Was Edward (Ned) Kelly really a cruel villain and murderer? Or did he do things because he had to fight back? He was a victim of the law and a hero to the poor. His mother was wrongly accused of Fitzpatrick's attempted murder and sent to prison. His father was already dead by then, so he was forced to steal to feed his 12 younger siblings. He was accused of stealing food and livestock and went to prison for riding a stolen horse he didn't even know existed. Not only was he fighting for his life, but he was fighting for his beliefs and for people who suffered from poverty. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay During his short life of 25 years, Ned was accused of many things he didn't do. A friend of the Kellys borrowed a horse from them and left another with them. Ned rode through town and a policeman saw him. The policeman accused him of stealing the horse. Ned was outraged because he knew he hadn't stolen it. He was sentenced to 3 years of forced labor. He later discovered that the horse had been stolen, but by the friend who had lent it. This information is stated in Ned Kelly's YouTube clip and in the Book of the Black Serpent. His family history had always affected him and he hated it. Ned was forced into the bush after being accused of numerous crimes. At just twelve years old, Ned's father died. John (Ned's father) was a deported convict and died shortly after a six-month prison sentence in Australia. Ned was then the eldest male and had to fend for his siblings and his mother. He left school to help his grandfather on the farm. He spent entire days cutting firewood, only to sell it for little money. Wealthy squatters gave away small portions of their land to poor, selective families. “When selectors like them buy this land, the squatters will do everything they can to drive them out of business.” It seems the government has made it impossible for families like his to succeed. After being accused of numerous crimes that Ned didn't commit, he was determined to become the criminal the police thought he was. He forms a gang with Joe Byrne, Steve Hart, Dan Kelly and himself. For Ned, his crimes were no longer about feeding his family, but about revenge. Ned may have committed crimes, but he wasn't a bad person. In fact, it was celebrated everywhere. Like other poor families, the Kellys struggled to survive. Because circumstances drove him to steal, many people understood what he was going through and believed he was doing what was right. He fought for the most deprived. “Opinion had swung in Ned's favor again. A public meeting to save Ned's life attracted a crowd of 4,000 people. Just five days before his execution, a lawyer launched a petition to save his life. In a short time, 32,000 signatures were collected. But none of these efforts were successful. Ned was a hero and was respected by many. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Ned Kelly was never a villain; in fact, he was a great hero and he was a victim of circumstances! He was pushed into the bush to help his family, punished for things he didn't do, but he was nevertheless encouraged by many kind people. Ned Kelly did many honorable things for his family and should be considered a hero and..