They might be villainous like the Joker, an antihero like Loki, or a force for good like Pippi Longstocking, but one way or another, the trickster always manages to steal the show. Let’s explore this archetype and ways to make it your own.
“Looney Tunes” Courtesy Warner Bros. Animation
Found throughout cultures, this timeless character archetype is a folkloric figure embodying the spirit of mischief, humor, and unpredictability. They are a witty, cunning, chaotic, and sometimes magical force who ultimately changes the world around them.
The trickster’s function within global mythologies grew after anthropologist Paul Radin analyzed a figure from the Winnebago tribe—the Wakdjunkaga, or “the tricky one”—in “The Trickster: A Study in American Indian Mythology” (1955). The trickster might be a lesson in morality, a warning of what goes wrong when we don't behave, or a moral pressure valve, letting off the steam that blooms from cultural rigidity.
Ultimately, though, the trickster is a boundary-crosser. “We constantly distinguish—right and wrong, sacred and profane, clean and dirty, male and female, young and old, living and dead,” writes scholar and cultural critic Lewis Hyde, “and in every case trickster will cross the line and confuse the distinction.”
Trickster characteristics
Tricksters are unique, and creators and performers should highlight that aspect in their productions. Still, each one shares a set of archetypal traits. Tricksters:
- Embody chaos, disobeying social mores and creating more questions than answers.
- Cross boundaries, disrupting the status quo and challenging what was once thought an immutable reality into a (hopefully) better world.
- Are anti-authority, brazenly questioning and mocking those in power.
- Are paradoxical, whether cunning, foolish, or a bit of both, with unclear intentions and motivations.
- Provide comic relief.
- Have a sense of magic about them, whether it’s supernatural, or something like being a master of disguise.
If you’ve decided to incorporate the trickster into your own cadre of characters, here are some tips.
1. Drive the story.
A play, TV show, or movie will inevitably be shaped by the actions and antics of the resident trickster. Portray a swagger that shows that you’re in control—and you know it.
2. Challenge convention.
The trickster loves being themselves, so come up with a unique look, poses, gestures, and a confident attitude that audiences will eat up.
3. Don't play evil (unless you have to).
Unless you’re playing a straight-up villain like the Joker, play your trickster as ultimately benevolent—even if they’re still a little selfish. The character type is more often a harmless catalyst whose actions end up making the world a better place than when the story began.
4. Never bow to authority.
The trickster often exists outside traditional power structures. Even when they’re technically part of one (see Puck, below), these chaotic characters can openly mock power without punishment.
The Joker from the DC Comics Universe
The beloved Batman villain and problematic fave of weirdos everywhere, the Joker embodies the trickster spirit in his relationship with the Caped Crusader. The Clown Prince of Crime is an agent of chaos, interested more in upending the status quo (for better or worse) and pushing Batman’s limits. Depending on the portrayal, the Joker often leans more toward the evil side than other tricksters, but the villain fits the archetypal drive toward entropy perhaps more than any other. There’s no shortage of great Joker moments and performances, with such greats as Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, and Mark Hamill (as the voice of the animal character) all lending their talent to portray the creepy clown.
Puck from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Puck is one of the most classic tricksters to bless the stage. The mischievous fairy, also called Robin Goodfellow, is the servant to the fairy king Oberon and the character who kick-starts much of the action in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” He’s ultimately in it for the chaos, with the feisty fairy’s misdeeds adding up to little more than some harmless havoc. Many great actors have portrayed Puck on stage and film, including Mickey Rooney in the 1935 Max Reinhardt adaptation and Stanley Tucci in Michael Hoffman’s 1999 production.
Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The oldest trickster on the list, Loki is the famous god of mischief from the Norse mythological canon. Thanks in large part to the scene-stealing performances of Tom Hiddleston as the MCU’s version of the Norse deity, this mythical trickster epitomizes many of the classical archetype elements. Though often a villain (or anti-villain), Loki’s love for mischief doesn’t mean he seeks destruction: On occasion, he even goes out of his way to save the day.
Pippi Longstocking from the “Pippi Longstocking” franchise
Astrid Lindgren’s pigtailed character gleefully disrupts polite Swedish society, pointing out the ridiculousness of adult behavior and pretensions in a whirl of childish madness and mayhem. Pippi’s wild imagination and strength is matched only by her goodwill and whimsy, making her a trickster who embraces positivity. The symbol of joyous rebellion has been portrayed by Inger Nilsson in the 1969 TV series, Tami Erin in the 1988 film reimagining, and countless of other stars—and has even influenced other trickster characters, including Ramona Quimby, Matilda, and even Lisbeth Salander.
Bugs Bunny from “Looney Toons”
The iconic Warner Bros. mascot may have changed appearances and voices over the years, but what will never change is Bugs’ taste for trickery. The wacky cartoon rabbit, originated by “Looney Tunes” legend Mel Blanc, has all the makings of a classical trickster, including his occasional ability to warp space and time to his will (see the classic cartoon “Duck Amuck” for a perfect example). Though Bugs’ trickery can be brutal at times, the forgiveness of cartoon physics allows him to be an ultimately harmless nuisance with a love for a fun costume and wacky pranks that have garnered millions of laughs over the decades.
Q from “Star Trek”
Played with theatrical aplomb by John de Lancie, Q is the trickster entity that frequently causes mischief for the crew of the USS Enterprise, particularly Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The alien’s otherworldly abilities often force the crew to solve strange, sometimes nonsensical puzzles to get him out of their hair. Q’s role as the resident trickster is perhaps best encapsulated in his performance in the series finale of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987–1994). He uses his ability to move himself and others through time to help Picard stop the destruction of the universe—and to prove that humanity still has room to evolve.
