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Trickster in the novel ‘Brighten the corner where you are’ by Fred Chappell

In the Native American Literature, the trickster figure is common and many authors use it to represent humor and comedy in stories or to express the intellectual ability or political power balance. Fred Chappell in his novel, ‘Brighten up the corner where you are’ has utilized the trickster figure in narrating the story. The Trickster in most of the Native American Literature is characterized as a shape-shifter and can be portrayed as a truth-teller or a liar, a creator or destroyer.

Most of the Native American Literatures, ‘Tricksters’ are common and have a major characteristic in common, ambiguity. Tricksters are known to take many forms and in his novel, ‘Brighten the Corner Where You Are’ Fred Chappell has intensively used the trickster figure to represent his novel.

The idea of trickster appears at the point where Joe Robert and his son are headed towards their barn to feed and milk the cows and the author describes the moon as overbearing. The moon is so huge and bright forcing Joe to take it and keep it in one of the milking steel containers. This action is horrifying to Joe’s son who convinces him to return the moon to ‘where it belongs’. The author uses the idea of a trickster to explain the myths that existed in the Native American literatures in the form of myths. The idea of trickster allows the author to anchor his story in and is an essential theme in the novel. BY including the ideal of ‘Trickster’ the author is able to outline the main characteristic of the ‘Native American Literature’ that was impended in the native cultures.