The Trickster in Appalachian and Hutsulian Tales

Abstract

The fairytales of Hutsuls and Appalachians are analyzed in the article. Mountainousdwellers have an indissoluble connection with the nature and metaphysics of mountains that iswhy there are so many sacred objects and special places there. Megaliths and sanctuaries, lifegiving places, miraculous springs, natural metaphysics of the mountains and tales which aregrasped like true stories about creation and objective reality of the world, - all these attract not onlytourists but also scientists and researchers to the mountainous region. The tale is one of thepermanent attributes of people`s life. It gives the opportunity to make the process of emotional andmoral development more controlled and determined. The common feature of the tale is identified:it is the presence of a hero-trickster - Jack (the Appalachians) and Ivan (the Carpathians). In tales,most of the fictional characters can be described by the term “duality”. It is a certain state ofconsciousness when the hero-character reproduces his double that lives an imaginary life andperforms an intended role. It is a hero who is often hidden behind the mask of a jester and a foolishman. He does not live according to the rules. He breaks both laws and rules, but achieves positiveresults. The common and different features of the Trickster in the fairytales of Indians and Hutsulsare defined.