Final answer:
Trickster tales primarily function to educate and entertain; they serve as a means to impart life lessons, reinforce cultural identity, and inspire thoughts on morality and ethics within communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In cultures throughout the world, the principal function of "trickster" tales is to educate, entertain, and inspire. Trickster characters, such as Anansi from West African mythology, are often depicted using their wits and secret knowledge to defy conventional norms and authority figures. They do not necessarily aim to deceive but rather convey morals, critique social injustices, and offer teaching moments for their audience. For instance, in the Caribbean Anansi story, the trickster uses wit to protect his possessions from Tiger, teaching a lesson about outsmarting bullies. Enslaved Africans in America would share similar stories, featuring tricksters like Brer Rabbit, to teach each other survival tactics under the oppressive conditions of slavery and to maintain a sense of community through shared narratives.
These tales can vary greatly, sometimes containing morally questionable behavior by divine beings, serving as a reflection on the values and moral order of the time. As playwrights encouraged their audiences to consider the values within these stories, orators such as Socrates questioned the very foundation of morality portrayed in them. This indicates that trickster tales are also meant to provoke thought and dialogue regarding societal values and ethics.