Category: Ned Kelly

Ned Kelly as Vigilante and Tragic Hero

Allow me to challenge your perspective of the once defined scoundrel, Ned Kelly. However, before we begin let’s define a cultural icon. A cultural icon is the embodiment of a particular idea, belief or way of living which one deems rememberable. Ned Kelly is one of the most controversially well-known folk heroes within today’s society. For decades he has had an abundance of controversial representations throughout all genres and fields ranging from journalism to songwriters. He is often considered the last bushranger and is frequently referred to as a contributing factor to the larrikinism of Australia’s demeanour. So why are we still talking about him? Many perceive Ned as a key factor within the representation of the ordinary class against the odds of authority. Additionally, he also idealises the bush which depicts a ‘true Australian’ idealistic views, appealing to the majority of Australians. On the whole, the overall consensus of the representations express that he is a vigilante for the people and as his life continues, he ends up becoming a tragic hero. Furthermore, after a concise analysis of the 2003 film ‘Ned Kelly’ directed by Gregor Jordan and the poem ‘Bushrangers’ by Edward Harrington, these allegations will become concrete.

To begin, the social viewpoint of Ned Kelly is clearly positively portrayed through the relationships in which he and the Kelly Gang have formed displaying the humane side of Ned. Within the opening scene, Ned Kelly is rewarded with a green sash after saving a young boy from drowning. Soft, atmospheric music is playing, putting the audience in a dream-like trans, in conjunction with Ned’s voiceover speaking highly of his father, suggesting innocence and purity in relation to Ned’s actions. Moreover, this additionally shows genuine connection which inevitably sways the people to represent Ned as a brave, hero whom in which values his family. However, this is not the only evidence that suggests Ned Kelly’s portrayal as an infamous vigilante fighting for justice. As found within ‘Bushrangers’ by Edward Harrington, stanza 5: “Whatever their faults, whatever their crimes; their deeds lend remain to those faraway times”. Distinctively concretes the relationship with Ned Kelly being depicted as positive showing that Ned has a humane side allowing the audience to make genuine connection, causing a positive representation.

Secondly, of equal importance, the positive vigilante portrayal is clearly evident through the remembrance of the Kelly Gang in correlation with Ned’s depiction as a tragic hero. “Through years bring oblivion, time brings a change, the ghosts of the Kelly’s still ride in the range”. Furthermore, this statement exclaims that no matter how much time passes, the reminisce of the Kelly Gang and their influence will still roam the towns of Australia throughout history. In conjunction, the ending scene also corroborates with the positive perspectives of the Bushrangers. With the use of wide shots displaying the dark clouds, lightning and enclosed space in which Ned is held it creates the overall tone that Ned’s death is a solemn moment in which he will be missed immensely. As heard through his voiceover talking about the journey, he has been on in collaboration with the slow yet dramatic music. Moreover, by using these effects it conveys the dark and gloomy moods throughout Ned’s passing in comparison to the beginning scene in which a bright and happy sky was shown. Thus, it is unmistakably apparent that Ned Kelly has a positive representation in association with the Kelly Gang defined by their distant remembrance and influence on the audience.

Continuing on, Ned Kelly is undoubtedly depicted positively as displayed through the portrayal of him becoming a tragic hero throughout his actions whilst the raiding of the bank. “They opened the safe and they looted the bank; they laughed and were merry, they ate and they drank”. Displaying the light-hearted and fun side of Ned and the Kelly Gang adding to their likeableness and more emotional attachment towards them before their inevitable downfall. The regular rhythm and rhyme (AABBCC) illustrates the mood of a vibrant, heroic and light-hearted family-man. Which in turn rises tension, yet again drilling in the idea of Ned Kelly being represented as a vigilante whom creates the idealistic Australian. To further this analysis, the movie ‘Ned Kelly’ perfectly depicts the fun-loving nature in which the Kelly Gang raided the bank. Overall the Kelly Gang had a calm atmosphere around the young kids additionally, they had no intention to hurt anyone. Furthering the heroic and larrikinism perspective of all ‘typical’ Australians. In addition, Ned also burns mortgages in order to allow the poor to escape their never-ending debt. Another act of heroism allowing him to be seen as a vigilante.

