Trickster
For the enemy of the Flash, see Trickster (comics). For the online game, see Trickster (MMORPG).
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.
"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"â€"
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.
Tricksters
*
Abenaki mythology ...
Azeban*
Akan mythology ...
Kwaku Ananse*
American folklore ...
Brer Rabbit (or Compere Lapin) and
Aunt Nancy, a corruption of
Anansi (Ananse)
*
Arabian mythology ... Juha
*
Ashanti mythology ...
Ananse*
Australian Aboriginal mythology ...
Bamapana*
Aztec mythology ...
Tezcatlipoca*
Bantu mythology ... the
Hare (Tsuro or Kalulu)
*
Basque mythology ...
San Martin Txiki*
Brazilian folklore ...
Saci-PererĂª*
Celtic mythology ...
Fairy,
Puck*
Chinese mythology ...
Nezha,
Sun Wukong (the Monkey King)
*
Chippewa mythology ...
Nanabozho*
Christian mythology ... the
Devil*
Crow mythology ...
Awakkule,
Mannegishi*
Dutch folklore ...
Reynaert de Vos,
Tijl Uilenspiegel*
Estonian mythology ...
Kaval-Ants (The Wily Ants)
*
French folklore ...
Renart the Fox
*
Fijian mythology ...
Daucina*
German folklore ...
Till Eulenspiegel*
Greek mythology ...
Eris,
Prometheus,
Hephaestos,
Hermes Trismegistus,
Odysseus (example of a human trickster, who manages to evade dangers thanks to his wits. The
cyclops Polyphemus is an example of this)
*
Haida mythology ...
Nankil'slas (
Raven spirit), (
Coyote)
*
Hawaiian mythology ...
Iwa,
Kaulu,
Kupua,
Maui,
Pekoi.
*
Hopi and
Zuni mythology ...
Kokopelli*
Indonesian folklore ...
Kantjil*
Inuit mythology ...
Amaguq*
Japanese mythology ...
Kitsune,
Susanoo,
Kappa*
Jewish mythology ...
Asmodeus,
Jacob,
Lilith*
!XÅ© mythology ...
Mantis*
Lakota mythology ...
Iktomi Heyoka*
Levantine mythology ...
Yaw*
Islamic mythology ...
Nasreddin*
Navajo mythology ...
Tonenili*
Nootka mythology ...
Chulyen,
Guguyni*
Norse mythology ...
Loki*
Northwest Caucasian mythology ...
Sosruko*
Ojibwe mythology ...
Nanabush*
Polynesian mythology ...
Maui*
Pueblos dancing ...
Sacred Clowns -
Koshares Paiyakyamu*
Slavic mythology ...
Veles*
Tumbuka mythology...
Kalulu *
Tibetan folklore ...
Agu Tonpa*
Ute mythology ...
Cin-an-ev*
Vodun ...
Ti Malice,
Baron Samedi*
West African mythology ...
Anansi*
Yoruba mythology ...
Eshu*
Zulu mythology ...
TikolosheThe 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.
Modern day tricksters
*
Brer Rabbit*
Bugs Bunny*
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*
Mr. Mxyzptlk, an
implike tormentor of
Superman*The
Pink Panther cartoon character
*
How The Leopard Got His Spots - a trickster tale
appropriated by
Rudyard Kipling*
Allen Ryan (1999).
The Trickster Shift, Canada: UBC Press.
ISBN 0-7748-0704-0.
*
George P. Hansen (2001). The Trickster and the Paranormal, USA: Xlibris Corporation.
ISBN 1401000827.
