Ned Kelly being a hero

Is Ned Kelly a hero ?

Is Ned Kelly really a hero? Ned Kelly was born in 1854 far north of Melbourne. His Family were poor, Irish convicts and struggled with money and from a young age, he was in trouble with the law. Kelly was a very famous Australian Bushranger in the 1800's, who fought police wearing a rusty, old amour made of steel, leather, iron bolts, with a helmet and visor. After his father died, his life changed because he started robbing banks, doing theft and killed 3 troopers at StringyBark Creek, but he did this in self defence as the corrupt cops had it in for Ned and the Kelly gang. He tried to live a honest life, but the police always wanted him because of his thieving actions and crimes as a part of our history. Do you think notorious Ned was not so naughty ? In my opinion, Ned Kelly is a hero. I will be referring to a book named "Black Snake; the darling of Ned Kelly" written by Carole Wilkinson and you will learn the truth: that Ned was always targeted because of his family's reputation. He needs to be remembered for his acts of good, not his criminal actions.

I believe Ned Kelly is an Australian hero because he tried to protect his family and keep them alive, while his mother was in jail and his father dead. In Chapter 10, page 114, Mrs Ellen Kelly, Ned's mother states "Ned wouldn't rest until I was free. That's what turned my son into a wanted man. He would have done anything for his sisters and me." This indicates that Ned was a thoughtful, loving character and would do anything for them. Ellen Kelly also claimed on page 113 "If the troopers had let us alone, we'd still be there today. But they wouldn't let us alone. They blamed my boys for every bit of mischief. It was as if their one aim in life was to see the Kelly boys behind bars." This proves that Ned and his family were always being harassed and targeted by troopers, the British empire, government and authorities to blame him for being a villain. Although Ned shot three troopers at Stringybark Creek, he did it in self defence and injustice as it was "either him or me getting shot."(YouTube clip from class) This demonstrates that Ned had no intention to shoot the three troopers and there wasn't really an option, someone was going to get killed. Ned Kelly also demonstrated heroic traits when he rescued his brother, Dan Kelly from Constable Fitzpatrick, who was drunk and had no right to arrest Dan Kelly without a warrant. Would you like it if the police did that to you? The cop barged into the Kelly's home and assaulted his sister and mother. In chapter 3, Ned Kelly's sister, Kate Kelly claims that "No one invited him in, but Fitzpatrick came in anyway."Ned defended them by proving he was a noble man who stood up for the rights of others.

Overall, Ned Kelly was a hero and he tried to live an honest life, but the troopers would never leave the Kelly's alone and they were always targeted and tortured. In a country founded by convicts and poor migrants, Ned Kelly has became a symbol of the battler fighting against the odds. He was a larrikin but he had a good heart although he did criminal acts. He fought against for justice and never gave up. The fact that he failed and is still considered to be a hero is uniquely an Australian sentiment. Ned was hanged in the Melbourne Goal in 1880 saying his final words "Such is life" Which conveys he had no hard feelings towards the troopers as he had done some wrong deeds. It also presents that he was a good man despite what they had thought.

By Anchal (: