Robin Hood: Will o' th' Green's Influence

Oftentimes one that starts something has it finished by another, resulting in the loss of remembrance of the originator. This happens in the story Robin Hood, by Paul Creswick, when Will o' th' Green forms the band of renegade greenwood men who take from the rich and give to the poor, while Robin Hood is the one remembered for the efforts.

The creation of the greenwood men starts with a motive of Will, as the story is written, "[Robin] asked many questions concerning Master Will; and learned that he had been outlawed by Henry himself for the accidental slaying of a younger brother in a quarrel years since.  Before that he had been a dutiful and loyal subject, and there were some who vowed that Master Will was as loyal now as many of Henry's barons."

This information is crucial to understanding the motive behind Will's choices concerning the forming of the band, for being outlawed creates a desire for Will to form a new judicial system that fits his ideas of justice and equality.  

Robin's first impression of Will was of civility in his speech, and skill of his bow.  Robin barters with Will to let him "shoot for the freedom of the forest,"and Will agrees, which shows his open mindedness.  However, Will outshoots Robin with his arrows tipped with peacock feathers, and forever captures the loyalty of Robin.  

Will has a habit of entering archery competitions in disguise where he runs into Robin again and saves his life from the wrongful conviction by the judicial system of the authorities.  It is written, "On this occasion [the greenwood men] appeared as friends, however, and welcome ones to boot..."  Will also took a prisoner and in the judging of what to do with him said, "Every one is judged here in fairness."  This shows that the company was not naturally violent, but of a higher order trying to uphold the fairness of justice.

Robin takes all the doings of Will to heart and comes to his aid in battle, which ended with the death of Will.  Will's dying wish is that the company shall, "Be not robbers to any who are poor and who are good fellows - having only their poverty against them.  Be kind to those who help you, but exact toll as heretofore of all who come through the greenwood.  The rich to pay in money, and blood - if it be necessary."

This is the famous mantra that Will lived his life to fulfill and passed onto Robin.  Soon afterwards, Robin is elected to the head of the greenwood men where he practices the teachings of Will throughout his life.  

Yet Will o' th' Green appears to be a lost hero, living on only through his disciple, Robin, after death, and no longer remembered by readers.  After all, Will was the master who started it all, and Robin the pupil who absorbed it.  However the teachings of Will, whether remembered from him or Robin, shall always be contemplated.  It is all in fairness of credit owed that Will shall be remembered.  

A Christmas Carol: Jacob Marley the ultimate servant

A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens, is a story full of relatable characters full of insight of 19th century England.  For those who know the story, one such character is Ebenezer Scrooge's deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, who is the ultimate friend and servant to Scrooge.

Marley is unlike the rest of the characters who find solace at the end of the story, for he is destined to spend the rest of eternity wandering the world as a chained phantom as punishment for his selfishness and greed in life.  Marley comes to Scrooge as a phantom and tries desperately to warn his business partner to change his ways or he will end up a chained phantom as well saying, "You have labored on [your chain] since.  It is a ponderous chain!"

One of Marley's first hints of forthcoming to Scrooge begins with the ringing of a bell.  As the story is written, "[Scrooge] threw his head back in the chair, his glance happened to rest upon a bell, a disused bell, that hung in the room, and communicated for some purpose now forgotten with a chamber in the highest story of the building."

This quote is key because it suggests the coming of a servant of a higher power, one of another world; the phantom of Marley.  For the bell's intention in the house was for it to be rung when a servant was called upon, and in this case, Marley appears soon after.

As Marley foretells of the coming of three spirits, and Scrooge embarks on his journey of reform, one must wonder what will happen to his loyal servant, Jacob Marley?

After all, Marley's loyalty spans beyond life into his death when he says, "I have sat invisible beside you many and many a day."  One would hope that such loyalty would be rewarded with an appeasement of his suffering.

As with many conditions in life, Marley's character perhaps serves as a brutally honest mirror to the human race, especially when he says, "Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunities misused!"

Still, Marley serves his purpose to this day, causing readers of A Christmas Carol to reflect on their own lives and heed the warning of the consequences of "life's opportunities misused."


Dover Thrift Editions: A Christmas Carol
Image from BBC