In summary, it can be thought that the representation of Ned Kelly as depicted throughout the film ‘Ned Kelly’ and ‘The Bushrangers’ is overpoweringly positive. This is irrefutable, since the weight of the evidence as previously suggested displays Ned Kelly as a vigilante, tragic hero and has ideal ‘Australian’ views. Furthermore, with this portrayal Ned Kelly’s representation cannot be argued otherwise.

Ned Kelly: Hero or Horrible Villain

In Australian bushranger history, Ned Kelly was the one everyone either feared or loved. Ned, a controversial character with many flaws, is a villain. A bushranger’s apprentice, more than two jail sentences, and being the instigator at the Stringybark Creek incident (where three people were murdered) is proof of this man’s evil.

Ned Kelly chose to start his notorious career as a bushranger’s apprentice. Ned liked the idea of robbing on the highways, knowing it was wrong. “They didn’t earn a fortune, but ten pound here, a gold watch there, and the occasional good quality horse saddle made it worth their while, especially Ned’s”. Ned was very happy with his share of the gain, only stopping his job because of the rough weather and bad sleeping conditions, not because of a guilty conscience. This shows Ned’ character of caring less for his victims than for his own comfort. Being a bushrangers apprentice can only be bad, and this just shows how Ned started his villainous career.

If only Ned Kelly was taught to use his words, and not resort to violence. When Ned was found riding towards Greta, Constable Hall had the chance to arrest Kelly. Hall called Ned over and grabbed his jacket, so he couldn’t run away. Ned didn’t know that he was on a stolen horse and could have verbally questioned his arrest. However, he attacked Hall in a vicious and horrific manner, cementing his evil, villainous personality. From the Jerilderie Letters, he proudly wrote: “I kept throwing him in the dust now and again as he was as helpless… I did this until I got him across the street. I threw big, cowardly Hall on his belly, straddled him and rooted both spurs into his thighs…”. Ned didn’t have to fight Constable Hall. If Ned had cooperated, then no-one would have gotten hurt. Ned assaulted many people, whether innocent or not, completely unprovoked, when communication would have been better. Thus, he is not a hero, nor a victim, but a horrible villain.

The Kelly Gang killed three men for no reason, even chasing one into the bush to kill him. Ned needed a plan to rob the policemen at Stringybark Creek, not just strut into their camp, literally guns a blazing. The gang needed weapons, ammunition and horses. “There were two policemen at the camp, one was cooking dinner, the other was tending the horses. The Kelly gang stepped out of hiding and told the policemen to ‘bail up’. McIntyre surrendered, though Lonigan dived for cover behind a log, reaching for his revolver. Ned fired, Lonigan was shot”. If the gang had planned their attack, possibly they would have gotten the items needed without death. Ned was offended that Lonigan had reached for his gun in defence, even though Ned himself was armed and dangerous. The gang killed policemen for their weapons, when a planned robbery could’ve saved lives of innocent men.

Ned Kelly, a controversial man who steals, robs and murders. Becoming a bushrangers apprentice as his first job wasn’t enough, so he decided to assault a constable. Plus, he killed three men, and chased one into the bush. These reasons, and many more, show why Ned Kelly is one of the most vicious villains.

Reflection on Whether Ned Kelly Made the World a Better Place

Ned Kelly had a belief for social inequality. He wanted to stand up for his right by giving more to the less fortunate by taking less from the rich. When Ned had been more known to Australia, people knew about his rights. Half of the general public who knew about Ned had believed that he was a good person as he was taking care and spreading the word of his political concerns, which made them think that he had made a better world. There is more towards Ned rights, as the other half of the general public who knew about Ned didn’t think he made a better world as he was known for being a gang member, took the lives of hostages, stole from people, stole horses and assaulting people, but Ned was privy to his crimes and knew what how he wanted to commit more crimes for his rights as he knew he was more known to the police. The evidence points to Ned Kelly not making a better world.

At a young age Ned had always been involved with crime with his relatives and close friends. In 1869 when Ned had his first arrest when he was 14 years old when he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a Chinese man. A year later when Ned was still young, he was a suspected accomplice of a bushranger Harry power who wanted to become a famous bushranger coming from Ireland to Australia. Both Ned and Harry’s charges were dismissed, but this is when Ned had caught the eye of the police. In october 1870 Ned was arrested for assaulting a travelling salesman, Jeremiah Mcormack. Ned was only 16 years old at the time, and had gotten three months of hard labour on each charge and was released five weeks early, returning back to Greta. The Kelly family was always against the police even before any of their kids started to do anything bad. Ned’s mother Ellen had always stated that her family were victims of police persecution, but this is when her kids had started to grow up and organise their crimes.

There is a lot of evidence pointing to how Ned did not make a better world. He did not make a better world as he stole animals, killed policemen, assaulted many people and took hostages, and many Australians are very against these things Ned has done. In June 1880 Ned and his gang members had held 70 people hostage at Glenrowan Inn. Ned had apparently victimised the poor and had shot Constable Fitzpatrick as he said that Fitzpatrick was getting too friendly with Ned’s sister. Fitzpatrick had apparently written a report that was accurate which made Ned’s mother get sent to prison for three years.

Discursive Essay on How Ned Kelly Became an Australian Legend

Introduction:

The task is to examine the key events, actions, beliefs, and values of groups, the causes and effects of the events, and developments from a number of perspectives. This research task is aimed on Ned Kelly’s life and That Ned Kelly became an Australian Legend and folk hero because he struggled for the oppressed against the oppressors.

Focus Question 1: Who was Ned Kelly?

Ned Kelly was a bushranger and was born in June 1855 at Beveridge, Victoria. His father was John Kelly and his mother was Ellen Kelly. Ned became the father of his family at a very young age because of his father’s early death.In 1869 Ned was arrested for alleged assault on a Chinaman and held for ten days on remand but the charge was dismissed. Next year he was arrested and held in custody for seven weeks as a suspected accomplice of the bushranger, Harry Power, but again the charge was dismissed (V.Barry, 1974).

Focus Question 2: What is an Australian legend and what is a folk hero?

A folk hero or national hero is a type of hero real, fictional or mythological – with the sole salient characteristic being the imprinting of his or her name, personality, and deeds in the popular consciousness of a people. The lives of folk heroes are generally fictional, their characteristics and deeds often exaggerated to mythic proportions. The folk hero often begins life as a normal person but is transformed into someone extraordinary by significant life events, often in response to social injustice, and sometimes in response to natural disasters. (Seal, 2001)

Focus Question 3: Who were the oppressed and who were the oppressors?

The squatters allowed others to rent it but had to give back small portions, so that poor families like the Kelly’s could rent it. But the wealthy squatters fought this tooth and nail. They made sure that only the worst farmland came available for selection by the poor families. And of that limited supply, the squatters then reclaimed 2/3 of it by hiring agents who pretended to rent it, only to give it right back once the government stopped looking. And when legitimate selectors, non-rich farmers like the Kelly family, managed to squeeze through all of those obstacles, the squatters did everything they could to drive them to bankruptcy. They impounded their animals, they cut off their water access, they paid police to investigate, and even arrest them. This was why police had come to the house to investigate, and then arrest Ned’s father all those years ago for stealing a cow from a wealthy neighbor. Because the police had been paid by that neighbor to do so.

Focus Question 4: Why did Ned Kelly fight against the police?

Ned Kelly was born in a time where there is no word as justice for us poor people. The polices have the dirtiest mind and they don’t even see them as humanbeings. The police punish the poor people accuse them of bring thieves and punish them without even giving them a chance to defend themselves. He believed he became one of such victim at a very young age. When he was 15 a local policeman came to arrest his uncle wrongly accusing him of stealing a horse and therefore pleaded for his innocence and as a result of this making himself a target of the police for the rest of my life. Ever since that day, the police had become shadow and they never really left me. At the age of 15 I was first sent to jail for three years being accused of stealing a horse which I knew nothing about. When I came back from jail I saw 31 of my 32 horses had been taken by a local police officer. This reflects the story of the police and the government basically. They are the biggest thieves themselves they find happiness in the sadness of innocent people. I was a man who looked for a way to stop this harsh injustice against such helpless and free them from jails. Me being a victim I had good reasons to do so. With the help of my friends, my family, my relatives and my stepfather I decided to teach this evil men a lesson somehow

Focus Question 5: Was his struggle for personal reasons or was he fighting for more people than just himself and his family?

