George Hansen, The Trickster and the Paranormal:
the trickster is a character type found in mythology, folklore, and literature the world over; tricksters appear as animals, humans, and gods. They have a number of common characteristics, and some of their most salient qualities are disruption, unrestrained sexuality, disorder, and nonconformity to the establishment. They are typically male. Tricksters often deceive larger and more powerful beings who would thwart them; they may be endearingly clever or disgustingly stupid—both cultural heroes and selfish buffoons.
Some other words Hansen uses to describe the trickster:
- boundary crosser
- combination of opposites
- liminal
- ambivalent
The fox squirrels of Green Man’s Patch are consummate tricksters.
On one hand, they are a joy to watch: their intelligent paws, nimble speed, and graceful leaps from fence to roof. We love to see Farmer Squirrel at work in the fall, burying his forage in every garden bed.
On the other hand, they are destructive. No device yet invented by humankind can keep them out of bird seed. Their graceful leaping is less pleasing when they are landing on your sunflowers, bringing down every last one of them, as they did to us last year. Worse yet, they might leap onto your bald head, as they did to my dad one Sunday morning in the eighties.
Yet Trickster Squirrel is not evil; he is merely unconcerned with human rules. He does not recognize property lines or human intentions around bird seed. He laughs at our attempts to contain him.
He occupies a liminal zone, being a wild animal in an city garden. He is equally at home in his nest high in the tree, dancing down the fence line, or blazing across the ground when he spots the cat. He crosses between the heavens and earth; as much air as flesh.
Trickster Squirrel reminds us town-dwellers that only humans pay attention to the planning commission. In his petty thievery and raucous merry-making, he shows himself to be a realist of a larger reality.