The Adventures of Robin Hood

A prevailing theme within The Adventures of Robin Hood is the creation of an alternative society to offset Prince John’s reign of corruption. As the socio-historical context of this guide indicates, outlawry is a social consequence that voids the outlaw of any social connection or community and leaves the person in complete social ostracism. Green’s Robin Hood, however, manages to dismantle the social void that comes with outlawry and instead creates a counter-society to balance the oppressive regime ushered in by Prince John and his followers through sheer fame and social mimicry. The fact that Robin uses Sherwood Forest as his base of operations is not without meaning. As a setting, the forest is always on the outskirts of human society and is a lawless space despite being owned by the King and ruled by Forest Laws that would criminalize people who hunt the King’s deer. As these laws are irregularly applied, however, the story intimates that the forest is so separated from society that even royal authority has little sway. With no pre-existing society to set the rules and hierarchy, therefore, Sherwood Forest becomes the perfect domain for Robin and his men to settle and is made accessible only to people of whom Robin approves.