I think Ned Kelly was a hero because he always had a belief that the social inequalities of his days should be righted. He became caught up in a series of events over which he had little control. Towards the end he was no longer just fighting for his beliefs, he was fighting for his life, and the lives of his friends. Up until his final moments he still firmly believed he had fought for a just cause. To me, his final words “Such is life” suggest that he had tried his hardest to live for and by his beliefs. He died a man of honour, loyal to his friends, family, and class. He died a spokesman for an entire generation of the oppressed.

Focus Question 6: Was Ned Kelly a hero or a Villain?

Ned Kelly was only seen as a villain by the upper classes. His sympathizers in the lower classes were treated very badly, being held for months on end without charges or trial. They weren’t allowed to take up land holdings in the region as an attempt to get them out of North-East Victoria. The police were trying to discourage support of Ned Kelly within the lower classes. Their efforts weren’t successful, as 30,000 Victorians signed a petition, sympathetic to Ned, to stop him from being hanged. Also, the majority of people receiving a share of the reward money for the capture of the Kelly Gang were either in the police force, employees of the railways, or native trackers hired by the police.

Focus Question 7: Would Ned Kelly’s victims view his story as heroic?

During his short life, Kelly was a polarising figure and remains one today – so much so that his family members have taken the precaution of burying him in an unmarked grave. Many view Kelly not so much as a folk hero but as a convicted murderer responsible for the death of three police officers. They would see it as justice that his victims – police officers Michael Scanlan, Michael Kennedy, and Thomas Lonigan – have prominent tombstones and a large memorial in the Victorian mountain town of Mansfield, while Kelly lies in an unmarked grave. An exploration of Kelly’s life, however, reveals some of the reasons why he became the quintessential Australian folk hero – a bush-loving rebel who stuck it to the authorities Conclusion: In conclusion, I can state my hypothesis that Ned Kelly became an Australian Legend and folk hero because he struggled for the oppressed against the oppressors was proven correct and has had enough evidence to ensure it is correct and that there have even been different opinions and views on the sources to disagree with him and agree. Ned Kelly was found to have only done bad for the right reasons and not for the wrong.

Impact of Ned Kelly on Colonial Australia: Analytical Essay

Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader, convicted police murderer, and the face of the Colonial Australian Identity. This ‘identity’ being the ‘bushman’ identity- also known as the ‘noble bushman’. Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly (December 1854 – 11 November 1880) held this infamous repertoire. Kelly is synonymous with the ‘Colonial Australian’ identity due to many reasons such as; his outlandish method of pushing his beliefs, the way he carried himself, and Ned’s profound and enduring effect on Australian Society.

Ned Kelly pushed his beliefs and agenda in a valiant and brutal manner. Kelly and his ‘gang’ were proclaimed outlaws when they killed three policemen in October 1878 at Stringybark Creek, accounts of which differ. It was found that Ned used this new-found stage to justify his actions; as fighting against police corruption and their ‘gross campaign of harassment. Kelly commonly stole cattle and sheep around this time frame to serve as an act of defiance against this perceived colonial oppression, stating; “It will pay Government to give those people who are suffering innocence, justice and liberty”. (Erle Cox 1943). During this time, he wrote what is now known as the Jerilderie Letter; a 56-page sort of manifesto in which Kelly tries to justify his actions, including the murder of three police officers. “2th of March and I was a prisoner in Beechworth Goal until the 29th March. Therefore I could not have stolen the mare”, this excerpt from the Jerilderie Letter shows Ned Kelly attempting to exonerate himself from the stolen horse allegations. This was seen as a plea for change, as he describes cases of alleged police corruption and calls for justice for poor families. While other political figures of the same calibre of national influence as Ned Kelly (like Martin Luther King Jr) caused major changes in their respective society through speech and persuasion, Kelly’s brutal unorthodox manner of conveying his viewpoints was a cause for change in colonial times.

