The Harlequin

The idea of the trickster, a mischievous creature who takes pleasure in disrupting any sort of order or balance, doesn’t necessarily fit into the two films viewed in class. In at least the pop culture sense, the trickster only complicates things for the sake of fun, like imps.  However, the Native American idea of a trickster is one that, while playing tricks, also helps add the protagonist. Harlen, though certainly adds comic relief to the film with his gags, is not just a nonsense comedian. Instead, he helps further the plot, not by taking Will where he wants to go, but where he needs to go (a very Doctor Who theme).

Harlen seems to possess a sort of deity-like ability to manipulate people and their timelines to do whatever he wants them to do. He is deceitful and mischievous, sure, but he isn’t malicious or greedy (at least, not selfishly). He doesn’t lie to hurt people, but bring them together and eventually make them happy.

Interestingly, his own name denotes his character. Harlen could be a derivative of Harlequin, a character in a story made to make people laugh, or like jokers in a king's court— essentially, tricksters. The jokers were the only ones who could get away with making jokes at the king’s expense. Like a Harlequin, Harlen can reveal certain things about others, like Will’s crush on Louise, and have them write it off as one of Harlen’s pranks. He can weave truths out of people and make them act in ways that better the community as well as themselves.