Trickster
|
|
In the study of mythology, folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit or human hero who 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 they are considered sacred and are performing important cultural tasks.
In many cultures, such as Slavic folktales and American Indian lore, the trickster and the culture hero are combined. To illustrate, Prometheus, in Greek mythology, stole fire from the gods to give it to humans. He is more of a culture hero than a trickster. In many North American Indian mythologies, the coyote spirit stole fire from the gods (or stars or sun) and is more of a trickster than a culture hero. This is primarily because of other stories involving the coyote spirit; Prometheus was a Titan, whereas a coyote is usually seen as a jokester and prankster.
Among the American Indians, the trickster figures often exhibit gender variability, changing gender roles and engaging in same-sex practices. These personages are said to have a two-spirit nature.
The Trickster is an example of a Jungian Archetype. The Fool survives in modern playing cards as the Joker.
Tricksters
- Abenaki mythology ... Azeban
- Akan mythology ... Kwaku Ananse
- American folklore ... Brer Rabbit
- Ashanti mythology ... Ananse
- Australian Aboriginal mythology ... Bamapana
- Aztec mythology ... Tezcatlipoca
- Basque mythology ... San Martin Txiki
- Biblical tradition ... Jacob
- Brazilian Folklore ... Saci-Pererê
- Celtic mythology ... Fairy, Puck
- Chinese mythology ... Nezha, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King)
- Chippewa mythology ... Nanabozho
- Crow mythology ... Awakkule, Mannegishi
- French folklore ... Reynard the Fox
- Fijian mythology ... Ndauthina
- German folklore ... Till Eulenspiegel
- Greek mythology ... Eris, Prometheus, Hephaestos, Hermes Trismegistus
- Haida mythology ... Nankil'slas (Raven spirit), (Coyote)
- Hawaiian mythology ... Kappa, Maui
- Hopi and Zuni mythology ... Kokopelli
- Inuit mythology ... Amaguq
- Japanese mythology ... Kitsune, Susanoo
- !Kung mythology ... Mantis
- Lakota mythology ... Iktomi
- Navajo mythology ... Tonenili
- Nootka mythology ... Chulyen, Guguyni
- Norse mythology ... Loki
- Northwest Caucasian mythology ... Sosruko
- Ojibwe mythology ... Nanabush
- Polynesian mythology ... Iwa, Kaulu, Maui, Ono, Pekoi
- Tibetan folklore ... Agu Tonpa
- Ute mythology ... Cin-an-ev
- Vodun ... Ti Malice
- Yoruba mythology ... Eshu
Modern day tricksters
- Bugs Bunny
- Michael Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius (a Harlequin-like character)
- Hoki the Jokester and Agi Hammerthief in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels
- Superman's implike tormentor Mr. Mxyzptlk
- Jerry from Tom & Jerry
- Q from Star Trek.
- Captain Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl"