Trickster Makes This World: A Literary Analysis

One common recurring theme in “trickster stories” is the concept of karma. The idea that the trickster can be devious enough to set a trap that catches his prey, but fails to evade other traps, often of his own design. This is apparent in the book “Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art” by Lewis Hyde. He writes, “and yet, as the Loki story indicates, the trickster can also get snared in his own devices. Trickster is at once culture hero and fool, clever predator and stupid prey. Hungry, trickster sometimes devises stratagems to catch his meal; hungry, he sometimes loses his wits altogether... So trickster is cunning about traps but not so cunning as to avoid them himself” (Hyde). By doing what might sometimes be considered evil, …show more content…
A clear example of this can be found in the book “Anansi’s Feast”, a children’s book based off of the Ashanti tale as retold by Tololwa Mollel. Akye the tortoise is able to get revenge on Anansi for tricking him by setting the same trap he did. Mollel writes, “Anansi couldn’t let Akye think he was an ill-mannered guest. Reluctantly, he took off his robe. And although he tried hard to cling to the table…. He rose. Back to the surface!” When Anansi invite Akye over for a feast, he guilts him into leaving numerous time using his desire to be polite against him. This allows him to eat all of the food for himself while Akye is away; to enact his revenge Akye does the same …show more content…
This aspect of the archetype is described in “Mind: Trickster, Transformer”. It is stated that “anyone who has studied any particular trickster story can testify to its disturbing undertones of perplexity and provocation. For Trickster contains a transcendent nature whose epic qualities are truly awesome… Nevertheless, the unity of Trickster with Hero-Benefactor is clear in a great number of the mythoi. The hero must trick the gods of their wealth, steal it, and in some manner make it available to humankind” (Moffett). The trickster archetype is quite a complex one; they can display characteristics of genius, stupidity, villainy, and heroism - often simultaneously. Due to this, it’s apparent that they aren’t just nuisances getting in the way by setting traps and playing tricks. They can also serve as a heroic character to humankind by providing them with important aspects of their world. An example of this is Anansi the spider. In Ashanti lore, Anansi is crediting with providing the world with the sun, moon, and stars. In Gerald McDermott’s illustrated adaptation of the story, it is said that “Anansi asked this of Nyame: ‘Please hold this beautiful globe of light until I know which son should have it for his own.’ And so they tried to decide which son deserved the prize.