(Edited this entry, but it’s obvious the opinions about this are somewhat divergent, so thought it was better to leave it here, open for discussion.)
Entitled to Have You: There's a lot of innuendo to suggest that Guy is a habitual rapist, and it's made most obvious in "The Witch of Elsdon", where the Sheriff suggests that he accused Jennet and her husband of witchcraft because she wouldn't have sex with him, and "The Children of Israel" when he tries to force Sarah de Talmont into marriage.
It's highly debatable, he never physically imposes himself on the women. He fully intends to marry Sarah and tries his best to woo her. That having failed, he still tries to force the marriage, which may be reproachable by today's standards but not unusual at the time. As for Jennet, the whole trial happens because she did reject him, she had the option to do so. Despite what the Sheriff says (that Gisburne is a dangerous man when he doesn't get what he wants), it's obvious Guy doesn't understand what he means, because in his mind he rationalized the rejection by seeing himself as the pure, chaste knight and her as the temptress, the witch whose charms he resisted. He truly seems to believe this. The Sheriff's later comment about his dalliances with the village girls may simply be referring to his lack of social skills, graces and ability to properly woo them, which results in all sorts of trouble.
(Edited this entry, but it’s obvious the opinions about this are somewhat divergent, so thought it was better to leave it here, open for discussion.)
Entitled to Have You: There's a lot of innuendo to suggest that Guy is a habitual rapist, and it's made most obvious in "The Witch of Elsdon", where the Sheriff suggests that he accused Jennet and her husband of witchcraft because she wouldn't have sex with him, and "The Children of Israel" when he tries to force Sarah de Talmont into marriage.
It's highly debatable, he never physically imposes himself on the women. He fully intends to marry Sarah and tries his best to woo her. That having failed, he still tries to force the marriage, which may be reproachable by today's standards but not unusual at the time. As for Jennet, the whole trial happens because she did reject him, she had the option to do so. Despite what the Sheriff says (that Gisburne is a dangerous man when he doesn't get what he wants), it's obvious Guy doesn't understand what he means, because in his mind he rationalized the rejection by seeing himself as the pure, chaste knight and her as the temptress, the witch whose charms he resisted. He truly seems to believe this. The Sheriff's later comment about his dalliances with the village girls may simply be referring to his lack of social skills, graces and ability to properly woo them, which results in all sorts of trouble.
Edited by Nolwe