Alex Parrish

Michael Teske
December 7, 2016

Trickster Essay

Tricksters appear in the mythology and folklore of many cultures around the world.

Although the power and relative divinity of each Trickster varies from tradition to tradition,

Tricksters have important roles in the creation and development of each culture. The Coyote of

Native North American traditions is often depicted as assisting the Great Mystery or Great

Spirit in the world. In the Greek mythology Hermes is initially a sly infant who captures a

tortoise with his untruths and fashions the first lyre from its shell, but he eventually transitions to

a place amongst the Olympic pantheon as the messenger of the gods. Hermes and Coyote, two

trickster gods, have many similarities and differences that make them unique to the culture that

worships them such as, the theme of duty, gender roles, and morality.

In both the Native North American and Ancient Greek cultures, Trickster gods appear and

are used in similar roles. In Greek mythology, Hermes is devious and deceitful; in the first hours

after his birth he escapes from his cradle and carried off the oxen of Apollo. In order to not be

discovered by his footsteps he puts on sandals and drove that oxen to Pylos. Zeus who realized

the speed needed to pull off the deception made Hermes the messenger of the gods. In the Iliad

and the Odyssey this is not mentioned, but he is said to be a deceptive thief. In comparison,

Coyote saw the need for fire after witnessing a human village mourning the death of elders and

children who had died during the winter. The Coyote stole fire by hiding as an ordinary wild

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coyote and gave it to the humans, who needed it to stay warm during the winter. Hermes and

Coyote both showed the deceptive side that characterizes the Trickster archetype in mythology.

Hermes the messenger god was also known for bringing undead souls to the underworld as well

as being an object of worship for the merchant class. Hermes fought on the side of the Greeks in

the Trojan war and was worshipped for his speed, luck, travel, athleticism and for being a

shaped. This is similar to the duties and role of Coyote, the messenger, hero, fool, and cunning

lier, who impersonates the creator and made people. Coyote can also be compared to

Prometheus, in that he also steals fire for mankind and provides an aetiological answers to

natural phenomena, such as naming many of the animals of the plain. In contrast to Hermes, the

Coyote has a larger role in the creation of man using is tricks to become a creator and producing

man out of mud. Coyote and Hermes have very similar duties and tasks, in that they resemble the

same character but differ with the importance of the duty they provide.

The theme of gender roles plays a large part in a characters tasks, and duties in both the

Greek and Native American Religions. Both Trickster gods Hermes and Coyote are male, and

perform what some might look at as male responsibilities. Both Hermes and Coyote have been

compared to the Scandinavian Loki, and Anansi, a mythological culture hero from Western

African mythology. These characters, who are both male, are referred to as Trickster gods who

also preform tasks associated with males. In ancient Greece, women and men had respective

roles in their societies. Women were supposed to have kids, specifically a son to continue the

blood line, and stay home to take care of the household. The large exception to this is Sparta.

Due to the focus on the military, women were much more involved in the city-states community

and could own property. This view of women were reflected in mythology with female gods

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taking on more famine tasks such as weaving and crafting, and male gods being tasked with

more dominant roles. Hermes is no exception to this, as a male one thing he is tasked with is

being a messenger. One of the most famous stories of a messenger is when the Athenians

defeated the Persian Empire in 490 BC showing that the Persians could be stopped. According to

Herodotus, a male Athenian runner named Pheidippides was sent to run from Athens to Sparta to

ask for assistance before the battle. He ran a distance of over 140 miles, arriving in Sparta the

day after he left. Then, following the battle, they sent Pheidippides running from Marathon to

Athens, to announce the Greek victory with the word nenikkamen!"; we've won!, whereupon

he promptly died of exhaustion. This role of messenger was a heroic task, Hermes was tasked

with it because of his swiftness and reliability making him a necessity for the gods. This was a

responsibility that was associated with males because of its high priority. Traditionally, Plains

Indian gender roles were well defined, and men's and women's responsibilities were equally

crucial to the functioning, even the survival, of their societies. Consequently, both men and

women were respected for doing their jobs well. The women would be tasked with clearing

fields, planting, hoeing, and harvesting; digging cache pits and storing food; erecting and

dismantling lodges and tipis; collecting wild plants and firewood; cooking, hauling water, and

washing dishes; transporting possessions, generally on foot; and making household items,

including pottery and clothing. The men in would gamble, smoke, mend weapons, and care for

horses. Coyote is no exception to the culture and is never seen doing tasks such as crafting or

tending to the fields. Tricksters are usually male characters, linked with masculine traits such as

breaking rules, boasting, questioning or mocking authority and playing tricks on both humans

and gods. These are things that conventionally woman wouldn't do, such as question authority or

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to boast. Hermes and Coyote share this masculine role and reflect on the culture of the Native

Americans and the Greeks.

In classical mythology the archetype of the trickster is that he is usually selfish,

irrepressibly sympathetic, foolish or clever, and have a lack of morality. Hermes as well as

Coyote express these traits, specifically with their Amorality. Hermes being the god of thieves he

was devious and clever. Coyote was just as devious and used his animal form to con and steal for

the benefit of humanity. The Native figure Coyote, and the Greek figure Hermes use cleverness

to get away with great deceptions like the impersonation of the creator and the theft of Apollos

cattle. Hermes is able to quickly think of a way to cover his tracks knowing that it was wrong to

steal his brothers cattle. When questioned by Zeus, he has no problem denying and lying to him

and Apollo about not being involved. Coyote has no problem being dishonest and discussing

himself as the creator in order to make man. Both gods have no problem being dishonest and it

shows on the character of the trickster. This Amorality reflects the cultures negative values of

lying and trickery. It also serves as a warning, that there are people who arent always the most

honest.

Coyote and Hermes play large roles in the story of mythology, they both are central

figures and represent similar ideas revolving around, deception, trade, travel and messages.

Tricksters, have important roles in the creation and development the culture that worships them,

they help develop moral values and can be an outlet for strong emotions and actions. They

provide a unique look into the cultures moral values and helps us better understand the Ancient

world.

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