The demeanour in which Kelly conducted himself alongside his daring notoriety cemented him as folk hero in the eyes of many Australians in colonial times. Being born from an Irish convict, Kelly would frequently attempt to humiliate the authorities by robbing banks and thieving from the rich. This behaviour is very characteristic of the bushranger identity, which many people at the time viewed the Australian colonists. Many during the 18th century viewed the ‘Colonial Australian’ identity as daring and criminal in a sense, after being heavily influenced by bushrangers such as Ned Kelly himself. Many regard him as a symbol of national identity because he has a strong connection to issues such as convictism, outlawry, the Australian environment and the European inheritance in Australia. “Whether we celebrate or denigrate him, love him or loathe him, Ned Kelly remains inextricably bound up with our sense of national identity” (‘Ned Kelly: Australian Icon’ 2019), This statement holds true as Ned Kelly is a extremely polarizing figure in Australian history, some view him as the valiant folk hero the Australian culture has come to know and love, while others at the time saw him as a ‘blood-thirsty’ and a ‘killer’(Hocking, 2004).

The weight and significance of the Kelly Gang, and most importantly Ned, brought upon many changes in the solidification of ‘Colonial Australian’ Identity. In the late 18th century, this gang of bushrangers had become a household name, as their thieving and heroic acts had been etched into Australian history. Kelly’s Irish heritage, his contempt for and success in humiliating the authorities, his harsh and some say unfair treatment, his bad luck and his daring and notoriety have ensured Kelly’s place as folk hero (State Library of Victoria). Alongside this, his defiant acts against discrimination and his pleas for justice solidified people’s view of him as a Mr. Flannery-esque folk Hero who also stood up for liberty and justice. Ned Kelly’s impact on the as the ‘Colonial Australian’ icon is evident from the spectacular Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony, in which a group of armoured Kelly figures paraded waving mock firearms spouting streams of sparks (Bruce Astbury & Jed Donoghue 2011).

The Irish-born Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly was thrust into the day-to-day life of brutal harassment and police brutality of Victoria, but although bridled by this, by killing to push his agenda, carrying himself in the manner of a folk hero, Ned cemented his legacy as the ‘noble bushman identity’. His story has withstood the testament of time to provide an enduring effect on Australian Society and cementing his significant role in the ‘Colonial Australian’ identity

Descriptive Essay on the Life of Edward Ned Kelly

Edward Ned Kelly was Australia’s most famous bushranger; regarded by several as a hero who fought “for the rights of the battler.” Whether or not Ned Kelly was a hero, however, has been debated throughout Australia’s history. Some consider him to be a folk hero while others condemn him as a cold-blooded criminal, making it a controversial topic to talk about. The representation of Ned Kelly in poems and stories, however, is overwhelmingly negative, possibly because many people have the impression that Ned Kelly is a cultural icon only because the government pushes a biased, sympathetic view of the Bushranger, while there are also other false representations of Kelly to put him in a negative light. Taking into consideration the 2003 movie “Ned Kelly” and the poem “Lonigan’s Widow” by Shel Silverstein, it is evident that some try to justify the acts of Ned Kelly, while others see him from a skewed and negative perspective. Ned Kelly’s story was depicted in many movies, one of which premiered in 2003. Ned Kelly, represented in the movie by another esteemed Australian icon, Heath Ledger, which shows what happened to Ned Kelly and what he had to suffer in his time. The movie seems to suggest that Ned Kelly was an unfortunate product of his time, a social misfit who turned to crime because the nefarious police force forced him into it.

