Rob Roy

Rob Roy was a son of a bitch. Born Robert MacGregor at Glyngyle, he picked up the nickname Rob Roy for his ginger-tinged locks. Dubbed “The Robin Hood of Scotland,” this thief and scoundrel couldn’t pay his debt.

Rob hightailed it to the Scottish highlands. In time, he would tell the citizens of Montrose to cease paying their rent, to upset the balance of free trade. He plundered the Falkland Palace, just to piss off the people in high places. Soon, a charge of treason would be attached to his name.

By kidnapping an aide in the town, he got hot-headed and demanded that the higherups settle his arrears.

Upon realizing that his plan was a bust, he soon sent back the aide in a fortnight. The Duke of Atholl saw to it that he received Roy’s surrender when the money got low and time grew short.

As an escape artist, Rob evaded officials at the Logierait Prison. This evil seed then stunted and fronted as a Declarer of Rob Roy, further spoiling himself in the eyes of the law.

He appealed to “lovers of honor and honesty” but possessed none on his own. He even said he was a victim of “political conspiracy.” The nerve. This bastard only got to be a folk hero because of that vicious tale about the man in green of Sherwood Forest.

His exploits continued as he even made the call to burn down places in Montrose if he didn’t get his way. Wah.

Rob Roy was a lowdown bum who will forever be associated with vice and ugliness. To loot and steal shows that he couldn’t produce a fortune. He couldn’t even be a respectable lower class smart worker and earn his keep. No, he had the inkling to be a thief.

His whole system of morality had been bankrupt like he was. Find a profession in the Middle Ages—blank out, there was no Monster.com. Look for prospects while building a business—blank out, Indeed didn’t exist.

What he could’ve done was continue cattle rustling and left the extortionism to other vermin. With the family business being treason, Rob followed on his fathers trail.

What should be discussed is the fact the Robinhood myth is so awful, so ridiculous that it should’ve never been ingrained in Western lore. The similarities between the myth and the male become glaring once the idea of someone so evil and selfless could arise.

All of this arose out of hatred for the rich, the powerful, the strong. Not just royalty, to shopkeepers and farmers who had built their riches had been targeted by Rob. The contempt of the productive still lingers to this day and it’s figures like today’s subject that creates a decisiveness amongs the classes.

Rob continued on as a robber and a horrific example of ethics. He should not be lifted up as some lofty figure. He should not be seen as anything more than a terrible male who couldn't even satisfy his debts.

In a way, Rob and Robin Hood will forever remain part of the West’s cheering on the anti-hero. The one who only stands on pragmatism and relinquishes his role as a proper human being.

It comes down to the fact that anyone who can convince anyone of the productive rich and poor should be looted should be brought to the front of the congregation.

In light of the acts committed by Rob, everyone should know he lived a miserable life. He may have looted, failed his debtors, and tried his hands in all sorts of ugly behavior. This is what should be noted.