Shadows of Sherwood

Laurel is one of the main characters of the book, representing the archetypal hero’s best friend, or sidekick. However, because she has a distinct personality and frequently challenges Robyn, she subverts the one-dimensional “sidekick” prototype. Laurel is so thin she appears “ghostlike and small” (42) to Robyn. Laurel has brown eyes, blond hair, and is a few years younger than Robyn, possibly 9 or 10 years old. Unlike Robyn, who has grown up in privilege, Laurel is from the socioeconomically disadvantaged Sherwood County. Laurel fends for herself by stealing food from street vendors and keeping toiletries, especially toothbrushes, stashed in safe houses around the city. One of her quirks is her devotion to keeping her teeth squeaky clean; when Robyn first meets Laurel, she notes that the child may be dirty and bloodied, but her teeth are surprisingly white. Because Laurel dropped out of school owing to her circumstances, she is not adept at reading and writing. This is evident when Laurel has trouble typing texts on a TexTer.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Laurel is optimistic, often taking chances readily and believing things will work out. The narrative frequently positions Laurel as a foil to Robyn, Laurel’s hardships highlighting Robyn’s safe life before the Purge. For instance, while Robyn is adept at climbing and running because of gymnastics practice and adventurous runs to the junkyard, Laurel has to be agile in order to escape police. Laurel is loyal and brave, instantly developing a close bond with Robyn, who becomes the family Laurel has been missing. Laurel is also a bridge between Robyn and Key, frequently mediating between their fights. At the same time, Laurel does not hesitate to call Robyn out on her tendency to sideline her teammates. Laurel’s element is air, and she is “blessed by Light” (342). The air and light symbolize Laurel’s openness and hopeful outlook.

A main character in the novel, Key is a year or two older than Robyn, has sandy blond hair, and green eyes. He is described as 5’7”, the same height as Robyn, and wears a green vest over his T-shirt. Key is an outlaw and the keeper of the tree house, the sanctuary for rebels in Sherwood Forest. Some mystery surrounds Key’s background. Although Key is away from his family, he grew up with them. It is possible Key is adopted since he tells Robyn he is not related to his parents by blood. Robyn notes that though Key says he is from Sherwood, his mannerism suggests that he is from the Castle District. Though these details don’t add up at this point in the narrative, Key’s origins are explored later in the series.

Key has positive qualities that strengthen the group. He a keen knowledge of economics and the way inequality works in society, helping Robyn develop her social conscience. He is helpful and kind, as is evident in his quickness to share the treehouse and its food with Laurel and Robyn. Robyn notes that Key is especially gentle with the younger Laurel.

Key’s flaws are that he tends to be guarded and rigid in his beliefs. Neither he nor Robyn exchanges last names, and Key keeps his connection with the Crescent Rebellion a secret from Robyn at first. When Robyn changes plans during a heist, Key decides Robyn is self-centered, an opinion he holds for a long time. However, by the end of the novel, Key begins to realize the importance of spontaneity and seizing opportunities. He relinquishes the belief that he can control every operation and learns to work with Robyn despite their differences. Key, like Laurel, is one of the Elements crucial to Robyn’s journey. Key’s element is water. Because of Key’s ability to change his notions, he is a dynamic, well-rounded character.

Merryann is an important secondary character in the book, one of the Elements important in Robyn’s quest to end oppression. Merryann is described by Robyn as a “large, pretty girl” (207) with silky brown bobbed hair and sparkling hazel eyes. Merryann is a reference to Maid Marion in the classic Robin Hood legend, a noblewoman who helps Robin and is his love interest. Like Marion in the folk tale, Merryann is of wealthy, aristocratic birth. She is the niece of Governor Ignomus Crown and lives in his mansion. Robyn’s classmate, Merryann is depicted as kindhearted and helpful but somewhat naïve. Though she springs into action to help out the people of Sherwood during the stingbug epidemic, Merryann does not believe anything is wrong in the city. Robyn reflects that Merryann has no idea parliamentarians have been disappeared and assumes Robyn has not been coming to school because she was on vacation.

