This essay examines the attitudes to violence, crime and law in the late 18th century Western European society based on Friedrich Schiller’s drama Die Räuber. To better understand this topic, the historical background of this work is examined in detail, including records of organized crime, the political situation in the Holy Roman Empire, and the ideas of Enlightenment that were influential at that time. Additionally, violence theory (Gewalttheorie) is used to explain both the motivation of the characters’ violent actions and the influence these actions have on them.