The Significance of Easter
The character Easter in American Gods may seem insignificant, but she plays a larger role than most readers would think. In addition, she has a very interesting history. Her true name and full title is Eostre of the Dawn, the pagan goddess of life, fertility, and spring. She is an obscure deity by that title but influences many different cultures and her name has linguistic significance. Not only is Easter named after her, but the wiccan holiday of Ostara, the celebration of the vernal equinox. Her name relates to many Proto-Indo-European words and names of deities, such as the Greek sun goddess Eos, the Roman goddess Aurora, and the Indo-European goddess Hausos. The month of April is named after her in several languages; in fact, the Anglo-Saxon word for April was "Eostur-monath" - Eostre month or Easter month. The tradition of Easter is in Christianity because Eostre's, or Ostara, as she is named in German, influence in Europe, mostly Germany. When Cristianity traveled from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the cultures and belief systems mixed and changed until the Easter traditions that we have today evolved.
Eostre is the reason that we have egg hunts and rabbit images during Spring and the days leading up to Easter. As the goddess of spring, Eostre was associated with new life and fertility. Rabbits are significant symbols of fertility because of their ability to reproduce so quickly, and are therefore her sacred animal. Eggs are symbols of rebirth and resurrection in many cultures and are associated with the rebirth of nature in spring, Eostre's season. As the goddess of resurrection, it is fitting that Easter is the one that saves Shadow, the main character of American Gods. She brings him back to life, helping him return to his friends and allies.
Eostre is the reason that we have egg hunts and rabbit images during Spring and the days leading up to Easter. As the goddess of spring, Eostre was associated with new life and fertility. Rabbits are significant symbols of fertility because of their ability to reproduce so quickly, and are therefore her sacred animal. Eggs are symbols of rebirth and resurrection in many cultures and are associated with the rebirth of nature in spring, Eostre's season. As the goddess of resurrection, it is fitting that Easter is the one that saves Shadow, the main character of American Gods. She brings him back to life, helping him return to his friends and allies.
Thunderbirds
Shadow has a strange heritage: on his mother's side he is Native American; on his father's side he is a Norse God. Before the truth about his father is reveled, Shadow has strange, prophetic dreams about thunderbirds, which are significant figures in American Indian religion and culture. They represent a variety of different things depending on the tribe that has lore about them, but are still the most prevalent and widespread cultural characteristic of Native North American culture, which is rare for a culture as diverse and widespread as the North American tribes are. The most common belief that thunderbirds are associated with is that they are harbingers of war. It is said that a man who sees a thunderbird will become a war chief. In addition, they are obviously associated with thunder, lightning, and storms.
It is significant that Shadow has dreams specifically about thunderbirds. Not only do they represent his connection to the land and all who live there, but they act as foreshadowing for when it is reveled that Odin is Shadow's father. Their affinity for lightning is not a coincidence. During his recurring dreams about the thunderbirds, Shadow asks the birds over and over again what he needs to do about Laura, his wife, to save her from her untimely death and unnatural, zombie-like resurrection. This is also not a coincidence because in some Native American myths the thunderbird is a bringer of death or life. The birds represent the two options Shadow has when referring to Laura's situation: the ideal solution and the realistic solution. Ideally, she would be restored to life as though nothing had happened instead of staying undead and doomed to rot from the inside out. Realistically, Shadow would eventually have to free her from a cold half-life and allow her to peacefully pass on. In addition, thunderbirds are said to be constantly at war with the mythical trickster figure in Native American lore, Iktomi. Like with Odin, this is foreshadowing that Shadow becomes enemies with Loki, the trickster from Norse mythology.
It is significant that Shadow has dreams specifically about thunderbirds. Not only do they represent his connection to the land and all who live there, but they act as foreshadowing for when it is reveled that Odin is Shadow's father. Their affinity for lightning is not a coincidence. During his recurring dreams about the thunderbirds, Shadow asks the birds over and over again what he needs to do about Laura, his wife, to save her from her untimely death and unnatural, zombie-like resurrection. This is also not a coincidence because in some Native American myths the thunderbird is a bringer of death or life. The birds represent the two options Shadow has when referring to Laura's situation: the ideal solution and the realistic solution. Ideally, she would be restored to life as though nothing had happened instead of staying undead and doomed to rot from the inside out. Realistically, Shadow would eventually have to free her from a cold half-life and allow her to peacefully pass on. In addition, thunderbirds are said to be constantly at war with the mythical trickster figure in Native American lore, Iktomi. Like with Odin, this is foreshadowing that Shadow becomes enemies with Loki, the trickster from Norse mythology.
On Coin Tricks and Vampires
Despite being one of the main characters and Shadow's ally, Wednesday (or Odin) has an underlying dark side as the reader sees more and more of his character. He is the classic con artist, a trickster and a cheater who steals money from strangers who have never met him or done anything to deserve his anger. He tries to justify his actions by saying that people have abandoned him to fade away into the past, letting him disappear into obscurity or by saying that the person he just stole from had commited crimes and indecencies. Shadow, however, remains the steadfast moral voice, saying "I wouldn't want anyone to do it to me," and argues against Wednesday conning people, even when the two men need money. After Wednesday's apparent death, Shadow greives for his former employer despite his flaws. Hindsight for the deceased makes him ignore just how cunning Wednesday was, and makes Odin's betrayal all the more shocking.
As it turns out, Wednesday was conning Shadow the entire time. He wanted to start a war, not prevent it. Even all the good moments the two men had together were faked. Odin is a trickster just like Loki, or a literary vampire that sucks the life out of characters. Because of him Shadow almost died several times and really died once. Like vampires portrayed in pop culture, he associated with the undead and is resurrected near the end of the book. His symbol is the raven, which also associated with death and decay.
As it turns out, Wednesday was conning Shadow the entire time. He wanted to start a war, not prevent it. Even all the good moments the two men had together were faked. Odin is a trickster just like Loki, or a literary vampire that sucks the life out of characters. Because of him Shadow almost died several times and really died once. Like vampires portrayed in pop culture, he associated with the undead and is resurrected near the end of the book. His symbol is the raven, which also associated with death and decay.
Characters and Locations
The locations that the characters travel to are very diverse and uniquely American. Neil Gaiman made a special effort to write about strange places. At the time he had just moved to the United States from Great Britain and was inspired by the strange country that he now found himself in. He included a multitude of tourist traps that wouldn't be found anywhere else in the world.