Trickster

From The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom)

In mythology, and in the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, human hero or anthropomorphic animal who plays pranks or otherwise disobeys normal rules and norms of behaviour.

Contents

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Mythology

"In the same sense that Jesus Christ stands at the very, very centre of Christian mythology, we have a character in our mythological universe, in our dreamlife as a people, who stands at the very centre of that universe, and that character is the Trickster" —Cree playwright Tomson Highway, quoted in The Trickster Shift (page 3)

The trickster deity breaks the rules of the gods or nature, sometimes maliciously (for example, Loki) but usually with ultimately positive effects. Often, the rule-breaking takes the form of tricks (eg. Eris) or thievery. Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both; they are often very funny even when considered sacred or performing important cultural tasks. An example of this is the sacred Heyoka, whose role is to play tricks and games and by doing so raises awareness and acts as an equalizer.

In many cultures, (as may be seen in Greek, Norse or Slavic folktales, along with Native American/First Nations lore), the trickster and the culture hero are often combined. To illustrate: Prometheus, in Greek mythology, stole fire from the gods to give to humans. He is more of a culture hero than a trickster. In many Native American and First Nations mythologies, the coyote (Southwestern United States) or raven (Pacific Northwest and coastal British Columbia) stole fire from the gods (stars or sun) and are more tricksters than culture heroes. This is primarily because of other stories involving these spirits: Prometheus was a Titan, whereas the Coyote spirit and Raven spirit are usually seen as jokesters and pranksters.

Frequently the Trickster figure exhibits gender variability, changing gender roles and engaging in same-sex practices. Such figures appear in Native American and First Nations mythologies, where they are said to have a two-spirit nature. Loki, the Norse trickster, also exhibits gender variability, in one case even becoming pregnant; interestingly, he shares the ability to change genders with Odin, the chief Norse deity who also possesses many characteristics of the Trickster.

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Tricksters

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Archetype

The Trickster is an example of a Jungian Archetype. In modern literature the trickster survives as a character archetype, not necessarily supernatural or divine, sometimes no more than a stock character.

In later folklore, the trickster is incarnated as a clever, mischievous man or creature, who tries to survive the dangers and challenges of the world using trickery and deceit as a defense. For example many typical fairy tales have the King who wants to find the best groom for his daughter by ordering several trials. No brave and valiant prince or knight manages to win them, until a poor and simple peasant comes. With the help of his wits and cleverness, instead of fighting, he evades or fools monsters and villains and dangers with unorthodox manners. Therefore the most unlikely candidate passes the trials and receives the reward. More modern and obvious examples of that type are Bugs Bunny and The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) (see below).

For a modern humanist study of the trickster archetypes and their effects on society and its evolution, see Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art by Lewis Hyde.

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Modern day tricksters

  • Brer Rabbit
  • Bugs Bunny
  • Daffy Duck
  • El-ahrairah, the Prince of rabbits or Prince with the Thousand Enemies, and trickster folk hero of the rabbits in Watership Down.
  • Bart Simpson from The Simpsons
  • Harry Paget Flashman
  • Kyprioth, also known as the Trickster is the patron god of the Copper (or Kyprin) In Tamora Pierce's fantasy novels about Tortall
  • Plastic Man, comic artist Jack Cole's shapeshifting superhero.
  • R.P. McMurphy in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
  • Michael Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius (a Harlequin-like character)
  • Bruce Sterling's Leggy Starlitz
  • Hoki the Jokester and Agi Hammerthief in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels
  • Doctor Who
  • Q from Star Trek
  • Mr. Mxyzptlk, an implike tormentor of Superman
  • Jerry Mouse from Tom & Jerry
  • Karagiozis, a puppet of Greek folklore tales
  • Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Toya Kinomoto (Tori Avalon) from Cardcaptor Sakura (Cardcaptors)
  • Tzeentch the god of chaos in the Warhammer Fantasy universe.
  • J. R. "Bob" Dobbs from Church of the SubGenius
  • The Woodsie Lord, also called simply "The Trickster," is god of the pagans in the Thief computer game series.
  • The Trickster, a supervillain in the DC Universe who has been both an ally and an enemy of The Flash.
  • Matrim Cauthon from the Wheel of Time fantasy book series.
  • Nyarlathotep in the Cthulhu Mythos is a malevolent Trickster figure in many of the tales that feature him.
  • The Tramp, Charlie Chaplin's famous silent film character.
  • Ostap Bender, literature personage
  • The Riddler, a DC Comics supervillain, and enemy of Batman
  • The Joker, a DC Comics supervillain and Batman enemy
  • Arsene Lupin the gentleman thief from Maurice Leblanc's novel series of the same name.
  • Lupin III the manga and anime character created by Monkey Punch presumably the great grandson of Maurice Leblanc's character
  • Eric Cartman from the television series South Park
  • Xelloss (a.k.a: "The Trickster Priest") from the novel, manga, and anime series "Slayers"
  • The Mask, who wears a mask imbued with Loki's powers and lack of inhibition
  • The Tymbrimi and Tytlal races in David Brin's Uplift Universe
  • The Pink Panther cartoon character
  • Mokona from Magic Knight Rayearth and Tsubasa by CLAMP, serves as a guidance to the protagonists from both stories and as an eyesore to some of the characters such as Umi, Presea, and Kurogane.
  • Screwball Squirrel
  • Tweety Bird
  • Woody Woodpecker
  • The Ellimist from the Animorphs book series by K.A. Applegate
  • Harvey the pooka from the stage play by Mary Coyle Chase, made into a movie starring Jimmy Stewart
  • Trickster in Brainscan
  • Ferris Bueller from the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off
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External links


--Angel 15:12, 31 May 2006 (CDT)

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