Close Reading of "The Death of Robin Hood"

Close Reading of "The Death of Robin Hood"

"The Death of Robin Hood"

Examining a link between ADHD and the untimely death of the famous outlaw hero.

Ezra McCormick

Child Ballad, "The Death of Robin Hood"

16th Century Robin Hood ballad

ENG 419 SP18

Text

English

Essay

One of the most famous and unchanging Robin Hood ballads is the one that describes his untimely end at the hands of his arch-nemesis and his traitorous cousin, a prioress of Churchlees. In this ballad, the reader is confronted with some hard truths about Robin and his seemingly unblemished physical and mental faculties. The first lines of the piece immediately confirm our fears:

When Robin Hood and Little John

Down a down a down a down

Went oer yon bank of broom,

Said Robin Hood bold to Little John,

"We have shot for many a pound.

Hey, etc.



"But I am not able to shoot one shot more,

My broad arrows will not fly;

But I have a cousin lives down below,

Please God, she will bleed me. (Knight, Ohlgren)

The reader might, at first glance, assume that our outlaw hero is dealing with depression or another mood disorder like Bipolar, but based on other ballads this diagnosis seems inappropriate; an interesting alternative to this theory is one where Robin Hood is not depressed, but instead is unable to focus properly which manifests itself in extreme frustration. He is so deeply frustrated with his inability to focus on his craft that he wants to seek medical attention. To speak in general terms, people with depression and other mood disorders are often unable or unwilling to seek help for their syndrome due to debilitating lack of energy, so Robin’s assertive plea for help is likely not that of someone with such an illness. When we read further, the likelihood that Robin having ADHD becomes stronger:

“I will never eate nor drinke," Robin Hood said,

"Nor meate will doo me noe good,

Till I have beene att merry Churchlees,

My vaines for to let blood."



"That I reade not," said Will Scarllett,

"Master, by the assente of me,

Without halfe a hundred of your best bowmen

You take to goe with yee.



"For there a good yeoman doth abide

Will be sure to quarrell with thee,

And if thou have need of us, master,

In faith we will not flee."



"And thou be feard, thou William Scarlett,

Att home I read thee bee."

"And you be wrothe, my deare master,

You shall never heare more of mee."(Knight, Ohlgren)

In this section, Robin suggests that he go on a hunger strike until he is able to reach his destination; which may not seem like a stereotypical facet of ADHD, but it has been noted that people with this disorder, while unable to focus on pressing tasks to the point of danger/negligence, there is the flipside where patients will go into a sort of “hyper-focus” wherein they can focus in a manner which often exceeds the faculties of neuro-typical people. This hyper-focus is easily read within the aforementioned passage. Robin refuses to rest until he has been bled and also blatantly disregards any attempts at assistance that his men provide. This abandonment of aid is indicative of hyper-focus, as well as another facet of the disorder: inability to follow through with instruction/recklessness. The idea of recklessness is incredibly important to Robin’s diagnosis of ADHD versus some other mental or neurological disorder. The extreme carelessness and lack of attention Robin exhibits throughout the centuries of ballads is enough to square him firmly in the camp of those with ADHD.

“You'st beare your bowe, master, your selfe,

And shoote for a peny with mee."

"To that I doe assent," Robin Hood sayd,

"And soe, John, lett it bee."



They two bolde children shotten together,

All day theire selfe in ranke,

Until they came to blacke water,

And over it laid a planke. (Knight, Ohlgren)

Lastly, this excerpt is incredibly telling when it comes to Robin’s status as a person with ADHD. Incredibly, despite Robin’s complete inability to shoot tbat has led him on this fatal journey in the first place, he begins his trip to the priory by starting a shooting contest with Little John. A depressed person would likely be unable to muster the energy to feign competition with his friend, especially if he were ill enough to require medical attention; Robin, on the other hand, seems to have the ability to shoot, but only fleetingly. This fluctuation in ability is an obvious marker of the disorder that was unknown at the time of the historical/fictional Robin, as well as at the time these stories were published. Equally important is the line “The two bolde children shotten together,” because it is necessary to note that ADHD commonly afflicts children and adults with the disorder are left behind. Robin’s age is something of a mystery in most of the ballads, but since he’s trying to get bled it is unlikely he’s truly a child in this ballad, so this representation of childhood may be hinting at Robin’s “childish” nature—a common criticism of those with ADHD. Perhaps if Robin were aware of his disease he would have lived longer instead of trying to be treated for an unknown illness by his treacherous cousin who allowed him to be killed. Robin’s final run in with danger is one that clearly indicates his status as a person living with ADHD and by bringing awareness to this diagnosis, the ballad allows people with similar symptoms to feel validated and represented.