower after the Four Giants are called, the Mask abandons Skull Kid and enters the moon so that it can push it through the Giants' blockade and complete its destructive path.[7][8] It is there that Link follows Majora's Mask into the moon to fight the evil menace behind all of this.[9] After the young hero and Tatl defeat the malevolent mask, they return back down to the land of Termina where the Happy Mask Salesman informs them that the evil inside Majora's Mask has disappeared once and for all.[10] The mask is last seen as the salesman departs with it in his hands.

Fierce Deity and the Moon Dungeons

File:Moon Surface.jpg
One of the children on the surface of the moon.
Main article: Fierce Deity's Mask

Majora's Mask is encountered when Link talks to the lonely child under the tree inside the Moon. Using the Fierce Deity's Mask, Majora's Mask can easily be defeated; however, some fans think this takes some of the fun out of the battle.

To obtain the Fierce Deity's Mask, Link must obtain all twenty-three other masks and use them to enter the four moon dungeons. While on the moon, the young hero will notice five children, four of which are running around wearing each of the Boss Remains. Each will allow Link entrance to their dungeon, for a specific fee of masks.[11] If he gives a total of twenty masks to the four children, (excluding the three transformation masks) at the entrance and exit of each dungeon, the child wearing Majora's Mask will give him the Fierce Deity's Mask for a game of "Good vs. Bad", although this has no effect on the boss battle.[12]

Theories on Origins of Majora's Mask

Separate Entity

Majora (ムジュラ, Mujura) was an evil being plaguing Termina in ancient times. Though the game doesn't give much specific history on the origins of Majora's Mask, it does state that in ancient times, the mask was worshiped[citation needed] by an ancient tribe who used it in rituals involving the casting of hexes and curses, until they finally sealed it away from the world in the hopes that its evil power would never be unleashed again.[13]

Hundreds of years later, it was sought out and found by the Happy Mask Salesman. Soon afterwards, the Skull Kid scared the salesman unconscious and stole the mask from him and began to access its power, awakening the consciousness of the mask.

The Skull Kid, wearing Majora's Mask, still doesn't take on Majora's mind or personality; he is simply possessed by the Mask. At the end of the game, inside the Moon, Majora manifests out of the mask into Majora's Mask, then Majora's Incarnation, an insane being that dances around the boss chamber. After the Incarnation is defeated, Majora's transformation is completed, and the Incarnation becomes Majora's Wrath. Majora is eventually defeated, and the being itself disintegrates. The mask is left behind, cleansed of the evil inhabiting it.

The Twili

The Fused Shadow, with an eye of Majora for comparison

It has also been suggested by some that the "ancient and evil" tribe is perhaps referring to the ancestors of the Twili, the Dark Interlopers, a race whose existence was revealed in Twilight Princess. This is due to similarities between an ancient object created by the Twili dubbed the Fused Shadow and Majora's Mask, as they share similar powers and they have a similar design. Also, Zant's fighting style in the eighth dungeon of Twilight Princess is similar to that of Majora's Mask, in fluidity, style, and spontaneity.

Majora's Mask takes place in an alternate universe. However, Majora's Mask could be a parallel version of the Fused Shadow.

The "ancient and evil" tribe, however, could also be the Sheikah, due to their symbol being an eye similar to the eyes of the Majora's Mask. This, however, leaves a gap of information on why they would hex and curse others, as they were devoted to the goddesses. On the other hand, it could explain why the Sheikah were called the "shadows of Hylians,"[14] and additionally why the mask is marked in the manner it is. This opinion is, yet again, left to fan speculation.

The Sheikah

Another theory suggests that the Sheikah may be the creators of the Fused Shadow and the ancestors of the Twili, given their affinity with shadow. This means that the Sheikah's Terminan counterparts, who were physically absent from Majora's Mask, very much like many of the Sheikah were absent from Ocarina of Time, were the creators of Majora's Mask; given, of course, that it is the Terminan counterpart to the Hylian Fused Shadow. With this established, their counterparts may very well be the Ikana, with Ikana Canyon being the obvious Terminan counterpart to Kakariko Village, sporting similar geographical features, a graveyard, and other similar landmarks.

Despite these similarities, however, there has been no confirmation of a connection between the two by Nintendo, and any perceived connection is merely fan speculation.

