The Adventures of Robin Hood

Maid Marian is a secondary character within the story and Robin’s love interest. Known as Lady Marian Fitzwalter, Marian adopts the name “Maid Marian” after joining Robin in Sherwood Forest and receiving what they colloquially call the “forest baptism.” There, she is deemed to be the Queen of Sherwood Forest to Robin’s King. She is the daughter of Lord Fitzwalter of Arlingford Castle.

She is described as being “some five years younger than he [Robin], tall and beautiful, but strong and fearless also, a very fitting wife for such a man” (27). Though Marian is a bit weaker than Robin in physical strength, Green makes her out to be just as skilled and capable as her eventual husband, often fighting off enemies, such as Sir Guy of Gisborne, at his side, proving herself a reliable fighter and skilled archer in her own right. Her relationship with Sir Guy and Prince John is often one of contentious antagonism, as Marian shows no interest in either man when they pursue her romantically, and her belief in and love of Robin naturally makes them enemies. Though she appears infrequently in the episodic chapters of the book, she often disguises herself as a shepherdess or a forester when outside of Sherwood Forest to go about her business. In the last chapter of the narrative, however, Marian must escape Prince John—now King John—by becoming a nun and eventually becoming the Prioress of the nunnery after Robin’s death.

An actual historical figure, Prince John is one of the main characters of the story and Robin’s main antagonist. Brother to the rightful ruler, King Richard, Prince John takes advantage of his brother’s absence to usurp the throne from him and actively impedes his brother’s return throughout the narrative. He is described as “a cruel, merciless man, and most of his followers were as bad as he” (18). Throughout the story, John has three main goals: to take revenge upon Robin Hood for all his thieving and the general harassment he causes; to steal the throne and gain public favor; and to enrich himself by abusing England’s civil legal system. In the last chapters, Prince John expresses a love interest in Maid Marian, which eventually pushes her to seek safety in a nunnery.

As a flat character, John does not show any character growth or improvement. Even when pardoned by King Richard for his abuse of power and treachery, John remains disloyal to his brother, takes the throne when Richard is dead, and entraps Robin, which leads him to his tragic death. The narrative does not make much mention, either, of the state and effects of his reign, though it is presumed that he did not rule fairly. Through the Epilogue, however, we know that his son, King Henry III, will ironically come to revere Robin Hood and his merry men, the very people his father hated and pursued to death.

Will Scarlet is a flat secondary character in the novel and is one of Robin’s staunchest followers. Even before becoming an outlaw, Will worked for Robin on his estate and helped him distribute aid to people experiencing poverty. Considered his second in command, Will is described as “a tall man of some forty years of age whose costume of russet and scarlet well suited the name by which these poor outcasts knew him” (24). He is at Robin’s side in most of his adventures or is left in charge of the outlaws in Sherwood Forest when Robin goes off to find entertainment. In an ambush led by Sir Guy of Gisborne and the Sherriff of Nottingham, a forester by the name of William Trent fatally shoots him with an arrow.

Little John is a flat secondary character in the novel and one of the first people to join Robin in Sherwood Forest as a fellow outlaw after his escape from Locksley. Described simply as “being indeed no more than seven foot high, and a mere ell or so about the waist” (71), Little John first encounters Robin in the forest and fights with him over who can pass a flattened tree trunk over a river first. When they call a truce, he gives up his original name, John Little, and allows himself to undergo the forest baptism, adopting the name Little John from then on. He is one of the merry men’s most renowned fighters and loves to partake in buffet games and any of Robin’s schemes. Of all the merry men, Little John proves himself the most loyal to Robin, though he does not shy away from challenging him. Steadfast in his friendship, Little John will go to every length to save Robin when he is in danger and is there with Robin in his final moments.

Friar Tuck is a flat secondary character in the story and was originally Maid Marian’s confessor when she lived with her father. An admirer of Robin’s, Friar Tuck walks a fine line between his religious devotion and his desire to indulge in fineries like wine and venison pasties. In the book, he is described as being “a gigantic friar […] dressed in a brown robe such as all friars wore, but it was well girdled about with a curtal of cord at which hung a huge broad-sword” (96). Friar Tuck also becomes one of Robin’s merry men after fighting with him by his hermit cell.

Sir Richard of Legh is a flat secondary character in the narrative, and though he is not necessarily considered one of Robin’s merry men, he is a steadfast ally and friend upon whom Robin relies on a number of occasions. Sir Richard is a vassal of the Earl of Chester and becomes the reason why the Earl goes against Prince John in all respects until he dies. A victim of the Abbot of St. Mary’s, Sir Richard is nevertheless an honorable knight who proves himself true and honest to Robin.

Worman is a flat secondary character, a supporter of Prince John, and an antagonist to Robin and his men. Though initially Robin’s steward when he lived in Locksley, Woman betrays Robin to get into Prince John’s good graces and enrich himself. Throughout the narrative, he continues to scheme against Robin and his merry men and determinedly tries to have them killed. He is the instigator of Robin’s outlawry and loss of social status.

Sir Guy of Gisborne is a flat secondary character, a supporter of Prince John, one of Marian’s suitors, and an antagonist to Robin and his men. Though a knight, Sir Guy of Gisborne often compromises his honor to suit Prince John’s will and his desire to have Marian as his wife. His pursuit of Robin and his men is relentless, and he often allies himself with other followers of Prince John, such as the Sheriff of Nottingham, to entrap Robin. In the last chapters of the narrative, after failing to uphold the oath he made to Marian to stop pursuing Robin, he dies at Robin’s hands in single combat.

The Sheriff of Nottingham is a flat secondary character, a supporter of Prince John, and an antagonist to Robin and his men. As one still tied to the letter of the English law system, the Sheriff of Nottingham often enacts the punishment for anyone caught breaking the Forest Laws, which is how Much the Miller was captured. If he is unyielding in his administration of punishments that benefit him and Prince John, he is not so meticulous in enforcing justice equally within his community, allowing the wealthy to have their way with the poor. Throughout the narrative, he proves himself tenacious in his desire to capture Robin and his men, though he often finds himself at the mercy of their schemes—especially when Robin employs disguises.