Typical of the trickster archetype, his abilities rely on his intelligence and cunning.Įven his origin story is elusive and variable - in Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke, The Joker says he likes his past to be “multiple choice”. Whereas Batman wants to restore order to the grim, chaotic Gotham City, The Joker mocks authority and moral codes. The Joker serves as the antithesis to Batman. Many tricksters in fiction are portrayed as jesters or clowns - DC’s The Joker is no exception. In this way, the trickster archetype has things in common with the anti-hero archetype.īy embodying these transgressive characteristics, Loki can challenge and even mock long-held belief systems and assumed truths. Loki has both heroic and villainous moments in the stories he appears in, allowing him to defy the duality of good and evil. He also has the boundary-crossing characteristics that are often found in tricksters. He fits the archetypal mold of having extreme intelligence. He appears in several disguises, male and female, and serves as Thor’s mortal enemy. He’s a shape-shifter and has appeared as both male and female, even giving birth at one point.ĭepicted in the Marvel comics and movies, Loki is ranked as one of the best comic book villains of all time. Traditionally, in Norse mythology, Loki is depicted as a god of mischief or a trickster god. Here are some archetypal tricksters we know and love and the part they play in the story. No, really - they can be androgynous and have appeared in the form of rabbits, foxes, coyotes, Norse gods and clowns. Tricksters in mythology and fiction come in many forms. They have little regard for conventions and often defy or mock accepted norms, provoking an interesting social commentary. They’re highly intelligent, crafty, and possess some kind of secret knowledge which they use to trick other characters. Simply put, a trickster is a character in a story who navigates their way through their wit. But what is the trickster, and how do they play out in fiction? What is a trickster? We’re excited to kick off our archetype blog series with the “trickster” archetype.
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