A note on the educational intent of Robin Hood

Every race and every time has embraced theater for the vital contributions of its entertainment and educational values. The tale of Robin Hood has endured the ages because it is quite entertaining. But it also resonates for succeeding generations because it preaches that

• it is better to give than to receive
• there is a price that one must be willing to pay to ensure freedom

Less well known is that part of the tale that reveals the Greenwood Oath:

• defending one’s friends
• never preying upon those weaker than oneself
• protecting women and children
• that there is a natural law that should govern man’s behavior

All these wonderful values are ready-packaged in the tale and needed only to be repeated. However, there are four “value themes” subtly contained that I did my best to bring to the fore:

• the need to acknowledge the supreme being and offer thanks (via Friar Tuck)
• love and importance of family (many do not know that the Merry Men had their families with them)
• the need to delay personal gratification for a larger good (Robin’s inability to pursue marriage and family until tyranny is conquered)
• tolerance of other peoples and religions (via Richard’s absence for the Crusade. In this case, the specific is the enmity between Christians and Moslems fighting over their mutual Holy Land. This theme is particularly germane today)

The book of the musical ROBIN HOOD is included in a separate document. It is copyrighted, so that no public performance is allowed without the written permission of the author.