[Lalwendë]

I think that attempting to define the Trickster is in itself difficult, maybe even impossible. The nature of the Trickster is shifting and unpredictable, it is the essence of its nature not to be defined. We can say what we think the Trickster is like, but once we think we have a finger on him/her/it everything changes again; it has to, or else it would not be the Trickster.

In this respect, both Gollum and Tom have elements of the Trickster, but neither of them are the Trickster. Tom Bombadil I would certainly say is not the Trickster of old. He is too good in his essence, and though he could be capable of malevolence or mishief or seemingly misplaced deeds, he does not do this in the text, and this really would be placing our own wishes onto him. If he is the Trickster, then he is a wholly sanitised version and the entirely dark and chaotic nature of Tricksters is missing.

The Trickster is common in folkore worldwide. The best known is probably Loki, and the Native American culture also has memorable Trickster tales. It can be seen in our own folklore in figures such as Will O' The Wisp, Boggarts and The Glaistig:

The Boggart is most commonly found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, its name appears in places such as Boggart's Clough and Boggart's Hole in Lancashire. Boggarts were mischievous spirits responsible for mishaps and poltergeist activity within the home and in the countryside. They would rearrange furniture, break pots and generally be blamed for 'things that go bump in the night'. They were often found attached to families and could be helpful within the household until they were insulted in some way. Boggarts had the ability to shape-shift, and sometimes appeared in the form of animals. If offerings were left out for them they would not cause trouble.

In the diverse and changing traditions of the Highlands, the Glaistig was seen as both benevolent and malevolent towards humans. In one aspect she even takes the role of the Banshee, wailing at the death of important people. She was also thought of as a trickster - throwing stones and leading travellers astray from their paths. In her gentler role she was seen as a mischievous friend to children, and in older stories she was even trusted to play with children while their mothers were milking the cows. The Glaistig was also closely linked to cattle, and in some forms is seen as a herder of domestic cattle, and of wild deer.

Tricksters are intangible and they have neither good nor bad intentions, they just have intentions, and we cannot fathom them out. I would say that the best exemplar of the Trickster is Fate itself as it just is, and we cannot explain why. The old gods are all somewhat capricious in nature, and the Trickster most of all. Tolstoy's definition is just one definition, and just one will not do when we are talking of Tricksters because if we think we know what it is then up it will come and change itself again just to spite us and to show us that we do not understand. I think they represent that wild, unpredictable side of life, in humans, animals and the environment, and in modern terms, such concepts as anarchy and chaos.