Loki is probably the most misunderstood of all the gods. Most people have come to see him as a most vile being, but this is a misconception. As everyone knows his actions will
help destroy the gods, but there is more to him than that. What he gave to humanity as a whole outweighs what he has done and what he will do. He gave us choice; to understand
that statement you need to know more about him, the events which led to his imprisonment, and the events that will lead to his eventual death.
Loki is mentioned in Volsupa, Thrymskvitha, Hymiskvitha, Svipdagsmal, Reginsmal, Gylfaginning, Hyndluljod, and Baldrs Draumar. He is the subject of Lokasenna. Eilif Gudrunarson, Thjodolf of Hvin, and Ulf Uggason myths about Thor and Geirrødr, Idunn and Thjazi, and Heimdall and Loki have Loki playing a part in them.
Loki came from the east. He is the son of the giant Bergelmir, or Farbauti ("the dangerous striker", ie, the storm), and giantess Laufey (or Nal, "needle"). His wife is Sigyn, who is
included among the Asynjur by Snorri. They have two sons Vali and Narfi. In Hyndluljod, He also had three other children by the giantess Angrbodha (Boder of Sorrow), the Vanargand (Fenris Wolf), the Midgard Serpent (Jormungand or Ioemingang), and Hel. He is also mother/father to Sleipnir (Gylfaginning 42, Volupsa 25). Also in Hyndluljod, he ate
the cooked heart of a woman which he found in the embers through this he came with child, and gave birth to an unknown monster.
In Gylfaginning (33) Snorri says that "Included among the Aesir is he whom some call the slanderer of the Aesir or the author of deceit and the shame of god and men. To outward
appearance Loki is beautiful and comely, but evil in disposition and most fickle in nature. He excelled in sleight and had strategems for all occassions. He often brought the Aesir into great difficulties, but then delivered them with his cunning." He elsewhere says; "How shall Loki be referred to? B...