Was Edward (Ned) Kelly really a cruel villain and murderer? Or did he do things because he had to react? He was a victim of the law and a hero to the poor. His mother was wrongly accused of the attempted murder of Fitzpatrick and was sent to prison. His father had already died by then and so he was forced to steal to feed his 12 younger brothers and sisters. He was accused of stealing food and livestock and went to prison for riding a stolen horse that he didn't even know was stolen. Not only was he fighting for his life, but he was fighting for his beliefs and for people suffering from poverty. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In his short life of 25 years, Ned was accused of many things he didn't do. A friend of the Kellys borrowed one of their horses and left another. Ned rode this horse around 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 given 3 years of hard labor. He later discovered that the horse had been stolen, but by the friend who had lent it. This information is reported in Ned Kelly's YouTube clip and the Black Snake Book. His family history had always affected him and he hated it. Ned was forced to flee after being accused of many crimes. At just twelve years old, Ned's father died. John (Ned's dad) was a deported prisoner and died shortly after a six-month prison sentence in Australia. Ned was then the eldest male and had to provide for his brothers and mother. He left school to help his grandfather on the farm. He spent days cutting firewood, only to sell it for little money. Rich squatters would give small portions of their land to poor families. “When selectmen like them bought this land, the squatters would do everything they could to drive them bankrupt.” It seems the government has made it impossible for families like hers to succeed. After being accused of many crimes Ned didn't commit, he was determined to become the criminal the police thought he was. He formed a band with Joe Byrne, Steve Hart, Dan Kelly and himself. For Ned his crimes were no longer a matter of feeding his family, they were a matter of 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 pushed him to rob, many people understood what he was going through and believed he was doing what was right. He was fighting for the less fortunate. “Opinion had swung back in Ned's favor. A public meeting to save Ned's life attracted a crowd of 4000 people. Just 5 days before his execution a lawyer started a petition to save his life. In a short time, 32,000 signatures were collected. But none of these efforts have been successful." Ned was a hero and was respected by many. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Ned Kelly was never a villain; in fact, he was a great hero and was a victim of circumstances! He was pushed into the bush to help his family, punished for things he didn't do, yet was cheered by many kind people. Ned Kelly did many honorable things for his family and should be considered a hero and a victim.