The Modern Trickster

By: Carly Le Blanc

10/11/07

We were asked in class today to think of examples of tricksters in our American culture. A trickster is a character that leads you to do something taboo or immoral and is commonly depicted as a coyote in Native American cultures. Sam Gill emphasizes the indefinable nature of the trickster, and his freedom from rules or bounds of society. Every person desires to be so free but the stories imply the need for order in the world. The example that first came to my mind was Ferris Bueller. This movie follows Ferris through a day where he skips class. He gets into all types of situations because he acts outside of society’s rules. However, in doing so-Ferris just wants to give his friend Cameron a good day. Cameron lives smothered within the tight restrictions of his parents and Ferris is attempting to free him from that for one day. Cameron even states that Ferris can get away with anything, making Ferris comparable to the coyote because they both exercise outside the order. Ferris is attempting to make the most of his life and he wants to enjoy every minute of it. He doesn’t get in trouble for skipping school but I think that Cameron learns from vicariously living through Ferris. However, unlike most trickster stories Ferris gets away in the end. The trickster in Native American stories often is caught in the act and punished in some way. Another variation of the trickster is one who exposes folly in other people. I think this is closer to Ferris because he made Cameron realize that his wrecked dad’s car is only material, that his world will not end because of it. Cameron realized his anxiety and subservience were unnecessary in the grand scheme of things.