Monday, January 6, 2020

Trickster Tales of Native Americans Essay - 828 Words

Kind and selfish, deep and shallow, male and female, and foolish and wise aren’t always words that are associated with each other, quite the opposite in fact. However, when it comes to the trickster tales of Native Americans, each word is associated with the other and describes more or less the same person or animal. To Native American people a trickster affects the world for an infinite number of reasons, including instruction and enjoyment. A trickster, like the name implies, is a cunning deception. A trickster can be a hero. However, at the same time he could introduce death. How is that heroic? Why would a group of people want to remember a person that brings punishments such as death? The function the trickster tales have/ had on†¦show more content†¦Although the reasons these stories are taboo are similar the lessons and morals of the stories are quite different. Wakjankaga gives a lesson of foolishness. These tales can basically be broken down into one moral, à ¢â‚¬Å"do as you are told†. The Sioux trickster Iktomi’s story reveals a lesson showing that â€Å"honesty, is the best policy.† Iktomi shows the reader the power and influence one person can have on a community and even the world. The morals of the tales have similarities such as truth and justice, which may be the reason these stories are still widely read. The universal concerns within the stories may also pose as a reason they are widely read. Even in the modern world there are concerns such as those addressed by the trickster tales. One concern was addressed in the news earlier this week, sex changes. In the tale of the trickster Wakjankaga, Wakjankaga has a sex change or dresses up as a woman in order to marry the chief’s son and survive the rough winter. Technologies and increased surgical knowledge has led to the availability of sex changes in the modern world. Another concern is found within the tale of Cokfi or Rabbit. In the tale Rabbit is hurt and the â€Å"doctor† vulture is called. Eventually, the vulture eats Rabbit. This tale is more or less a symbol of malpractice. Vulture lied in order to eat Rabbit, just like â€Å"doctors† lie to make money or even kill others. These concerns follow into books being written and published in the post-modernShow MoreRelatedTrickster Tales Are An Important Part Of Th e Native American Culture1459 Words   |  6 Pages Trickster tales have been an important part of the Native American culture for hundreds of years. Trickster tales are an oral storytelling tradition and are continuously passed down from generation to generation of Native American Indians. American Indians enjoy listening and telling trickster tales because it is a fun and interesting way to tell a story with a valuable lesson. 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