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The Sheriff of Nottingham was the hero

An .Ai look

By Brett RothenbergPublished about a year ago 3 min read
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The Sheriff of Nottingham was the hero
Photo by Niklas Tidbury on Unsplash

It is a common misconception that Robin Hood was a hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. In reality, Robin Hood was a criminal who broke the law and defied authority. On the other hand, the Sheriff of Nottingham, as the representative of law and order, can be considered the true hero of the Robin Hood legends.

First, it is important to understand the historical context of the Robin Hood stories. In the 12th and 13th centuries, England was in a state of turmoil due to the conflict between the monarchy and powerful noble families. Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men were not noble outlaws fighting for the oppressed, but rather common criminals taking advantage of the chaos to rob and plunder.

Furthermore, Robin Hood's actions did not benefit the poor. In the legends, he is portrayed as stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, but in reality, he and his men likely kept the majority of the stolen goods for themselves. The Sheriff of Nottingham, as the representative of the monarchy and the law, was tasked with bringing these criminals to justice and protecting the people and their property.

Additionally, the Sheriff of Nottingham is often portrayed as a ruthless and corrupt character in the Robin Hood stories. However, it is important to note that the Sheriff was appointed by the monarchy and was accountable to the King. It was his duty to collect taxes and maintain order, which was not an easy task in a time of political turmoil. Additionally, the Sheriff was not a hereditary position and could be removed from office if he was deemed to be corrupt or ineffective.

In conclusion, Robin Hood was not the heroic outlaw fighting for the oppressed, but rather a criminal who broke the law and defied authority. On the other hand, the Sheriff of Nottingham, as the representative of law and order, can be considered the true hero of the Robin Hood legends. He was tasked with protecting the people and their property, and upholding the law in a time of political turmoil. It is important to recognize that history is complex and not always black and white, and that in this case, the Sheriff of Nottingham was not the villain as he is often portrayed, but rather the hero who upheld the law and protected the people.

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The film "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" directed by Mel Brooks is a comedic parody of the Robin Hood legend, and as such, the characters in the film are vastly different from their counterparts in the original stories.

Firstly, the Robin Hood character in the film, portrayed by Cary Elwes, is portrayed as a dashing and charismatic hero who is not only a skilled archer and swordsman, but also a ladies' man. In contrast, the Robin Hood of the original legends is portrayed as a more serious and stoic character who is primarily focused on robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.

The Sheriff of Nottingham in the film, portrayed by Roger Rees, is similarly comically portrayed as a buffoonish and bumbling character, who is more concerned with maintaining his own power and wealth than upholding the law. In contrast, the Sheriff of Nottingham in the original legends is portrayed as a more serious and ruthless character, who is tasked with maintaining order and protecting the people and their property.

Additionally, the film includes a number of comedic and anachronistic elements, such as the presence of a talking horse and a musical number, that are not present in the original legends.

In final, the characters of "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" are vastly different from their counterparts in the original Robin Hood legends. The film's comedic and anachronistic elements, and the characterization of the Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham as comically exaggerated versions of their original counterparts, serve to parody and satirize the traditional Robin Hood story.

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  • Karsten Stephensabout a year ago

    I shot the sheriff!

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