I have seen at least five different movies featuring Robin Hood. A quick check on the internet shows that there are more than 20 installments of movies or series about the popular thief, and it did not stop there. There are a series of books out there about the hooded thief though I haven't really read any of them. There is basically nothing to read in there because the stories are just adaptations of the well known theme.
One thing that we were made to believe in every Robin Hood movie is that the thief is beloved by common folks and that's not a surprise. From time immemorial, the poor have always had a certain grouse with the rich. The rich live the life a poor man can only dream of. What Robin Hood does is to level the playing field by making the rich/corrupt sad and the poor happy. Of course, that's enough to make him popular.
However, Robin Hood is a criminal and that's plain and simple. He steals from the rich and corrupt ones and gives to the poor. That looks like a noble thing to do if one has that sort of power and skill set, right? Nah, it is not. Stealing is wrong, and the circumstances surrounding it doesn't make it right.
I once saw a young mother stripped naked and flogged mercilessly because she stole bread. I felt pity for her as she pleaded her case with blood dripping out her mouth. She stole the bread because her four year old son hadn't eaten for over twenty four hours. She was a mother trying to provide for her son. She chose the wrong option; she suffered for it.
Luckily for the lady, a good Samaritan pitied her and paid for the bread. But she won't get over the shame and disgrace she experienced that day. So, can we call what she did a justifiable crime? Should she be pardoned because she stole bread to feed her hungry child?
One thing we have to consider are the consequences that come with such actions. When justifiable crimes are allowed, it becomes very hard to define the boundary between what's right and what's not. Also, it will lead to a sense of entitlement in crime.
If the young mother that stole bread was instantly forgiven without punishment for stealing to feed her child, then every poor mother out there can as well start burgling other people's goods under the 'justifiable' reason that it's meant for their hungry kids. That will lead to chaos, anarchy.
Another reason why the topic of justifiable crime remains controversial is the possible severe consequences on others. While Robin Hood steals from the rich, he also gets violent with it. In his course of action, he definitely has to attack security operatives of the rich who are just doing their job to fend for their families. In some cases, he inflicts injury or probably death.
Do you think the family of a security operative killed by Robin Hood will be happy to accept that their son was killed by someone committing a justifiable crime? Have we considered the damage to property, or emotional trauma that others may suffer all in the name of justifiable crime?
I am not saying all crimes are equal, no. If I look deep down I am quite sure I've also done some things that are clearly wrong but which I deem justifiable considering the circumstances surrounding it. Nevertheless, a crime committed that puts other people into jeopardy deserves to be punished, justifiable or not.