Majora's Mask Creation (manga version)

A page within the manga, depicting Majora

In an extra chapter of the Majora's Mask manga, the story explains that before the time setting of Majora's Mask, there lived an evil creature which fed on the desires of the countless numbers of humans who had come before it to try and claim its armor and be granted their wishes. A traveler, similar in appearance to the Fierce Deity, comes forward to the place where the monster lived. The traveler starts talking with the man-eating creature, where he finds that the monster itself wanted to die, being so miserable. The hero pulled out his bongo and started playing. The monster went into a trance and started dancing. The hero played for three days straight (probably why Majora wants to finish off the world in three days). On the third day, the beast dropped dead from dancing his heart out. The hero took its magical armor, but instead of wishing upon it, he carved it into a mask in an attempt to seal the beast's power inside the mask forever. The mask was named Majora after the beast. The mask had a spirit because Majora's evil power lingered on inside the mask seeking a host, not resting until its wish was granted.

Trivia

Majora's Mask is one of the smallest bosses in terms of height within The Legend of Zelda series.

Gallery

References

  1. "It is an accursed item from legend that is said to have been used by an ancient tribe in its hexing rituals. It is said that an evil and wicked power is bestowed upon the one who wears that mask." — Happy Mask Salesman (Majora's Mask)
  2. "That mask... The Skull Kid uses the power of that mask to do those terrible things." — Tatl (Majora's Mask)
  3. "The mask that was stolen from me... It is called Majora's Mask. It is an accursed item from legend that is said to have been used by an ancient tribe in its hexing rituals. It is said that an evil and wicked power is bestowed upon the one who wears that mask. According to legend... the troubles caused by Majora's Mask were so great... the ancient ones, fearing such catastrophe, sealed the mask in shadow forever, preventing its misuse. But now, that tribe from the legend has vanished, so no one really knows the true nature of the mask's power... ...But I feel it. I went to great lengths to get that legendary mask. When I finally had it... I could sense the doom of a dark omen brewing. It was that unwelcome feeling that makes your hair stand on end. And now... that imp has it... I am begging you! You must get that mask back quickly or something horrible will happen!" — Happy Mask Salesman (Majora's Mask)
  4. "What could that troublemaker be doing atop the clock tower? I just hope he's not plotting another one of his no-good tricks..." — Professor Shikashi (Majora's Mask)
  5. "The power of the mask made him do it. It was too much for the Skull Kid to handle." — Tael (Majora's Mask)
  6. "I was turned into this by a strange imp wearing a mask..." — Kafei (Majora's Mask)
  7. "A puppet that can no longer be used is mere garbage. This puppet's role has just ended..." — Majora's Mask (Majora's Mask)
  8. "I...I shall consume. Consume...Consume everything." — Moon (Majora's mask)
  9. "Well? You're going in, aren't you? ...We can't do anything down here. Let's go!" — Tatl (Majora's Mask)
  10. "Oh...So the evil has left the mask after all..." — Happy Mask Salesman (Majora's Mask)
  11. "Then I'll play with you. So...The masks...Give me some..." — Children of the Moon (Majora's Mask)
  12. "Let's play good guys against bad guys... Yes. Let's play that." — Children of the Moon (Majora's Mask)
  13. "It is an accursed item from legend that is said to have been used by an ancient tribe in its hexing rituals...the ancient ones, fearing such catastrophe, sealed the mask in shadow forever, preventing its misuse." — Happy Mask Salesman (Majora's Mask)
  14. "Have you heard the legend of the "Shadow Folk"? They are the Sheikah...the shadows of the Hylians. They say they swore allegiance to the King of Hyrule and guarded the Royal Family. But with the long peace, no on has seen a Sheikah around here for a long time. However... I heard there is one Sheikah woman living in the castle..." — Shikashi (Ocarina of Time)



Names in Other Regions
Language Name


Majoras Maske

Template:Characters

Masks in Majora's Mask
Postman's HatAll-Night MaskBlast MaskStone MaskGreat Fairy MaskDeku MaskKeaton MaskBremen MaskBunny HoodDon Gero's MaskMask of ScentsGoron MaskRomani's MaskTroupe Leader's MaskKafei's MaskCouple's MaskMask of TruthZora MaskKamaro's MaskGibdo MaskGaro's MaskCaptain's HatGiant's MaskFierce Deity's MaskMask


Click on a mask