Overview

Trickster Figures are the agents of chaos and change in mythology. They are rule-breakers, boundary-crossers, and pranksters. They are often neither good nor evil, but essential for the world to function.

Core Idea

The core idea is disruption. Order is stagnant; chaos is creative. The trickster breaks the rules of the gods to bring gifts (like fire) to humans, or just for a laugh.

Formal Definition

A character who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or disobey normal rules. They are often liminal figures (existing between worlds).

Intuition

The Trickster is the class clown who is also a genius. He trips the King, steals the sun, and accidentally creates the world while trying to find a snack.

Examples

  • Loki (Norse): Cuts Sif’s hair for fun, but then tricks dwarves into making Mjolnir to fix it. Eventually causes the apocalypse.
  • Coyote (Native American): A creator and a fool. He teaches humans how to live but often dies or gets humiliated in the process.
  • Hermes (Greek): The messenger god, patron of thieves and travelers. He crosses the boundary between Olympus, Earth, and Hades.
  • Anansi (African): The spider who uses his wits to defeat stronger opponents.

Common Misconceptions

  • Misconception: They are villains.
    • Correction: They are often Culture Heroes. Prometheus (a trickster) saved humanity. They are dangerous but necessary.
  • Misconception: They are just funny.
    • Correction: Their humor often reveals deep truths or exposes the hypocrisy of power.
  • Liminality: The quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of a rite of passage.
  • Anti-hero: A protagonist lacking conventional heroic qualities.
  • Archetype: Jung saw the Trickster as a manifestation of the Shadow.

Applications

  • Literature: Modern tricksters include Bugs Bunny, Jack Sparrow, and The Joker.
  • Social Commentary: Satirists and comedians function as modern tricksters.

Criticism and Limitations

  • Unpredictability: You can’t trust a trickster. Their “gifts” often come with a terrible price.

Further Reading

  • Trickster Makes This World by Lewis Hyde
  • Radin’s The Trickster