The director, Gregor Jordan, cleverly uses the technique, of creating a montage, by putting many frames from two different scenes next to each other to create a contrast. This is done at the end of the Siege at Glenrowan, during the final shootout. Jordan juxtaposes two polarising situations, at once highlighting Kelly’s innocence and naivety in one moment, and how that was all stripped away far too quickly the next, courtesy of the police. In the first situation, Ned Kelly was saving the boy from drowning. There were happy skies, clear and bright, happy people, no guns, a beautiful green and gold sash that Kelly had received for his good deed, symbolic of Australia and the good he had done in the name of Australia and there were people congratulating him. Then the camera veers to people opposed to Kelly; he’s been shot and is alone, covered in filth and blood, wearing his damaged armour, one of him against a thousand policemen. He looks disheveled and is struggling to survive. No one is congratulating him. The contrast of these scenes shows that Kelly was once innocent. He wasn’t born a criminal. No one is born a criminal. It is the influences, the people around us, the experiences we have, that shape us to be who we are. And Ned Kelly, unfortunately, had a family that was always having run-ins with the police who oppressed and discriminated the Irish his entire life, Criminal life was what he was forced into by the police and all he could resort to. But still, through this, he had strong, good morals. He saved lives, he helped people, and he still retained some of that good-hearted, happy-spirited young Ned who did what was right. He wasn’t all bad. And this juxtaposition of the two completely different frames shows how the police who were always opposed against his family essentially broke him. This definitely induces sympathy in the viewers. We feel for Ned in his time of darkness. We are reminded, that he was once a sweet and good-hearted boy and are proud to have him included in our national identity, displaying the Australian morals and characteristics. At the same time, we are being positioned to condemn the police for ruining his life, and the lives of his family as such. Together with the movie, there have also been many written debates about Ned and the Kelly Gang, some of which exaggerated the events of what happened to justify the point of the text.

One piece of text, a song made by American singer-songwriter Shel Silverstein, known as Lonigan’s Widow is a good point in case. The poet emphasizes and nit-picks the cruelty and cold-heartedness that Ned Kelly had, even though details were missed out and others were amplified to make him sound like he was, in fact, a villain. Silverstein manipulates the rhythm and uses a pause after the line “a shout and a cry and a crack of a gun” and then says “Lonigan staggers and Lonigan’s done” pausing after “Lonigan staggers”, which places great emphasis on constable Lonigan’s death. This is clearly a move on the part of the writer to evoke sympathy for Lonigan, making it seem like he did not deserve to be murdered by Ned. However, he did miss the fact that it was proven that Lonigan fired at the Kelly Gang first, even though the gang gave them a chance to surrender and spare their lives. The text proves that writers do use poetic license in order to get their message across, which shows the biasness of the poet and the inaccuracy of historical events that the piece of text can contain. In conclusion, it can be said that the representation of Ned Kelly in “Lonigan’s Widow” seems over-exaggerated, calumniating Ned Kelly by using specific word choices and manipulating the rhythm of the song to evoke empathy in viewers. Could it be because the song was created for a film soundtrack, where the songwriter adapted the lyrics to move the story along, rather than make an actual attempt to defame Ned Kelly? Nevertheless, the representation of Ned Kelly in the film from 2003 seemed to sit on the other end of the spectrum, being more inclined to paint him as a victim of society and make him seem like a hero, which was evident in countless scenes from the movie, including the one at the end of the Siege at Glenrowan by putting Kelly up against what seemed like an endless amount of police officers.

Comparative Essay on Mary Ann Bugg’s Petition for Clemency with Ned Kelly’s Jerilderie Letter

Bushranging played an indispensable role in the development of Australia’s identity.

Over time, the term ‘bushranger’ has evolved, but at all times defined outcasts, yet, attitudes toward bushrangers remain quite equivocal and complex. To understand the beliefs surrounding bushrangers and the perspectives of those considered marginalised and ordinary in nineteenth-century Australia, we must consider a range of sources such as those histories ‘from below.’ In this essay, I will be comparing Mary Ann Bugg’s petition for Clemency and Ned Kelly’s Jerilderie Letter, and how each of them exemplify nineteenth-century beliefs about bushrangers.

Originally, ‘bushranger’ was used solely to describe escaped convicts in the outskirts of society, who took refuge in the Australian bush. However, after the Gold Rush’s influx of wealth, the inequality in social class it created, gave rise to a new type of bushranger. From the 1850s onwards, the definition broadened to include any criminals (including free settlers) who had run-ins with the police that lived in the bush. The bush, made crime possible and more efficient, as being distant from town made those coming into the bush to seek them, more vulnerable to attacks. Australia’s bushranging history comprised of a colourful canvas of individuals. For many, circumstance had forced them into bushranging, for others it was simply an opportunity for adventure and chance to imitate their heroes, while most saw it as a rebellion against colonial authority. Mary Ann Buggs and Ned Kelly were two completely different individuals, yet both represented the oppressed and fought for justice against an unjust system.

