| Role/Occupation Outlaw Hero |
| Total Entries 60 |
| Representative Zorro |
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In essence, a thief or other kind of criminal, usually of the gentleman kind, who targets people who probably deserve it in order to help the downtrodden. Robin Hood, is, of course, the “Trope Namer” and in his original stories actually not a strong example, robbing mainly from the governing elite, but not necessarily for charity. Sociologists have noted that these characters tend to enjoy their greatest popularity during times of economic recession or (especially) depression. Depending on the writer, this kind of character can be anything from a hero to an “Anti-Hero” to an “Anti-Villain”, but they are rarely ever portrayed as outright villains. Academic texts sometimes use the term “Social Bandit” to describe these kinds of characters. Usually “Chaotic Good”. Can also be used more generally to describe a mysterious or eccentric character who is unmistakably a foe of tyranny and a (usually superficial) friend to ordinary folk, especially if large doses of “Think Nothing of It” are present. A common trait of the Depression-era “Proto-Superhero”… ~ Just Like Robin Hood – TV Tropes
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