Okay, I got a question that's Haunted me for years.
WHY did Loki want Baldr dead?
Trust me when I say, it has haunted and plagued my mind just as much Roruna! Let's get into it shall we? 😌
Loki's motivations are not explicitly stated in the primary sources, leading to various interpretations. Some scholars suggest that his actions reflect the inherent tension between order and chaos, a central theme in Norse mythology. Others view Loki as a necessary agent of change, whose deeds, while destructive, pave the way for renewal in the post-Ragnarök world. Which in itself is actually a good thing!
Some possible motivations for Loki's actions, that are all valid at the same time for me (many factors i suppose XD) could be for example:
A desire to disrupt the natural order since Baldr symbolized light, purity, and harmony. By causing his death, Loki introduced, effectively disrupting the balance of the cosmos. This act aligns with how everyone always painted Loki to be as horrible as he turned out to be in the end, his role as a trickster, the outcast.. you know the deal! If we go with this its more targeted towards them all rather than just Baldr. They wanted someone to blame, so he embraced it and became their worst enemy.
Jealousy over how Baldr was the most admired among the gods. Loki, as we have seen in The Lokasenna, was capable of being quite jealous of others, even when they're rightfully praised for doing something.. after all we have to keep in mind Loki was treated very badly. Rest in peace Fimafeng!
Or my personal favorite! Revenge for not only how he was treated, but for his race and family too. His actions against Baldr might have been motivated by a desire to hurt Odin for how his children were treated harshly by the gods due to prophecies about their roles in Ragnarök and appearance. After all he was Odin's most beloved son (despite having many more!)
Fenrir was bound, Jörmungandr was cast into the sea, and Hel was banished to the underworld. Loki himself was eventually bound and punished severely, his younger sons meeting a brutal fate here as well. This would definitely have fueled a desire for revenge against the gods, with Baldr's death serving as a means to inflict pain upon them. Even better, he'd give his daughter Hel the most beloved thing in all the 9 realms since they all survive Ragnarök.
I don't need to defend my case here, we know very well he loved his children from the evidence of his traditions related to children and of the home. 🥹
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