443: Tricksters: Does Whatever A Spider Can
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What is the premise of this episode and who is the featured trickster?
This time, on Myths and Legends, we're telling the stories of the legendary trickster, a Nancy, from West African folklore. We'll see how to recruit small lizards and spider children to help you out with your capers, and that if someone gets mad that you made fun of them and doesn't want to hang out with you anymore, they must pay. The creature this time is a rotund little snake who's more popular than you'll ever be.
This is Myths and Legends, episode 443, Does Whatever a Spider Can. This is a podcast where we tell stories from mythology and folklore. Some are incredibly popular tales you might think you know, but with surprising origins. Others are stories that might be new to you, but are definitely worth a listen. We've told Anansi stories on this podcast before, a long time ago actually, in episode 32. So Anansi is an interesting character because, even more than most tricksters, he's both aspirational and a cautionary tale. He's someone who very much lives by his own rules and will not bend in the face of even the strongest enemies. This is aspirational for, say, People who were enslaved and taken across an ocean and subjugated in a world they didn't recognize.
If, however, you live in a close-knit society where people rely on one another, well, Anansi is at best a scoundrel, and at worst a monster people can rally against. Because of how far the Anansi stories have traveled, there's no official or canon Anansi tales. I found these in a book of African folklore, so while it's not super specific, I'm inclined to believe they came from the Akan people in Ghana and along the eye. Ivory Coast. Anansi is a Spider-Man. Kind of. It really depends on the story, how much man and how much spider there is. Basically, it's pretty loose. But in most, he's a functioning member of human society in at least some way. Anyway, we'll catch up with Anansi by going back in time to his single days.
But all that's about to change because Anansi and his friend are headed into town to
Anansi, the Spider Man. was walking with his neighbor, a man whose parents both had a ton of money, And apparently also a cruel sense of humor. Maybe it was a boy named Sue's situation where, to help ensure their son would grow up to be successful and to be someone in the world, they named him Nothing. Nothing's name ended up being ironic. Like a massive Looney Tunes goon named Tiny, or Little John being the biggest man in Robin Hood's crew. because nothing took his inheritance and, through shrewd maneuvering, increased it tenfold. But he never forgot where he came from, or p his friends, like Anansi. A thin, ragged cotton cloth? Hm. Nothing pointed out. He just thought that Anansi would probably wear his best clothes to go get wives.
And yes, that's why they were on the way to town. To get some wives. Nothing let me tell you something about love, Anansi declared. You should never marry someone who loves you for what you can give them. You should marry someone who loves you for who you are. That's why I'm wearing this raggedy cloak. I might only meet one wife, but we will love each other no matter what. That's actually kinda sweet. Nothing smiled. Still, I don't dress nicely just for me, but sort of because I want to show respect for those around me by putting my best foot forward. Anansi looked Nothing up and down with a laugh. Hey, I feel respected. That is a beautiful velvet cloak. He wasn't as rich as nothing.
How does the episode introduce Anansi and explain his dual nature as hero and cautionary tale?
In fact, he didn't know if he would ever be able to afford such a beautiful cloak as that. There was a pause. Wow, to even like imagine what that might feel like against my skin is one of the most rewarding experiences I think I might ever have. There was another longer pause as the two men walked. That alone would be such a gift, Anansi said, mustering as many tears as he could. Like three? Do you want to try on the cloak, Anansi? Nothing asked, and found Anansi's own thin, ragged cloth cloak thrust into his hands, and the spider fingers rushed. grasping. Anansi threw the velvet over his shoulders and exhaled. Mm-hmm.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the premise of this episode and who is the featured trickster?
0:00–3:59
2
How does the episode introduce Anansi and explain his dual nature as hero and cautionary tale?
3:59–13:50
3
What is the conflict between Anansi, his friend Nothing, and the village wives?
13:50–57:43
4
How does the rat‑and‑hole trap plan unfold and what does it reveal about Anansi’s cunning?
57:43–1:01:46