Much like Robyn, Merryann has had no reason to question the status quo until she steps outside her privileged world. When Robyn suggests that Merryann’s uncle is a tyrant, Merryann responds that Crown may not be a nice guy, but he is not evil. In the end, Merryann redeems herself by not only joining the movement against oppression, but also by risking her life to visit Robyn’s mother in Crown’s dungeon and bring Robyn the sun pendant. Merryann’s character arc shows that people can choose to be different from their families. Merryann’s element is earth, which signifies her nurturing aspect. Since Merryann evolves during her plot arc, she is a three-dimensional, dynamic character.

Described as dark-skinned and strong, Tucker is in his late teens or early twenties, studying to be a minister in the seminary. Tucker’s thesis is on the history of Nottingham Cathedral, which has brought him in close proximity to the moon lore. As Tucker’s name suggests, he represents Friar Tuck, the good-hearted priest of the Robin Hood legend. Like his namesake, Tucker is kind and helpful, assisting the lost and the wayward. In this sense, he is an ideal minister, who embodies the compassion, rather than the dogma, of religion. Not only does Tucker save Robyn from the MPs, but he also serves as the gateway to the moon shrine and helps the people at T.C. whenever possible.

Tucker in not a flat character who only represents good: The narrative makes him a humorous, self-aware character, who often worries about his role in the rebellion. This makes Tucker a relatable, three-dimensional figure. Tucker is devoted to moon lore, growing excited whenever he discovers a new facet of the belief system. He is an example of Magoon’s imaginative retelling of the Robin Hood legend since Tucker is transformed from a jolly priest to a contemporary liberal minister who is nerdy and funny. Tucker is one of the six Elements predicted to help Robyn. Like Merryann, his element is Earth, which alludes to his nurturing and grounded nature.

Scarlet is a teenage girl with spiky black, red-tipped hair, classified as a “Crescent” (215) or a known member of the Crescent rebellion. Short and skinny, Scarlet is imprisoned in Sherwood Jail when she first appears in the novel, but she soon escapes. Scarlet is a hacker who specializes in infiltrating security systems and breaking code and is depicted as quick, resourceful, and mysterious. She joins Robyn’s cause late in the novel and comes and goes as she pleases, which adds a touch of unpredictability to her character. She is a gender-swapped version of Will Scarlet, one of Robin Hood’s merry men or gang of outlaws known for his dashing, adventurous ways. Like Robyn, Scarlet is used to working alone, but at the end of the novel decides to ally with Robyn’s team. One of the six Elements whom Robyn must gather, Scarlet is water, which symbolizes her quick, powerful spirit.

The antagonist of the novel, Marissa Mallet has light brown skin, pale brown hair, and dark, hawklike eyes. Tall, slim, and birdlike, Mallet dresses in crisp business suits meant to convey an impression of power and efficiency. Mallet is one of the few other characters apart from Robyn to get a point-of-view narration. Her perspective shows Mallet as ruthless and singularly devoted to power, and someone who has “sold her [loyalty] to Crown many years ago” (15). Mallet lies and practices violence in her quest, whether it is torturing rebel leader Nyna Campbell or baiting Robyn by imprisoning Key. At the beginning of the novel, Mallet is the Sheriff of Sherwood County. Crown tasks her with hunting down all the dissidents and rebels in the city. If Mallet achieves her goal, he promises to promote her to the Deputy Commissioner of the Nott City Military Police Department.

Since she is the sheriff of Sherwood, Mallet is a corollary to the legend’s tyrannical Sheriff of Nottingham. While Mallet is ruthless to those beneath her in office, she is sycophantically subservient to Crown. Mallet’s biggest weakness is her initial underestimating of Robyn. Mallet lets Robyn go so she can show Crown she has achieved her target, believing a mere child is just a weak pawn. However, when Robyn emerges as her bane, Mallet bumps her up to Nott City’s most wanted criminal. Embroiled in a cat-and-mouse game with Robyn, Mallet commits increasingly cruel acts, such as the burning down of T.C. At the end of the novel, Mallet has still not managed to capture Robyn, but she has her father’s hologram, which is a crucial clue to determine Robyn’s whereabouts. Mallet is a flat, static character who does not learn from her mistakes. She represents absolute, corrupt power in the novel.