Mary Ann Bugg is just one example of a notable female in the bushranging narrative, who unfortunately did not gain much attention such as her male counterparts. Born in 1834 to a European Convict father and Indigenous mother, her early years were not associated with bushranging, however, she was a subordinate primitive woman, who became a victim of circumstance. In 1860, Bugg met a man named Frederick Ward, known as the infamous ‘Captain Thunderbolt,’ and from then she rose to fame, becoming the women who assisted Thunderbolt in becoming the legend he is today. Her partnership with Ward led to constant run-ins with the police, serving multiple sentences in gaol. In 1867, however, she was illegally imprisoned having suspected to have stolen some goods. It was during this time she composed a ‘Petition of Clemency’ that led to her release. In her petition, she claims unlawful conviction, stating that the goods in her possession were purchased and not stolen, despite her provoking behaviour: “That your Petitioner … last purchased a quantity of Drapery and other goods at the stores of Messieurs Wolfe and Gorrick and paid for the same.” For most of the time, she had no concrete evidence to support her innocence plea, however, her petition and an eye witness that identified her as having purchased the goods, allowed for her case to be further investigated. Her statement instigated an outpour of public support, which then forced the inspector-general to rule her arrest as a wrongful conviction.

The notorious Ned Kelly is the most renowned bushranger in Australian history, who was not the first Australian bushranger but rather was the last, who established his own period of bushranging. Born in 1855 to settlers of Irish descent, his teenage years were spent stealing, who took to the bush to evade arrest. Spending most of his life robbing, assaulting, and challenging authority, he felt that he and many others like him were victimised by the government. This led to his multiple arrests and his wanted status. It was the combination of his poor upbringing, economic hardship and harassment from the police, which influenced his criminal behaviour.

Kelly had multiple run-ins with the law, but, his most significant crime was the Jerilderie bank robbery. In 1879, Ned Kelly and his gang had dressed in stolen police uniform, executing raids in the town of Jerilderie, robbing the bank, burning bank documents, holding hostages, diverting police attention as well as confining police.

However, what is significant to historians today, is that after the robbery, Ned Kelly dictated a letter to his companion Joe Byrne, who wrote it, then gave it to a banker – Edwin Living, requesting to publish his letter. This became the Jerilderie Letter. Written in 1879, the 56 page, 8,000-word letter, outlines the reasoning behind his actions, where its historical significance dwells in the explicit account of his troubled relations with the law. In the letter, he justifies his resort to crime, the corruption of the law, and his grievances against the police. Whereby he constructed this narrative of himself as somebody who was unfairly persecuted for defending the common people, which engaged with the general public bringing in an outpour of support. His letter had a recurring theme where he created this idea that the police were dishonourable men, full of corruption and that his life of continuous police persecution appealed to the audience, as they too could relate to Kelly, as the community didn’t trust police either; “What would people say if I became a policeman and took an oath to arrest my brothers and sisters & relations and convict them by fair or foul means … The Queen must surely be proud of such heroic men …It takes eight or eleven of the biggest mud crushers in Melbourne to take one poor little half-starved larrakin to a watch house.” This highlights Ned Kelly’s main idea that many of the lower class people were abused by the police, that their ‘bad image’ was exaggerated by the authorities as a means to justify their actions. His letter also reflected and touched on recognised bushranging themes such as the need for the redistribution of wealth – the rich sharing their wealth with the poor; “it would suit them far better to subscribe a sum and give it to the poor of their district and there is no fear of anyone stealing their property.” His actions followed the ‘Robin Hood’ concept of robbing the wealthy to give to the poor, as there was evident inequality in society and social classes, and he was just doing something tangible in regards to that.

