This is an excerpt from pg. 113 of "Ragnarok," by A.S. Byatt:
"Loki was interested in things because he was interested in them, and in the way they were in the world, and worked in the world. He was neither kind nor gentle, not anyway when he inhabited the world of myth. In the world of folktales he was a fire demon, mostly benign, providing warmth for hearths and ovens. In the world of Asgard he was smiling and reckless, a forest fire devouring what stood in its path."
This passage explains the conditional perceptions of Loki's nature among humans and gods, respectively. On the one hand, humans view Loki as a fire-god who has power over the fires in their hearths and ovens that provide them with warmth and food, yet on the other hand he is seen a tormentor among the gods. This effectively plays into Loki's "trickster" nature: humans can view him in a positive light while those who know him better can be more wary of his devious ways. This passage also touches upon Loki's inherent curiosity, which may be the fuel for his clever fire. By studying things simply to know how they work, Loki can figure out how to use those particular things to his advantage later on. He is a manipulative god with a knack for harmful pranks, acting almost as a child in certain scenarios. In Asgard, Loki is renowned for his ability to mess things up for other gods who are deeply invested in a certain outcome, thus making him more of an agitator than an altruist. It is certainly interesting how Loki is associated with fire and mischief simultaneously, because fire is mentioned in the word, firebrand--meaning, "a person who kindles strife or encourages unrest; an agitator." I wonder if this word is somehow derived from Loki, since he is both the god of fire and of mischief. All in all, I think this passage is interesting because it analyzes two perspectives of one god, therefore providing a more well-rounded view of what that particular god is supposed to represent.
I would also be interested in the relation to fire and Loki because of the point you brought up. However, I tried looking it up and all it said was that it came from Middle English and that fire is derived from German and French words, but it German mythology so maybe it has to do with that?
ReplyDeleteI can't find the quote right now, but I also found it interesting to read about the thin child's perception of Loki. The book touches on the fact that all of the other gods in the Norse mythology serve a purpose. They are essentially a means to an end and their purpose is relatively clear. With Loki, the same cannot be said. He is slippery, constantly changing. He is mysterious. I found it very interesting to read that the thin child, unlike any of the other gods, developed an almost emotional reaction to Loki's character. This, to me, shows how powerful his trickery can be. He is certainly a force to be reckoned with, and with that in mind, a beautifully written antagonist.
ReplyDeleteI really found it cool that the child found an emotional affinity and solace in Loki. Like casey said, I think this sheds light on the sheer power of his trickery. He is such a powerful character, yet there is something charismatic and almost magnetic about him, making him one of my favorite characters to read about in this book.
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