The Modern Day Trickster

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The Modern-Day Trickster in Contemporary Literature

When one thinks of the modern-day tricksters, some of the most memorable examples that come to mind range from Jerry from Tom and Jerry cartoons, the Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny from Looney Tunes, and even the roadrunner, that gave the poor coyote a run for his money in the barren Nevada Deserts ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"lAbmzowa","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nodjimbadem)","plainCitation":"(Nodjimbadem)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":947,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/PI4H5LAX"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/PI4H5LAX"],"itemData":{"id":947,"type":"webpage","title":"What Gives Bugs Bunny His Lasting Power?","container-title":"Smithsonian","abstract":"Seventy-five years after his first “What’s Up, Doc?,” the leporine character still leaves his mark","URL":"https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/what-gives-bugs-bunny-his-lasting-power-180956070/","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Nodjimbadem","given":"Katie"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2015",7,27]]},"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",9,7]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nodjimbadem). No character to date has been as iconic or as well-known as these. However, there have definitely been others that have upped the ante and have been nothing short of being a spectacular part of contemporary literature and pop-culture media.

One such example comes from a children’s book series that built the habit of reading among an entire generation of children. It was loved by children and parents alike, all of whom fondly refer to themselves as Potterheads. With seven books, eight blockbuster movies, a Broadway show and various additional installments of books and movies to its name, the Harry Potter franchise shows no signs of coming to an end any time soon. It is one of the greatest pieces of literature produced at the turn of the century, and it gave us not one, but three of the most memorable tricksters of all times. Between Fred and George Weasley and Peeves the Poltergeist, we do not know which one to rank above the other.

While Peeves is a class of its own, playing tricks on both students and teachers alike for centuries, dropping water balloon bombs, pouring ink over students and even writing on chalkboards in the dead of the night, Peeves was the king of practical jokes in Hogwarts. On the other hand, the pair of Weasley twins are in a class of their own ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"UsBYY9Ky","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Eshleman)","plainCitation":"(Eshleman)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":949,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/BK2LHGUH"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/BK2LHGUH"],"itemData":{"id":949,"type":"article-journal","title":"Twin Core: An Exploration of Twins in the Wizarding World","author":[{"family":"Eshleman","given":"Carol R."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2014"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Eshleman). They are master mischief-makers and are truly up to no good. While they are only second to Moony, Padfoot, Wormtail, and Prongs, they take up the mantle of the Marauder Gang and carry-on their legacy quite nicely. They are the chief mischief-makers at Hogwarts in their time and are known for their abilities far and wide. Initially, their pranks are harmless in nature, all in the name of good fun. However, as the story progresses, they put their humor to greater good during dark times. They used a touch of spark and humor to illuminate and reduce the dredge of the horrors of the world they live in. From asking people to “make way for the heir of Slytherin” when harry walked out the halls to the magnificent display in the face of the autocratic regulations imposed by Headmistress Umbridge, the Weasley Twins left Hogwarts with a bang. They would be remembered for generations to come.

Second to the Weasley twins, although just as amusing to watch is the contemporary trickster by the name of Jack Sparrow. He is swash-buckling, brilliant and is in need of no introduction. He is often seen breaking out of prison for unknown crimes with a wit and a charm that couldn’t help but leave once chuckling and amused ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"gktu11a6","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Porter)","plainCitation":"(Porter)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":950,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/QS3KIYCM"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/QS3KIYCM"],"itemData":{"id":950,"type":"article-journal","title":"The Ambiguous Captain Jack Sparrow","container-title":"Debating Disney: Pedagogical Perspectives on Commercial Cinema","page":"151","author":[{"family":"Porter","given":"Jennifer E."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Porter). He is in love with the Black Pearl, his ship that he fights tooth and nail to keep. It has friends and lovers along the way, whom he is not above tricking if it is in his favor. However, beneath it all, he has a good heart and tries his level best to ensure that he comes through for those he calls friends. However, all those bets are off is someone tries to kill him though.

Right on the helm of Pirate Jack Sparrow is another contemporary hero, a part of the famous show called “The Simpsons”, our next trickster is none other than the infamous Bart Simpson ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"dLBZydDK","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Ott)","plainCitation":"(Ott)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":951,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/ABLJ32PP"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/ABLJ32PP"],"itemData":{"id":951,"type":"article-journal","title":"“I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?” A Study in Postmodern Identity (Re) Construction","container-title":"The Journal of Popular Culture","page":"56-82","volume":"37","issue":"1","author":[{"family":"Ott","given":"Brian L."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2003"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Ott). While Bart is just a yellow-skinned ordinary 10-year old schoolboy, he has off the top comic timing and some serious chops as a trickster. His father, Homer, is usually on the receiving end of his tricks, but he does so with such finesse that we often get to hear his father go “Doh!” out of sheer surprise. He cheats at school and creates chaos in his wake and finds amusement in the misery that he has spun. His school principal, Principle Skinner is another one of his victims that he loves to torment day in and day out. Even at such a young age, he is an artist that is in complete control of his craft.

Finally, we have Loki, the Norse God of Mischief ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Z7yQixmq","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Bassil-Morozow)","plainCitation":"(Bassil-Morozow)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":952,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/BE96RBVV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/0omESN17/items/BE96RBVV"],"itemData":{"id":952,"type":"article-journal","title":"Loki then and now: the trickster against civilization","container-title":"International Journal of Jungian Studies","page":"84-96","volume":"9","issue":"2","author":[{"family":"Bassil-Morozow","given":"Helena"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Bassil-Morozow). He is one of the finest examples of what it means to trick people into getting your own way at things. While he has illustrious foundations as a Norse god, the contemporary media knows him as a part of the line-up of characters from the Marvel Comics’ Avengers. He is introduced as the brother of Thor, the God of Thunder and the future King of Asgard. However, in the very beginning itself, he tricks his brother into losing their Father’s favor and being banished to Earth. Later he brings the Chitauri based destruction to New York and even conspires with the frost giants. He even tricks his own father to live a life in seclusion and merrily played the King of Asgard in his absence. However, for all his vices, Loki died a hero’s death, in an effort to save his brother and the remaining Asgardians from the wrath of Thanos.

While these tricksters have delved into some of the most nefarious behaviors, one thing can be stated for certain. None of these tricksters bore any ill-will, except for Loki, he is always the exception to the rule. They did all that they wanted to do out of fun and enjoyed doing what they did immensely. May they reign high and true forevermore.

Works Cited

ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Bassil-Morozow, Helena. “Loki Then and Now: The Trickster against Civilization.” International Journal of Jungian Studies, vol. 9, no. 2, 2017, pp. 84–96.

Eshleman, Carol R. Twin Core: An Exploration of Twins in the Wizarding World. 2014.

Nodjimbadem, Katie. “What Gives Bugs Bunny His Lasting Power?” Smithsonian, 27 July 2015, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/what-gives-bugs-bunny-his-lasting-power-180956070/.

Ott, Brian L. “‘I’m Bart Simpson, Who the Hell Are You?’ A Study in Postmodern Identity (Re) Construction.” The Journal of Popular Culture, vol. 37, no. 1, 2003, pp. 56–82.

Porter, Jennifer E. “The Ambiguous Captain Jack Sparrow.” Debating Disney: Pedagogical Perspectives on Commercial Cinema, 2016, p. 151.