Why We Root for the Villain: The Psychology Behind Our Love for Loki

Who am I? You're my son.
And who am I?

This question of identity lies at the heart of one of modern cinema's most beloved characters. Loki, the charming villain from the Marvel universe, has captured the imagination of millions, often overshadowing the heroes he opposes. Much of this adoration is thanks to a masterful performance by Tom Hiddleston, but the character's appeal runs deeper, tapping into ancient myths and modern anxieties. The on-screen saga of Loki and Thor has ignited a widespread curiosity in Norse mythology, revealing that the "gods" we see are not just superheroes, but figures rooted in complex, ancient tales.

However, fans quickly discovered that the Loki of legend is a vastly different creature from the one on screen. What do these two figures have in common? How did an ancient trickster become a modern icon? And what does it all have to do with the end of the world?

Gods as Flawed as We Are

Our primary windows into the world of the Norse gods are two key texts: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. The latter was penned in the 13th century by the Icelandic historian and poet Snorri Sturluson, who approached the myths not as sacred scripture but as a textbook on pagan poetry. Sturluson theorized that the gods were once remarkable humans, whose stories were embellished over generations until they were attributed with superhuman abilities.

Much like the gods of ancient Greece, the Norse pantheon is strikingly human. They are not the omnipotent, infallible deities of monotheistic faiths. They live, love, scheme, and harbor their own vices. The chief gods, the Æsir, reside in the celestial city of Asgard, ruled by the one-eyed Odin, the "All-Father." He famously sacrificed an eye for a drink from the well of wisdom. Among his children is Thor, the god of thunder, who possesses immense strength and wages constant war against the giants, the jötnar.

Yet, even these gods are not immortal. Their mortality makes them relatable, their struggles more profound. They live with the knowledge that their world, too, will end.

The Original Agent of Chaos

In the Marvel universe, Loki is presented as Odin’s adopted son and Thor's stepbrother. The myths, however, tell a different story. Loki is the son of the jötunn Fárbauti and the goddess Laufey. He is not one of the Æsir by birth but is permitted to live in Asgard, having become Odin’s blood-brother, valued for his sharp intellect and cunning mind.

Mythological Loki is the god of trickery, deception, and fire. He is the quintessential trickster, a mythological archetype of a figure who exists to break rules and challenge the established order. He is two-faced, silver-tongued, and relentlessly irreverent. In the poem Lokasenna ("Loki's Quarrel"), he crashes a feast and systematically insults every god and goddess, exposing their deepest hypocrisies and shames.

It is in this poem that he also confesses to his most heinous act: orchestrating the death of Baldr, the god of light and spring. Baldr was beloved by all, and his mother, Frigg, extracted an oath from every object in creation not to harm him. She overlooked only the mistletoe, deeming it too young and insignificant. Loki, learning of this one vulnerability, fashioned a dart from the plant and tricked the blind god Höðr into throwing it, killing Baldr instantly. This act is the catalyst that sets in motion Ragnarök, the prophesied end of the world.

Despite his malice, Loki was often the Æsir's most valuable, if volatile, asset. When brute force failed, the gods turned to Loki's cunning to solve their problems. He procured for them their most precious artifacts, including Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, and Odin’s spear, Gungnir.

From Myth to Marvel: A Villain Reborn

To fit into the Marvel cinematic framework, Loki's character had to be significantly reshaped. Gone is the red-haired, chaotic trickster of the myths. In his place is a sleek, black-haired prince whose actions are driven not by a desire for anarchy, but by a thirst for power and deep-seated envy of his brother, Thor.

In Asgard's cinematic world, physical strength and battlefield valor are prized above all else. In this arena, Loki is perpetually in Thor's shadow. His wit and cunning are repurposed into tools for revenge and a quest for the throne—a throne his mythological counterpart never sought. This creates a compelling dichotomy: the strong, noble, yet somewhat naive hero versus the brilliant, scheming, yet tormented antihero. Perhaps this is why so many viewers find themselves sympathizing with Loki. In an age of complexity, the image of a simple, strong good guy can feel flat and uninteresting.

Yet, a core trait of the mythological Loki remains, adapted for a modern audience. In the legends, his power was boundless because rules did not exist for him. He could change not only his appearance but also his form and gender. In one famous tale, he transforms into a mare to lure away a giant's stallion, later giving birth to Odin's eight-legged steed, Sleipnir.

The television series Loki embraces this aspect of his identity directly, introducing various versions of the character, including a female variant, Sylvie, and even an alligator Loki. The show officially designates his gender as "fluid." This concept, where a person’s gender identity is not fixed and can change over time, resonates powerfully today. Loki, an ancient character, has become an icon for a very modern conversation about identity, proving that these archetypes are timeless.

The Inevitable End

A profound sense of doom, or eschatology, is one of the most defining features of Norse mythology and a powerful link between the ancient and modern Loki. The gods of Asgard live in the shadow of Ragnarök, a fate they know they cannot escape. According to the myths, the monsters the gods once contained will break free. The great wolf Fenrir will devour Odin, the serpent Jörmungandr will poison the sea, and Loki, freed from his bonds, will lead an army of giants against Asgard. The gods will fight, and they will perish.

Loki is central to this apocalypse. In the myths, his killing of Baldr begins the chain of events. In the film Thor: Ragnarok, he directly causes Asgard’s destruction by resurrecting the fire demon Surtur. This theme of a "twilight of the gods" was famously captured by the composer Richard Wagner in his opera Götterdämmerung. Over time, this phrase evolved into a metaphor for the dramatic collapse of any great power or authoritarian regime. In a strange, indirect way, Loki—the agent of cosmic chaos—has become symbolically linked to the overthrow of tyrants.

Whether in myth or on screen, Loki forces us to confront uncomfortable truths. He is a reflection of the parts of ourselves that feel overlooked, misunderstood, and hungry for recognition. He is the outcast, the schemer, the survivor, and the harbinger of change. He represents the unsettling but necessary idea that sometimes, the old world must fall for a new one to begin.

References:

• Sturluson, Snorri. The Prose Edda. Translated by Anthony Faulkes, Viking Society for Northern Research, 1995.
  This is a foundational text for understanding the Norse mythological framework as it was recorded in the 13th century. The section Gylfaginning ("The Deluding of Gylfi") provides the core narratives about the creation of the world, the gods of Asgard, and the major myths, including the story of Baldr's death (Chapter 49) and Loki's punishment (Chapter 50).
• The Poetic Edda. Translated by Carolyne Larrington, Oxford University Press, 2014.
  This is a collection of anonymous Old Norse poems that are among the primary sources for Norse mythology. The poem "Lokasenna" ("Loki's Quarrel," pp. 84-95) is essential for understanding Loki's character as the irreverent trickster who exposes the flaws of the gods. "Völuspá" ("The Seeress's Prophecy," pp. 3-13) provides the most detailed account of the events of Ragnarök.
• Lindow, John. Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press, 2001.
  This comprehensive encyclopedia offers clear and concise explanations of key figures, concepts, and stories from Norse myth. The entry for "Loki" (pp. 212-218) synthesizes information from various sources to present a complete picture of his role as a complex and ambiguous figure, exploring his parentage, his relationship with the gods, and his function as both a culture hero and a catalyst for destruction.