The Difference Between Legality and Morality

Then they vowed that even as they themselves had been despoiled they would despoil their oppressors . . . and that from each they would take that which had been wrung from the poor by unjust taxes, or land rents, or in wrongful fines; but to the poor folk they would give a helping hand . . .  and would return to them that which had been unjustly taken[.]

In the prologue, as Robin Hood gathers his band of outlaws, they make this promise to one another, to help those in need by taking anything that was unfairly taken from them by those in positions of power. To Robin, this choice to steal from the wealthy and give back to the poor is the moral thing to do. It is justified because he believes the legal system itself is immoral. However, the fact that they list taxes, rents, and fines as what is unjustly taken from others shows the moral ambiguity in Robin’s system of justice. Taxes, rents, and fines are all payments people are legally obligated to make. Whether or not they are considered unjust is subjective, and their fairness is seemingly deemed at the discretion of Robin Hood and his men. Though the legal system is not always fair, neither is Robin Hood’s system. Because any system of justice, whether legal or a personal moral code, is determined by humans, it will always inherently be biased in some way.

Now, Sir Richard, the church seemed like to despoil thee, therefore some of the overplus of church gains may well be used in aiding thee.

In the fifth part of the story, when Robin Hood meets Sir Richard of Lea, he helps Sir Richard pay back his debts by stealing from the Bishop of Hereford, the wealthiest bishop in England. Sir Richard owes his debts to another member of the clergy, the Prior of Emmet. Robin Hood, therefore, believes that stealing from one religious man is acceptable because it was another man of the church who took advantage of Sir Richard in the first place. This justification is an example of Robin Hood’s logic, his attempt to balance out what he sees as an unfair justice system by taking matters into his own hands. He believes those in the clergy are greedy and have come about their wealth entirely in corrupt ways. Because Robin assumes these men broke the law as well as the rules of the church, he feels he is justified in breaking the law as well to restore what someone else has lost or had taken from him.

I shall take it with me; for it will be better used for charity and the good of my merry band than in the enriching of such knaves as these.

Robin Hood says these words to himself in the sixth part of the novel, after defeating the four beggars who have feigned their ailments by stealing their money. Robin assumes that the beggars gained the money they have because they dishonestly encouraged others to feel sorry for them. Therefore, he feels comfortable justifying taking their money because they came about it in an underhanded way. Robin doesn’t consider that he obtains money in a similarly underhanded way when he uses deception to steal from the wealthy, whom he assumes are corrupt. Robin defends his actions in the name of morality, although what he is doing is illegal. There is also a discrepancy in Robin Hood’s moral code because he often tricks others so he can rob them, sometimes just for the sake of amusing himself. While Robin believes himself to be far more ethical than those who have excess wealth, he is sometimes just as deceitful as those he steals from.

The Importance of Friendship

Then all cried, ‘Ay!’ again, for there was not one man amongst them all that would not venture everything for a friend in need.

In the first part of the novel, Robin Hood and Little John ask their men to join them in rescuing Will Stutely, who is to be hanged by the Sheriff of Nottingham and his men. All Robin’s men pledge their loyalty to him and wholeheartedly agree to the venture. This incident is just one of many times throughout the novel when Robin’s men risk their own lives to save one another, showing how much they value their friends and the community they have created in Sherwood Forest. Although the Sheriff has several troops as well as the law on his side, he is never successful in hanging or even arresting Robin Hood or any of his men because the band always comes to the aid of one of their own, no matter the risks they face. The strength of the friendship in Robin Hood’s group is stronger than any outside force or any fear they may feel for their own lives.

Now, I swear that never again will I leave these dear woodlands. I have been away from them and from you too long. Now do I lay by the name of Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, and take upon me once again that nobler title, Robin Hood, the Yeoman.

