The Aesir's Role In Norse Mythology

The Norse trickster god, Loki is undoubtedly the most debatable figure from Norse mythology to this day. Though he appears to be a scheming, mischievous deity who has no real loyalties, his role is shrouded in mystery; what was his purpose in the ancient stories. Was he merely a plot device, a foil for the Aesir, and the pantheon of gods in Norse religion? In the tales, Loki is portrayed as a scheming coward who cares only for shallow pleasures and self-preservation. He’s by turns playful, malicious, and helpful, but he’s always irreverent and nihilistic. While treated as a nominal member of the gods, Loki occupies a highly ambivalent and ultimately unique position among the gods, giants, and the other kinds of spiritual beings that populate