Real Loki In Mythology

We know of Loki through Marvel movies and streaming services, but what is the actual mythology behind Loki? Is he more than the god of mischief? Let's find out. 

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Starting with bare-bones basics, Loki is the god of mischief and possibly fire. He is considered neutral (not good or bad). It explains why he'd be an antihero. Odin may not be his father, but he's still considered part of the deities known as Aesir. He is commonly a companion of Thor and Odin. He can change shape and sex at will. His father is indeed a giant. He's also caused the death of several gods in Norse mythology. Loki produced Hel (goddess of death), unlike what the movies seem to tell you. He also (with a female giant) produced Jormungand and Fenrir. He gave birth to Odin's 8-legged horse, too (yes - gave birth). With his wife Sigyn, he has a son (Narfi or Nari) whose name could mean corpse. In all aspects, he defies all society and makes a mess of everything. He often has to fix what he has done himself. His name could possibly mean knot or tangle.

Does he pay for his crimes? Yes, actually. For all his trouble there is a chain of his son's entrails (yes, you heard me) and they tie him down to three rocks in a cave, where poison is dripped onto him by a snake. His wife catches the poison in a bowl by his side, only leaving to dump it on occasion (where he then gets hit briefly by the agonizing poison). This is the explanation for an earthquake. He isn't free until he breaks free at Ragnorak. What is interesting to note is that he wasn't worshiped like the rest of the Norse gods, yet is considered a Norse god. There is no evidence of him being cult followed. I suspect the messes he created in the written tales are why. Who wants to live for the shapeshifter that ultimately acts only for himself and his advantage? Literally no one, apparently. I can understand that. 

Genderfluid? Or not?  

One of the oddest things about Loki is his ability to change sex. Shapeshifting is not a new idea, but genderfluid gets a bit weird. Technically he can just switch sexes because Norse people didn't have that concept (given switching shape doesn't change his identity). He has both given sperm to produce a child and given birth to a child/animal, according to the mythology tales. Has Marvel talked about this? Surprisingly, yes. Tales say that he lived as a woman on earth for 8 years (sex, chores, children, and all) and as a horse, gave birth to a foal. The comics picked up on this quality a decade or so ago and keep using it. It isn't a new thing for Loki. If you are of the opinion that Marvel is just conforming and putting diversity in just to have it, you are incorrect - it was in the mythology! 

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The Loki show on Disney + shows fluid on his file, by the way, so look for it. He does have a "Lady Loki" comic version, where he lives as a woman in a body meant for someone else. Given his shapeshifting abilities, it doesn't shock me that he is like this. After all, he does go against all natural or societal boundaries most of the time. Genderfluid is a modern invention, though, so it may not apply because mythology is extremely weird. Read my sources. You'll see what I mean. 

Is he as charming as the Marvel movies say? 

No. He is straight-up awful. According to ballads, he tricked a blind god into killing another god with an arrow. He killed another god publicly at a party just because he wasn't getting attention. He is not the antihero you like. Tom Hiddleston makes him look charming and tame compared to the mythology that says otherwise. To be fair though, mythology is toned down for movies most times due to its weird nature, so that isn't uncommon. Be that as it may, if we showed Loki in all his glory not one fan would like him. 

At the base of his awfulness are his jealousy, constant need for attention, and his notion that he is the center of the universe. He does what benefits him and him only. He sometimes complies to fixing things just to save his own skin. Marvel did get the attitude right, but they gave him charm. He was obnoxious in the poetry ballads and no other gods liked him. He made a party into an insult match after he murdered someone, refused to leave, and then hurled insults at everyone. Does that sound charming to you? 

Has he helped the tribe of gods (aesir) he has chosen allegiance to? Sometimes. He is confusing and switches sides often. He's not reliable. He is sometimes called upon to help with battles and other problems (whether he is fixing his own mistake or not). He tied his manhood to a goat and played tug of war to entertain someone at their request and was barely acknowledged for it. He goes from ally to an enemy at points. By Ragnorak he is fully an enemy. 

Good or bad? 

He is both. Some historians consider the possibility that the tribe of Aesir treated him badly, so he rebelled and picked the side of the enemy. The truth is that he was not consistent in the general sense. He does help the Aesir. He also creates utter chaos that results in death and destruction. His children kill Thor and Odin. He also gets nasty when he wants attention. Again, you could say that the Aesir starved him of recognition, but given he only does stuff for his benefit, that's a tricky situation. He is both. Much like Deadpool (who is also awful in nature), he goes under the antihero label. Read the poetry for yourself and you make the choice. Was he treated badly and shunned for not keeping order or was he evil? It depends on your opinion of the Aesir.

Sources:

https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2021/06/13/yes-loki-is-genderfluid-in-norse-mythology/#:~:text=The%20comic%20establishes%20that%20Loki,male%2C%20he%20uses%20masculine%20pronouns.

 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Loki

https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/loki/

https://www.lifeinnorway.net/loki-norse-mythology/