Meaning
What does It’s Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This! mean?
The phrase It’s Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This! is a popular catchphrase in gaming culture, often appearing on memes.
A legendary quote from the original “The Legend of Zelda” video game, it is a cornerstone of memes and online pop culture.
The phrase is used humorously to remind players about the importance of having the right tools or companions to face challenges in a game or in real life situations. It implies that going into a dangerous situation alone can be risky, but by taking something or someone with you, your chances of success or survival greatly increase. The meme usually depicts animals or interesting objects being handed to someone, paired with the captions “It’s Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This!”.
Origin
What's the origin of It’s Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This!?
The phrase originates from the classic video game “The Legend of Zelda” released in 1986. In the game, players control a hero named Link who sets out on a quest to rescue Princess Zelda from the clutches of the evil Ganon. At the beginning of the game, an elderly man offers Link a sword, uttering the iconic line, “It’s Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This!”.
This memorable quote instantly became an integral part of video game culture. It resonated with players and became a symbol of the importance of preparation and assistance in facing challenges.
In 2004, the quote started its development as a meme, when a YTMND page was created, inspired by the scene and the sound effects of the game.
Spread & Usage
How did It’s Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This! spread?
The meme started taking off online in 2006, when an image macro was shared, depicting a kitten, held in someone’s hand, paired with the captions “It Is Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This!”. Interestingly, the original image came with an embedded virus as well, called Dangerous Kitten. Despite this, it was reposted on I Can Haz Cheezburger, as well as several other meme sites of the era.
Comics soon followed on DeviantArt, revolving around the topic, while in the years between 2009 and 2013, a wide array of memes swarmed the internet, all making use of the titular captions.
All in all, the “It Is Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This!” meme is a testament to the massive influece of “The Legend of Zelda” franchise, affecting pop culture, giving us memes like Dawn of the Final Day as well.
External resources
- Wikipedia – It’s dangerous to go alone!
- Know Your Meme – It’s Dangerous to Go Alone! Take This