Old English Heroism: Prudence

What do Robin Hood and Harry Potter have in common? Prudence!

No, that’s not some weird academic joke. It’s a real (albeit nerdy) idea that I want to prove in today’s post. If you missed last week’s post about the characteristics of the Old English hero and the trait of fortitude, feel free to check that out too!

What Do You Mean, “Prudence”?

So what is prudence? It sounds like something a very smug, puritanical person would strive to display, but it’s more than that. To help us understand it better, let’s ask Merriam-Webster. The first definition says it’s “the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.” The fourth says it’s “caution or circumspection as to danger or risk.” Basically, it’s reason and caution. But what makes those qualities heroic?

Prudence is a vital quality for a hero because it provides a balance to fortitude. See, if a hero were to avail himself of every opportunity to display physical strength, he probably wouldn’t last very long. He would dive headlong into a fight without pausing to consider strategy, diplomacy, or even evasion, like the orcs in Sauron’s tower of Mordor. But if all the hero had was prudence without fortitude, he would be a coward, skulking and conniving like Grima Wormtongue in the courts of Theoden. But when he balances strength with caution, the hero looks more like Aragorn on Weathertop, fending off the Nazgul with fire rather than swords. And while I’d love to discuss Aragorn, I’m going to look at two other examples instead, so let’s dive in!

Robin Hood’s History

I won’t even discuss whether or not the Robin Hood legend is based off of a real person. Like the debate about King Arthur, you’ll find people all across the “real vs fictional” spectrum. It’s enough to know that the first mention of Robin Hood seems to be in Piers Plowman way back in 1377, and his popularity has only grown from there. His stories are most often set during the reign of either Richard the Lionhearted (late 1100’s) or Edward II (early 1300’s). But no matter what time period he shows up in, he’s always fulfilling a similar role: that of the outlaw and hero.

So what makes Robin a good example of prudence? Good question. Robin Hood is physically fit and, what’s more, is supremely skillful with a bow and arrow. He also has a whole band of merry men who will come running at the toot of his horn. But he doesn’t often rely on these physical advantages when it comes to fending off bad guys and defending good guys. Instead, he uses his noggin. That’s right, Robin Hood stories often include the use of disguises, trickery, and general sneakiness. It’s no coincidence that Disney uses a fox to portray Robin in the old cartoon movie; that Robin is a sly guy.

Robin Hood’s Prudence

The earliest stories of Robin Hood were actually ballads—rhyming poems either recited or sung as entertainment in the dark ages before Netflix. Robin and his men were often shown outwitting corrupt monks, crooked politicians, and of course the Sheriff of Nottingham. Actually, Robin’s a bit more violent in some of the early ballads. Later versions tone him down so we don’t see him, say, chopping off the sheriff’s head. But more often he and Little John employed deception rather than violence to, uh, bend the law in their favor.

We see several glimpses of this cleverness in the old Disney movie as Robin dresses in various disguises. He fools everyone at the archery tournament by dressing like a stork and casually hitting one bullseye after the other. He pretends to be a blind beggar and flatters the sheriff into sharing information. He even dresses as an old fortune teller and robs Prince John of his gold and jewels. And yes, he does engage in a few good ol’ fashioned brawls, but those are usually after his tricks have run out.

Robin, the Vigilante?

Now, you might be (and probably should be) wondering if Robin Hood is a better example of a vigilante than a true hero. My honest answer is maybe. While he does display the heroic traits of fortitude, prudence, loyalty, and generosity, he also displays the elfin traits of mischief and evasion. He reminds me of Peter Pan in that regard—impish and resourceful but a bit of a loose cannon. But the fact that he does possess the four Old English virtues shows me that our conception of the hero had evolved but a little in the three-hundred-plus years since Beowulf. Now let’s take a look at a contemporary hero to see how prudence is displayed in the life of Harry Potter.

Harry Potter, the Sidekick?

Now, Harry Potter may not look like an Old English hero at first. Those broken glasses, those hand-me-down clothes of Dudley’s, and that hesitant attitude make him seem more like the wimpy sidekick than the hero of a story. And that, I believe, is the point. See, the other heroes in my examples were born heroes (more or less), but Harry had heroism thrust upon him. But that gives hope to the rest of us that if, for example, we’ve been stuffed in a broom cupboard under the stairs for most of our lives—metaphorically speaking—there is still a chance that our Hogwarts letter is in the mail. And that’s just the kind of pep talk today’s youngsters thrive on. Thanks, Disney.

“Well, if you think Harry’s such a hero,” you say, “then prove it.” I’ll try. You’ll notice I didn’t use him as an example of strength. He does grow in physical strength (and all the other heroic qualities) as the series progresses, but strength is not his selling point. Instead, he is a better example of prudence. Rather than using his muscles, he uses his resources—especially his friends. He and his two pals are no match for the Dark Lord physically, but with their combined abilities, they are able to outwit him time and time again. Actually, let’s be real: Hermione is kind of the real hero. But since she probably wouldn’t have taken on Voldemort without the Boy Who Lived, we’ll give Harry the credit. (Typical.)

Harry Potter’s Prudence

To list just a few examples of Harry’s prudence, consider the time the trio used their wits to protect the Sorcerer’s Stone. Of course, they thought they were protecting it from Snape, but hey. It was Book 1. Give them a break. They also used a special tool and their logic to save Sirius Black from paying for another man’s crimes. They even saved Buckbeak the hippogriff while they were at it! Harry killed a basilisk and saved Ginny Weasley, he cracked the clues (with help) to win the Triwizard Tournament (kind of), he passed on his knowledge and experience to others in Dumbledore’s Army, and he ultimately used the what he knew about the Deathly Hallows to defeat You Know Who. While he was a skillful wizard, he most often relied on his resources and his friends to triumph. Now that’s pretty heroic.

The Takeaway

While today’s idea of a hero tends to be more focused on strength, prudence is still a major factor. Knowing when to act is important, but knowing when not to act is vital. That’s so catchy I think I’ll go put it on a school poster. See you next week!

Check out the next post here!

Sources:
Robin Hood history: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Robin-Hood/
More Robin Hood history: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Robin-Hood