Who is the trickster? :
Who is the trickster? In the Native American oral tradition, the vulgar but sacred Trickster assumes many forms.
He can be Old-Man Coyote among the Crow tribes, Raven in northwestern Indian lore, or, more generically, "The Tricky One" (to mention just a few of his manifestations).
His many roles :
His many roles As will be suggested by the tales we will read next, Trickster alternately scandalizes, disgusts, amuses, disrupts, chastises, and humiliates (or is humiliated by) the people of pre-history, yet he is also a creative force transforming their world, sometimes in bizarre and outrageous ways, with his instinctive energies and cunning.
Eternally scavenging for food, he represents the most basic instincts, but in other narratives, he is also the father of the Indian people and a potent conductor of spiritual forces in the form of sacred dreams.
Trickster Traits :
Trickster Traits Tricksters are neither all good, nor all evil. They are amoral.
Trickster characters can be selfish, foolish and mean-spirited at times. They can also be clever, humorous, lovable and heroic.
Why Create Tricksters? :
Why Create Tricksters? Trickster characters served as an outlet for strong emotions or actions in which humans could not indulge.
These actions were beyond normal behavior and even social morality.
Humans could (and still can) express themselves through tricksters.