Abstract
As the Protagonist progresses through their journey, they confront complications, roadblocks, and reversals, many of which are generated by the Trickster. Acting out of their own self-interest, the Trickster can instantly switch from ally to enemy, enemy to ally. These shifts create ambiguous situations which challenge the Protagonist to increasingly rely upon their emerging authentic nature. The Trickster’s actions cause the Protagonist to question whether they have learned what they need as well as their will to move forward toward their goal. This chapter explores the Trickster as Shapeshifter, Test, and Will by examining notable figures in movies and television series including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Bull Durham, Shrek, Never Have I Ever, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Old Guard.
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Notes
- 1.
Jack Sparrow so influences Will Turner that by the very end of the movie, Will fights to free Jack from a public hanging. When Elizabeth ends up in Will’s arms, Governor Swann remarks, “So, this is the path you have chosen. After all, he is a blacksmith.” Elizabeth responds, “No, he’s a pirate.” This caps off Will’s metamorphosis and full embrace of his authentic nature.
- 2.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 1997.
- 3.
Paul Radin, Karl Kerenyi, and C.G. Jung, The Trickster: A Study in American Indian Mythology (Schocken Books, 1972), p. xiii.
- 4.
Ibid., p. ix.
- 5.
The example of Boo in To Kill a Mockingbird is an interesting one in that he does not change, rather peoples’ perception of him changes, shifting from fear and prejudice to gratefulness and acceptance.
- 6.
Another science fiction movie which features a key Trickster character is 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Perceived by Discovery spaceship crew members Dave Bowman and Frank Poole as an ally, HAL 9000, an artificial intelligence computer, eventually turns against the humans, killing three people in hypersleep while sending Frank hurtling off into space. In the end, Dave is forced to “kill” HAL by removing crystals from the computer’s memory center while HAL sings “Daisy, Daisy.”.
- 7.
Family members eventually revealed as Tricksters is a recurring dynamic in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974) as both of Michael’s brothers—Sonny and Fredo—prove to be slippery figures who test Michael and his evolution as a Mafia don.
- 8.
There is an interesting twist in the sequel Aliens (1986): The crew’s android Bishop turns out to be Ripley’s ally while the Trickster function is provided by Weyland-Yutani corporate representative Carter Burke.
- 9.
In The Verdict (1982), the Laura Fischer character provides the same Trickster function: seduce Frank Galvin (Protagonist) and use her wiles for the benefit of the Ed Concannon (Nemesis) and his legal team.
- 10.
Hadley’s concern is not so much for Andy’s safety and well-being, but rather Andy’s help with the guard’s finances and tax liability.
Further Study
Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio on Pirates of the Caribbean, Steve Ryfle and Den Shewman, Creative Screenwriting, June 17, 2016, https://creativescreenwriting.com/pirates-caribbean/.
Juno: The Shooting Script, Diablo Cody, Newmarket Press, January 2, 2008.
Diablo Cody Sets the Record Straight on Juno, Jenna Marotta, Vanity Fair, April 9, 2017, https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/04/diablo-cody-sets-the-record-straight-on-juno.
Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Juno,” Scott Myers (editor), Go Into The Story, July 6, 2017, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-story-script-reading-analysis-juno-3ad5805c0c62.
How Michael Clayton Presaged 2017, James Parker, The Atlantic, November 2017, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/11/the-bonfire-of-humanity/540609/.
Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Michael Clayton,” Scott Myers (editor), Go Into The Story, July 7, 2017, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-story-script-reading-analysis-michael-clayton-401ae62648e3.
Flying High Again: Alejandro González Inárritu on the Making of ‘Birdman,’ David Fear, Rolling Stone, October 18, 2014, https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/flying-high-again-alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu-on-the-making-of-birdman-184433/.
Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” Scott Myers (editor), Go Into The Story, August 15, 2015, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-story-script-reading-analysis-birdman-9514cf00dfe1.
Years of Hurt, Face-Hugging Dreams of Breathing: Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien,’ Tim Pelan, Cinephilia & Beyond, September 30, 2020, https://cinephiliabeyond.org/alien-40th-anniversary/.
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Myers, S. (2022). Trickster. In: The Protagonist's Journey. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79682-2_12
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