Tricksters

Tricksters  usually have a great degree of intellect and knowledge.  They use their wisdom to play tricks on people and other gods.  They usually disobey rules and most conventional thinking or behavior.  In stories the Tricksters can be a woman, man, god, spirit, goddess or any other type of entity.  What were the ancients trying to tell us with Tricksters?  What do they symbolize?