Aristotle Defends Robin Hood

In Book One of Aristotle’s On Rhetoric: A Theory of Civic Discourse he covers three species of rhetoric – the deliberative, judicial, and epideictic. Near the end of Book One, Aristotle starts to cover Judicial Rhetoric more thoroughly. In Chapter 12, he focuses on wrongdoers and those wronged in judicial rhetoric. It was within this chapter that I first made the connection to Robin Hood. Aristotle explains that people do wrong “whenever they think that something [wrong] can be done and that it is possible for themselves to do it…[and] if detected…the penalty will be less than the profit to themselves or to those for whom they care.” (92-93, 1372a) In the many different versions of Robin Hood, Robin deliberatively steals and terrorizes rich. He understands that the poor themselves do not have the resources or ability to do these things and that only he can. Robin also understands the punishment if he were to be caught but he decides that helping the people and making the statement is more just.

In the “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” version, Robin Hood, played by Kevin Costner, declares that, “For every harm he [the sheriff] does these people, I will visit it back on him ten-fold.” Aristotle explains that this kind of wronging can seem justified. He states:

“And [they wrong] those who have done many wrongs to others or the [same] kind of wrongs [as are] being done to them; for it almost seems to be no wrong when some one is wronged in the way he himself is in the habit of wronging others. And [they wrong] those who have done bad things [to the person who now reciprocates] or wanted to or want to now or are going to; for this is both pleasurable and honorable and seems almost no wrong.” (95, 1373a)

                This statement helps to explain why Robin’s actions seem so justified. The Sheriff raises taxes, punishes, and impoverishes his people. Robin then wrongs the Sheriff in a corresponding way. Robin steals from the Sheriff. He takes the money and items that were confiscated for taxes and gives it back to the people. Robin’s actions do not even seem to be wrong because he is hurting the Sheriff in the same way that the Sheriff hurts the people. Also, in the “Prince of Thieves” version, the Sheriff murders Robin’s father, destroys his home, and removes his title and possessions. According to Aristotle, it “is both pleasurable and honorable and seems almost no wrong” for Robin to wrong the Sheriff in return. (95, 1373a)

                After the chapter on wrongdoing, Aristotle moves to topics on justice and injustice. He explains that there are unwritten laws that are held in common. “Fairness, for example, seems to be just; but fairness is justice that goes beyond the written law.” (99, 1374a) He believes that it is fair “to look not to the action but to the deliberate purpose…[and] to remember the good things one has experienced [because of him].” (100, 1374b) When judging the actions of Robin Hood, the audience often feels that his actions are justified and fair. That even though he is breaking the law that his purpose is noble and that he benefits the lives of the many instead of the wealthy few. Aristotle believes that if a just person acts against the law then one must use common law and arguments based on fairness as being more just.” (103, 1375a) He would suggest that unwritten laws are more important in cases of fairness than written laws since they were created in a more general sense. If defending Robin Hood, Aristotle would have the speaker appeal to his fairness, the reasons behind his wronging and his kindliness.

                The clip below is from “Robin Hood: Prince of Theives.” It shows how Robin Hood appeals to the people, strikes at the rich and the Sheriff, and gives back to the poor.