Louis Hyde A Trickster

Final Essay: Tricksters
Tricksters are archetypal, almost always male, characters who appear in the myths of many different cultures. As their name suggests, tricksters love to play tricks on other gods (and sometimes on humans and animals). But perhaps the best definition of a trickster is the one given by Lewis Hyde: “trickster is a boundary-crosser” (253). By that, he means that the trickster crosses both physical and social boundaries-- the trickster is often a traveler, and he often breaks societal rules. Tricksters cross lines, breaking or blurring connections and distinctions between right and wrong, sacred and profane, clean and dirty, male and female, young and old, living and dead. According to text book, “The trickster provides …show more content…
In his role as boundary-crosser, the trickster sometimes becomes the messenger of the gods.
Lewis Hyde notes that in addition to crossing boundaries, trickster also creates them: In several mythologies, for example, the gods lived on earth until something trickster did cause them to rise to heaven. Since they are so clever, tricksters often invent new cultural goods or tools (e.g., making fire, musical instruments). Sometimes they are depicted as creators or makers of the world. Often, the deeds of tricksters end up being responsible for the way the world is now. But there is another side to the trickster. As David Leeming notes, “he is sexually over-active, irresponsible, and amoral. But it is that very phallicism that signifies his essential creativity” (God). Tricksters are also creative liars. They lie in order to obtain sex or food, or the means to cook or procure food. Many of their tricks originate in this quest for food or sex. Lewis Hyde writes, Trickster lies because he has a belly, the stories say; expect …show more content…
Certainly the stories are told because they are funny and entertaining; but they are also in some sense sacred. The reaction to trickster stories is prevailingly one of laughter strengthened by admiration. Hyde notes that tricksters always function within some sort of sacred circumstance (255). But in addition, tricksters are hallowed because we Indians also need their enjoyment to persist. Tricksters need the more serious gods to bounce off from and create their mischief. However, the myths and legends point out that even hypothetically thoughtful chief god can share some of the trickster's personalities: for example, Zeus is both adulterer and a shape-shifter--he changed into a float in order to make love to Leda and into a shower of gold in order to permeate Danae (Erdoes & Ortiz). Zeus is also known for his ability to trick and outwit his rivals. Certainly, trickster stories are told for fun and laughs, and a trickster like Bart Simpson is a great character to get a plot started and intertwined. But trickster stories also have something to say about how culture gets created, and about the nature of astuteness. Trickster symbolizes a certain tractability of mind and spirit, a willingness to defy authority and invent clever solutions that keeps cultures and stories from becoming too

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