Popular Culture Review Vol. 3, No. 2, August 1992 | Page 48

44 ^h^O£ular^CuUureRevie^ Christianity. First, the cruelties of the dungeon occur in flamelighted darkness. Then, shortly before he is killed, Locksley writes another nobleman, "Dark forces plot against our absent king." And he rides to his death against robed and masked men holding torches in the darkness of the night. Azeem's first reaction to England, just before the first encounter with the Sheriffs men, is, "Is there no sun in this cursed country?" Marian is abducted by the Sheriffs men at night, and, in the same night, others of the Sheriffs men locate the forest hiding place of Robin's band. Even though the Sheriff accused Locksley of worshipping Satan, it is Nottingham himself who employs the witch. She uses an altar in the Sheriffs private quarters, and the cross above it is hung upside down. When he is dead, we see his body from an angle which puts the upside down cross swinging above his head. The legends mention religious things from time to time. In fact, the cousin who murders Robin Hood is a nun. But, as in the film, the world is assumed to be orderly. One day Robin sees a beggar approaching along the road and, thinking the beggar’s bag may be worth lightening, stops him and finally threatens him, even starting to set his arrow on the bowstring. Too quick for Robin, the beggar swings his heavy crab-stick down, laying Robin flat, makes a few appropriate remarks about wasting money on drink and about how Robin should get an honest job, and walks on. The tale warns against what can happen if a powerful leader is not restrained by good sense and a caring heart. Robin has gone too far down the economic classes to find fair game for his standard attack on overbearing privilege. Accosting this traveler, Robin apparently thinks, will be an adventure, and stealing his money an act without need of explanation; Robin will do this thing because he wants to. We know that Robin would never loose that shaft into the other's chest, but the beggar does not know that. Yet, getting the upper hand, the beggar pulls no knife; he doesn't even beat Robin with his stick. The folk tales assume the existence of an order in the world which gives beggars the courage of their convictions and allows them to stand up to armed strangers. In the film, Robin says, "If you truly believe in your hearts that you are free, then 1 say we can win." Even amateur