At the time, bushrangers were seen as criminals in the eyes of the law, and the authorities felt quite threatened by them. Conversely, most of the general public – typically the lower classes, felt that bushrangers were in fact heroes. They could be likened to activists, as they sought political and social change, being the only people doing something about it. Even during the bushranging period of the nineteenth century, many still had quite varying beliefs towards them. Ned Kelly’s letter can definitely relate to 19th-century beliefs on bushrangers as he fit the criteria at the time of a white male who defied the authorities, unlike Mary Ann Bugg who was just discriminated against for being an Indigenous woman, and wife of a bushranger/convict. However, the image of Bugg depended on her individually, she decided when she should display or hide her character – the civilised image of Mary was undermined by herself.

A significant piece of information to point out in regards to historians’ study of nineteenth-century bushranging beliefs is that Ned Kelly’s letter is easily accessible on the internet in the form of images of the letter or transcripts. Mary Ann’s letter, on the other hand, cannot be found online at all, rather, is only available in a state archival building.

This, therefore, can be a limitation as we are only provided with the perspectives and stories of those who had celebrity-type status, and nothing about those were not given mass attention such as female bushrangers or even bushrangers of colour. The reasoning as to why Ned Kelly gained more national attention throughout history than Mary Ann did, is because he fit into the narrative of the elite white male bushranger, Mary Ann Bugg, an Aboriginal woman, did not. Regardless, both greatly contributed to the bushranging narrative

To conclude nineteenth-century beliefs saw the bushranging movement as a symbol of freedom, pride and anti-authoritarianism, fighting for the good of those who were outcasted. Bushrangers have profoundly influenced Australia’s national identity, being a manifestation of rural poverty and political rebellion.

Argumentative Essay: Ned Kelly As a Victim

Ned Kelly was a notorious bushranger in Colonial Australia. Over the numerous years after his death, some people established different judgments on whether Ned Kelly was a hero, victim, or a hero. Some people say he was a hero who fought for the justice of others while others say he was a villain who committed numerous crimes Ned Kelly was certainly a victim because the police treated his family poorly, he was drawn into a fight between two hawkers that had nothing to do with him but still got arrested and he was convicted by the police for riding a stolen horse he didn’t know was stolen and got arrested for it.

In addition to this, Ned Kelly was undoubtedly a victim because the police treated his family poorly. In the Jerilderie letter that Ned Kelly and Joe Byrne wrote, “The police got great credit and praise in the papers for arresting a mother of 12 children, one an infant on her breast and those two quiet hard working innocent men who would not know the difference between a revolver and saucepan…”(Wilkinson, 2014, p.33). This letter supports the claim that Ned Kelly is a victim Therefore, Ned Kelly was without a doubt a victim because his family was treated viciously by the police.

In addition to this Ned Kelly was undeniably a victim because he was riding a stolen horse he didn’t know was stolen arrested. Constable Hall tricked Ned Kelly into riding the stolen horse into the station then arrested him without tell Ned the reason of the arrest, “He was about to dismount when Hall grabbed hold of his jacket and said I’m arresting you for stealing this horse.”(Wilkinson, 2014, p.14). This quote from Black Snake supports the claim that Ned Kelly was a victim. Therefore, Ned Kelly is indisputably a victim because he was riding a stolen horse he didn’t know was stolen and got arrested for it.

In addition to this, Ned Kelly was unquestionably a victim because he got drawn into a fight between two hawkers that had nothing to do with him. Ned claimed innocent but was charged with violent assault and had to serve six months in jail at 15 years old, “Ned’s family managed to scrape together the 60 pounds but couldn’t find the other 10 pounds…”( Wilkinson, 2014, p.14). This supports the claim that Ned Kelly was a victim. Therefore, Ned Kelly is definitely a victim because he got drawn into a fight between two hawkers that had nothing to do with him but still got arrested.

Ned Kelly is clearly a victim because the police treated his family poorly, he was drawn into a fight between two hawkers that had nothing to do with him but still got arrested, and he was convicted by the police for riding a stolen horse he didn’t know was stolen. The police treated his family poorly, he was riding a stolen horse he didn’t know was stolen and still got arrested, and he got drawn into a fight between two dealers that had nothing to do with him. Ned Kelly was a famous bushranger who will forever remain a person in great interest because people cannot decide what type of man he was.