Great Characters: Del Griffith (“Planes, Trains & Automobiles”)

Typically Trickster characters are master shapeshifters, switching ‘masks’ from one scene to another. Part of this dynamic is a reflection of their personality. However from a writing point-of-view, the main point in this regard is tied to the character’s narrative function: By shifting from the Protagonist’s ally to enemy, enemy to ally, they test the Protagonist, and in so doing contribute to the Protagonist’s metamorphosis.

A classic example of a Trickster is Del Griffith (John Candy) from Planes, Trains and Automobiles (written and directed by John Hughes).

Here is the IMDB plot summary:

All that Neal Page (Steve Martin) wants to do is to get home for Thanksgiving. His flight has been canceled due to bad weather, so he decides on other means of transport. As well as bad luck, Neal is blessed with the presence of Del Griffith, Shower Curtain Ring Salesman and all-around blabbermouth, who is never short of advice, conversation, bad jokes, or company. And when he decides that he is going the same direction as Neal….

Of course, once Neal and Del start off on their journey together, everything that can go wrong, does goes wrong — often the result of Del’s actions. Here’s an example: Del driving their rental car the wrong way on a highway:

In Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Hughes uses Del to go well beyond a surface level Protagonist-Trickster relationship, delving into some honest areas of self-reflection. For example, driven batty by Del, Neal finally loses it:

The scene is capped off by this side from Del:

You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I’m an easy target. Yeah, you’re right, I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you… but I don’t like to hurt people’s feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I’m not changing. I like… I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. ’Cause I’m the real article. What you see is what you get.

Of course, that’s the biggest trick of all, isn’t it? As it turns out, Del’s wife has been dead for nine years and he has nowhere to go for Thanksgiving. In the end, Neal invites Del to join Neal’s family for the holiday.

Enemy. Ally. Ally. Enemy. All to test the Protagonist. Del tests Neal on all fronts: the Plotline as Neal struggles to get home and the Themeline as Del forces Neal to confront some realities about his own character make-up that results in Neal getting in touch with his heart.

Del Griffith — a great Trickster character.

[Originally posted November 26, 2010]