Villains are portrayed as someone who doesn't respect the law and is a troublemaker. Heroes are usually titled brave, saviors, courageous and helpful. When we think of a victim, we often believe that they are misunderstood, misjudged and blamed. This statement applies to Ned Kelly. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Ned Kelly... hero, victim or villain? The book “Black Snake” written by Carol Wilkinson explains the story of its long-lasting legacy through Australian history. In my opinion this Australian outlaw is a victim! As a boy, Ned was accused of stealing a horse and was always a victim of the police. This is from the book “Black Snake”. Although Ned Kelly is usually described as a murderer, he was a man of his word who gave money to the unfortunate and defended the rights of others. But what if you were there? How would you feel if you were poor? The year 1876, Ned Kelly was accused of possessing a stolen horse from the owner “John Quinn”. On pages 15-18, Carol Wilkinson states that Ned was innocent. However he was sentenced to three long years of imprisonment. Ned was definitely accused! In 1869 young Ned Kelly, aged 14, was arrested on charges of assaulting a Chinese man. In 1870, Ned was arrested again, as a suspected accomplice of the outlaw Harry Power. This is found on pages 12-14 of the book “Black Snake”. Both of these accusations had brought the attention of many policemen to the Australian outlaw and had caused Ned Kelly to be targeted. In my opinion, this historical legend was a genuine man who wanted the best rights for the people. On page 37, Ned has opened a store to pay his mother's bail. However, Ned did not earn enough money to save his mother. This shows that Ned cared about his family and did his best to give his mother the best life she deserved. This is one reason why people begged for Ned to be released on the day of his hanging! Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Concluding this written essay, I strongly believe that Ned Kelly was a victim! The victimized legend of Australian history was regularly targeted by police and accused of theft. Yes, he killed the police, but only in self-defense as the corrupt people wanted to see Ned suffer miserably. Why do we still hear about this outlaw hundreds of years later? It would be reasonable for future generations to hear about this Australian bushranger?