Loki Ponder Piece
This is a ponder piece I did for school to which my teacher replied with
"Poor Loki, that's funny" ...I don't think the treatment of Loki is really a laughing matter. :(
This ponder piece is going to be on Loki, the god of mischief, evil, and the mother of monsters. A part of me feels sorry for him. He seems to have been given a bad lot in his life as Odin’s adopted son. The book we read (Nordic Gods And Heroes by Padraic Colum) doesn’t say how Loki came to live in Asgard with Odin and Frigga as his parents, and Thor and Baldr as his brothers, and I’m not sure if it mentions who his parents are (Farbauti and Laufey). While reading this I got what I’ve read from other sources kind of confused with what was in this particular book.
I think that Loki is severely misunderstood. I think his whole life he was trying to prove himself. Like when he went with Odin to Jotunheim and tried to cook the meat and Odin accused him of trickery? That had to have been hard on Loki. It was one of the many things that led to him becoming so evil and outcast. At first he was just mischievous, he even used his trickery for good (when he tricked the giant into finishing the fence).
When he cut off Sif’s hair, I think he was just trying to gain attention in the only way he knew how: acting out. He’s like a petulant child craving the attention and praises he sees Thor (amongst others) getting. He only wants to be included.
I also think that having his children taken away from him is a big part of why he turned so hateful towards the gods. Sleipnir was taken (the offspring he had with Svadilfari/Svadilfare, though the book doesn’t mention this fact) to be Odin’s steed. Then, later Hel was cast down beyond Midgard to rule over the darkness. Fenrir was chained up and Jormungand was flung into the seas. How would you feel if all your children were taken away?? I know I’d hate the people who took them. I’d do everything in my power to make the life of the person who took my child/children miserable.
This may not have been Loki’s motives, but I’m sure it played a part. As for killing Baldr, I think that he was slightly jealous and slightly desperate. Desperate to rid the Aesir and Vanir of their happiness. It was very clever of him to use someone else to throw the mistletoe and cause the death. Though he gave the mistletoe to Hodur, technically, he didn’t kill Baldr. But, everyone still knew he did because he was still punished.
I think the only one to truly understand and love Loki was Sigyn/Siguna, his wife. Unfortunately, I don’t think Loki took notice. Hence his affair with Angrboda and his offspring with her. If only Sigyn’s love were enough to bring him back to how he used to be, but sadly, it wasn’t.
I think had the other gods and goddesses treated him more of an equal, rather than an outcast, he wouldn’t have turned so evil. Not eating the heart of the witch probably would have kept him from turning so evil as well, but he wouldn’t have eaten the heart had his life been different to begin with.
It’s just a tangled tangled circle and I can’t help but pity him. He was ignored and treated poorly. When he did do good things, they went unnoticed and that makes a person bitter and angry. And then the taking of his offspring. I really think that played a big part of his turning so evil.
Poor poor Loki.
-- Jay
"Poor Loki, that's funny" ...I don't think the treatment of Loki is really a laughing matter. :(
This ponder piece is going to be on Loki, the god of mischief, evil, and the mother of monsters. A part of me feels sorry for him. He seems to have been given a bad lot in his life as Odin’s adopted son. The book we read (Nordic Gods And Heroes by Padraic Colum) doesn’t say how Loki came to live in Asgard with Odin and Frigga as his parents, and Thor and Baldr as his brothers, and I’m not sure if it mentions who his parents are (Farbauti and Laufey). While reading this I got what I’ve read from other sources kind of confused with what was in this particular book.
I think that Loki is severely misunderstood. I think his whole life he was trying to prove himself. Like when he went with Odin to Jotunheim and tried to cook the meat and Odin accused him of trickery? That had to have been hard on Loki. It was one of the many things that led to him becoming so evil and outcast. At first he was just mischievous, he even used his trickery for good (when he tricked the giant into finishing the fence).
When he cut off Sif’s hair, I think he was just trying to gain attention in the only way he knew how: acting out. He’s like a petulant child craving the attention and praises he sees Thor (amongst others) getting. He only wants to be included.
I also think that having his children taken away from him is a big part of why he turned so hateful towards the gods. Sleipnir was taken (the offspring he had with Svadilfari/Svadilfare, though the book doesn’t mention this fact) to be Odin’s steed. Then, later Hel was cast down beyond Midgard to rule over the darkness. Fenrir was chained up and Jormungand was flung into the seas. How would you feel if all your children were taken away?? I know I’d hate the people who took them. I’d do everything in my power to make the life of the person who took my child/children miserable.
This may not have been Loki’s motives, but I’m sure it played a part. As for killing Baldr, I think that he was slightly jealous and slightly desperate. Desperate to rid the Aesir and Vanir of their happiness. It was very clever of him to use someone else to throw the mistletoe and cause the death. Though he gave the mistletoe to Hodur, technically, he didn’t kill Baldr. But, everyone still knew he did because he was still punished.
I think the only one to truly understand and love Loki was Sigyn/Siguna, his wife. Unfortunately, I don’t think Loki took notice. Hence his affair with Angrboda and his offspring with her. If only Sigyn’s love were enough to bring him back to how he used to be, but sadly, it wasn’t.
I think had the other gods and goddesses treated him more of an equal, rather than an outcast, he wouldn’t have turned so evil. Not eating the heart of the witch probably would have kept him from turning so evil as well, but he wouldn’t have eaten the heart had his life been different to begin with.
It’s just a tangled tangled circle and I can’t help but pity him. He was ignored and treated poorly. When he did do good things, they went unnoticed and that makes a person bitter and angry. And then the taking of his offspring. I really think that played a big part of his turning so evil.
Poor poor Loki.
-- Jay