Archetypes In Prose Edda

Archetypes are a common theme in many ancient mythologies across the world, and have become a common characteristic in modern day pop culture. A popular archetype is the Trickster, which has a strong influence in the popular T.V. show Supernatural. The trickster archetype in Supernatural is similar to the tricksters Loki in the Prose Edda and Prometheus in Roman culture because they share similar powers, they experiences a battle of wits with the gods, and the outcomes of the trickster’s deeds lead to their punishment. The trickster in Supernatural is also very similar to the god trickster Loki in the Prose Edda because of their relationship between the other gods.
The show Supernatural revolves around the lives of two brothers Sam and Dean. Sam and Dean are hunters of all things mythical, evil, or supernatural. When the pair first meet the Trickster in the show, he is disguised as a janitor at a university (Shiban, John). Unbeknown to the brothers, he is wreaking havoc on the school and the town through a series of dangerous jokes and tricks. The trickster in Supernatural is eventually identified as a demi-God, Loki who is very similar to the Norse god Loki in the Prose Edda. They share the power to conjure images and imaginary events up, just for the fun of it. The trickster is able to rebuke Sam

and Dean's attempts to kill him by conjuring a slew of chainsaw maniacs and scantily clad women to throw at the brothers. However, once the Sam and Dean are defeated by the task through pure frustration, the world and the tasks that they are partaking in completely disappear and so does the trickster. In addition, both these incarnations of Loki have the ability to shape shift and change their appearance at will to confuse humans and the other gods. Prose Edda Loki is able to change his identity to a salmon in his attempt to hide from the gods, as well as an old woman to trick the gods into killing the beloved Baldr. These similarities enhance the shared commonalities between ancient mythology and modern day pop culture. Additionally, both the Norse God Loki and Supernatural's modern day Loki, will partake in a battle of wits with the other gods, which only serve to prove their sub-par status among the gods.
Further along in Supernatural, Christianity is introduced as a heavy influence to the show. It is later revealed that the demi-god Loki also stands in the role of the Christian arch-angel Gabriel in disguise (Carver, Jeremy). Gabriel, similar to Loki in the Prose Edda, is considered a joke among the other gods and angels. In a battle of wits that begins between the Trickster Loki/Gabriel and his brother, the arch angel Lucifer, it is told that Gabriel is the most disliked son by their Father, God himself (Reed, David). This begins the battle of wits similar to the battle in the Prose Edda, between the supposed trickster Pagan god Loki/Gabriel and the Christian arch-angel Lucifer. The trickster uses his powers to create a doppelganger of himself who is having a conversation with Lucifer, while the real trickster sneaks behind Lucifer to stab him. However, Lucifer is smarter than the trickster and turns around in time to stab Loki/Gabriel first. The death of Loki/Gabriel enforces the ongoing motif of many pagan mythologies, which introduce Christianity as a superior culture to their own. The death of the trickster god in Supernatural places pagan mythology, as well as the god Loki, at a sub-par status to the western world and culture. Both Loki in the Prose Edda and Supernatural are seen as a lesser being to the other gods, and in the end will inevitably lose to their superior counterparts, the way Loki in the Prose Edda was capture by Thor and his comrades and chained to a rock. Each Loki and Trickster god in mythology and modern culture are punished for their deeds. The Roman mythology of Prometheus is similar to both these gods because he also experiences a battle of wits with the gods and is punished.
Prometheus was a fore thinker who partook in a battle of wits between himself and the famous Greek god, Zeus. He is similar to Loki in Supernatural because he attempts to trick Zeus on the behalf of the mortal realm. Loki in Supernatural believed that the human race was superior to the gods and deserved to be saved from the havoc Lucifer was about to release upon the world (Reed, David). If he was able to kill Lucifer then he could ultimately save the mortal race from the destruction that was about to take over the world. However, both tricksters entered a battle of wits with the gods. Prometheus tricks Zeus by offering him a pile of bones wrapped in fat and a second pile of flesh wrapped in hide, Zeus chooses the bones wrapped in fat. Zeus is angered by this treachery, so as a punishment he takes fire away from mankind. Prometheus is the most cunning of all mankind and steals fire back for them. Zeus is enraged, and as a way to prove the superiority of the Gods he captures Prometheus and punishes him for his trickery and loyalty to mankind. This is similar to the trickster Loki/Gabriel in Supernatural, that by disobeying the gods and placing loyalty in mankind they are then punished. Loki/Gabriel in Supernatural is killed, while Prometheus is chained to a rock in the underworld. This enforces the stereotype in ancient mythology as well as modern day pop culture that the Gods are ultimately superior to the trickster and in the end will punish the trickster for his deeds and loyalty to mankind.
These different incarnations of Tricksters found across many different cultures, both modern and ancient, have a common theme.

The Tricksters main job of joking usually ends up upsetting the god in some way. The Tricksters are seen as inferior creatures to the gods themselves. At some point in the story the Trickster will engage himself in a battle of wits with the gods. However, for each Trickster archetype across all stories, the battle of wits usually becomes their undoing, and they are punished by the gods for their deeds. This defeat of the Trickster only solidifies the power of the gods as well as the perceived superiority of the Christian religion to Pagan

ones.