Tricksters Characters in Popular Culture

A trickster is a character who relies on his or her quick wits to get them through obstacles that he or she faces.  These tricksters can be seen almost anywhere: in movies, television shows, and books.  These characters are  my favorite to read or watch and often drive the stories they are in.These tricksters, however, also show us how even if we have the opportunities and attributes to succeed, our flaws can hurt us, no matter who we are.  This is examined by Morning Dove in her story, "Coyote and the Buffalo."  In this story, coyote, the trickster character, narrowly escapes being killed by Buffalo Bull and gains his trust through trickery and quick wits.  Buffalo Bull then gives him a cow which can feed him forever with its fat; however, Coyote's lust for meat foolishly drives him to kill the cow.  Soon his vanity gets the best of him when an old lady tricks him and steals meat from him.  Soon, Coyote has no more meat and Buffalo Bull refuses to give him another cow. The story shows the trickster Coyote as the protagonist who after using his cunning wits, escapes death and receives a lifetime supply of food; however, his own vanity and foolishness costs him greatly as all of the riches he obtained vanished.  Tricksters also appear in popular culture.  One of the greatest examples of a trickster is Bugs Bunny from the Looney Tunes.  In most of the segments he appears in, Bugs must escape characters such as Elmer Fudge or Yosemite Sam who are trying to either kill him or steal from him.  Although most of the episodes show his witty and comedic escapes from these characters, he is often put into harmful situations because of his foolishness, such as being lured by a carrot.