These are the words that Robin Hood speaks in the Epilogue when he returns to Sherwood Forest for a visit after joining King Richard’s service and being named the Earl of Huntingdon. In this scene, Robin reminisces about his adventures and his time with Little John and his other friends in Sherwood Forest and realizes how much he misses them. He blows his horns to call his men back to him. Once they come, Robin declares that he will never leave them again, and he renounces his title, becoming a mere yeoman once more. Even after he has experienced the wealth, fame, and power that accompanied his grand title, Robin far prefers the company of his friends and would rather be one of them than an earl. He even considers the title of yeoman to be nobler than that of an earl, proving that he believes friendship is more valuable than any title could be. 

Little John, mine own dear friend, and him I love better than all others in the world, mark, I prythee, where this arrow lodges, and there let my grave be digged.

Here, in the Epilogue to Robin Hood’s story, as Robin lies dying, he speaks his final words to his long-time friend, Little John. Moments earlier, Little John rushed to Robin’s side as soon as he heard the weak blast coming from Robin’s horn, a sign of true friendship. Despite the notoriety that Robin gained throughout his life, his dying wish is to be with his dearest friend, Little John, the man he proclaims with these words to love more than anyone else in the world. It is ironic that at their first meeting, Robin and Little John fought each other. Here, Robin’s words show how much their friendship has developed through their adventures and what this relationship has meant to both men. In this quote, Robin also shows that he trusts Little John to grant his final wish and bury him where his arrow lands, evidence that the depth of their friendship will go beyond the mortal world.

The Healing Power of Nature

Sometimes he would walk a long distance, gazing aloft at the great white swelling clouds that moved slowly across the deep blue sky; anon he would stop and drink in the fullness of life of all things, for the hedgerows were budding tenderly and the grass of the meadows was waxing long and green[.]

In the sixth part of the novel, Robin Hood parts ways with Little John as each man goes off in search of his own adventure. Alone, Robin walks through the forest, looking for a beggar to trade clothes with. However, as described here by the narrator, he becomes distracted from his mission by the beauty of Sherwood Forest in the springtime. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is filled with detailed descriptions of nature such as this one, showing the importance of the forest setting both to the novel and to Robin himself. He does not tire of the natural beauty around him. Robin equates nature, and especially the beauty unique to spring, with life itself. He even stops to “drink” it all in, as if what he sees feeds his heart. For Robin, nature has healing power, and living in harmony with nature leads to a much more fulfilling life than being part of regular society. 

On either side of the road, for a long distance, stood tangled thickets of bushes and young trees, and it pleased Robin’s heart to hear the little birds singing therein, for it made him think of Sherwood, and it seemed as though it had been a lifetime since he had breathed the air of the woodlands.

As Robin Hood is on his way home from the royal archery competition in the seventh part of the novel, he is not aware that he is being closely pursued by the king’s men. Rather than hurry back to Sherwood Forest, Robin takes time to drink in the beauty of the nature that is around him. Because Robin has just been to London, the bushes and trees and birds that he sees are a reminder of Sherwood Forest, and they emphasize how much better life is in the natural surroundings of the countryside than in the city. Robin is coming from the world of greed and corruption, and the authentic beauty of the woods reminds him of what truly matters in life. As the nature around Robin encourages him to return home to Sherwood Forest, it is in a way also prompting him to escape from the king’s men, who will soon make their presence known.

All the sweetness of the time and the joyousness of everything brought back to Robin’s mind his forest life, so that a great longing came upon him to behold the woodlands once more.

In the Epilogue of the novel, Robin Hood returns to England after fighting in the crusades on behalf of King Richard. The lush greenery he sees in the English countryside reminds him of his former life in Sherwood Forest, a place where he has not been in many years, and he is suddenly inspired to visit his old home. Although Robin is now the Earl of Huntingdon and has traveled to different countries, nothing remains more beautiful or peaceful or desirable to him than Sherwood Forest. His longing for the forest and his old life there is especially understandable because Robin has been fighting in a war and has witnessed senseless violence and the deaths of many people who were important to him, including the king. To Robin Hood, nothing has greater healing power than that of nature, and he feels nature is in its best display in Sherwood Forest. In need of healing and peace, Robin decides to return to his beloved forest and leave behind his wealth and his title.

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