The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood: Themes

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

The Difference Between Legality and Morality

One of the main goals of Robin Hood and his men is to help others in need and, in general, to do what is right—though in their minds, what is right is not necessarily what is legal. Robin and his men have created an extralegal community within Sherwood Forest. They prove that a happy and harmonious life can be achieved without laws if they all abide by a (somewhat ambiguous) moral code. Although not much is revealed about the lives of the men before they arrive in Sherwood Forest, they all seem to take issue with figures of authority, and they believe the system designed to enforce laws is innately corrupt. For this reason, they often take matters of justice into their own hands.

Robin Hood first comes to Sherwood Forest on the run from the law for having killed a man. Though he did not intend to commit murder and feels extreme guilt for his actions, Robin believes his time is better spent avoiding the law and helping the needy than serving time in prison. Throughout the novel, Robin Hood and his men often help others who have broken the law but who the band feels do not deserve harsh punishment. They also often break the law to help others, especially by stealing from those they believe have too much.

While Robin Hood and his men believe themselves to be more virtuous than the people who would like to see them imprisoned, their actions can at times be morally ambiguous. This ambiguity is especially notable when Robin deceives others because it amuses him, as well as when he and his men commit robbery despite not knowing the true circumstances of their victim. However, those in positions of power do often prove themselves to be corrupt and greedy because they use their status to take advantage of people who have far less than they do. Meanwhile, Robin Hood tries to instill as much fairness as he can into his ambiguous system of justice, taking only from those who have wronged others as punishment. Ultimately, Robin Hood seems justified in his actions because what is legal in his world is rarely what is morally right.

The Importance of Friendship

One of the reasons that the community built in Sherwood Forest works so well is that Robin Hood and his men are so devoted to one another. The men put the good of the group and their friendship above all else, including their own egos and lives. Whenever one of the men is in danger, they all risk their safety and freedom to save him. For this reason, they always succeed in saving their friends from any situation, even when someone is on the brink of being hanged by the Sheriff. The band of brothers also understands that they are stronger together than they are apart. This belief in strength through numbers is why they are so quick to make friends and pledge loyalty, even in situations where they first meet by fighting, as is often the case with Robin Hood. The devotion to friendship is often what saves the men from arrest or death. For example, after the band helps Sir Richard of Lea, the knight pledges his loyalty to the men and rescues them from tight spots several times. Even after achieving status and fame, Robin Hood wishes for nothing more than to return to his friends, and he feels fulfillment while dying in the arms of his most trusted companion, Little John. Friendship makes life worthwhile, and a life of friendship is much more meaningful than one spent in search of power or wealth.

The Healing Power of Nature

The main setting of the novel, Sherwood Forest, shows how much more content those who are attuned to nature are than those who are not. By living outside of society, Robin Hood and his men can live by their own rules and enjoy the company of one another as well as the simple pleasures of life. Often, when going in search of adventure, they simply enjoy the fresh air and sights around them, marveling at how lucky they are to make their home in such a peaceful place. Meanwhile, characters such as the Sheriff of Nottingham and the Bishop of Hereford are far from content, despite their power and riches. A life of creature comforts, therefore, does not equate to one of happiness. This theme is further developed when Little John joins the Sheriff’s men for a time. Although he enjoys his brief stay, the life of leisure makes Little John weaker, both physically and metaphorically. To Robin Hood and his men, a life that is not in harmony with nature is inauthentic. Even as Robin is dying, his final wish is to look out upon Sherwood Forest. Although he lived there for most of his life, he finds no greater pleasure than in reminiscing about the times spent in the woods. Like friendship, the healing power of nature is one of the most dearly held values of Robin Hood and his men.

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