Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly – Undoubtedly A Villain

Ned Kelly is a courageous and cold-hearted bushranger who robbed banks and murdered people. Black Snake is proof that Ned Kelly’s villainy was undeniable. Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly (born in Australia) was a bushranger, gangster, convicted murderer of police and an outlaw. He was one of the last and most notorious bushrangers. His bulletproof armor is what made him famous. He was brave and rebelled against the government and police. Ned Kelly held innocents captive and robbed many banks. After a life filled with violence, he became a killer.

Ned Kelly became a notorious robber when he was accused of being a villain. Ned, who was born into a poor family, did everything he could to provide for his family. This included stealing valuables and cattle to sell in exchange for money. Ned is also known for a number of bank robberies, including one with a spectacular getaway and hefty amounts of money stolen. Ned steals money, watches and saddles on pages 12-13. He did this because he didn’t earn much and was desperate. Ned also stole cattle on pages 4-5 and 24-25 and took up a job he called “wholesale horse and livestock dealing” which is horse and calves theft. Ned returned with his gang to sell cattle and horses in exchange for money. Ned, in his Jerilderie Letter quote: “Nobody else was involved with the stealing/selling of the horses than me. George King William Cooke convicted for Whitty’s Horses was innocent.” can also be seen as guilty. Ned is remembered for his criminal activities, including robbing banks, selling horses and cattle.

Ned Kelly is a notorious criminal, but before he robbed any bank, he held innocents as prisoners. Ned was a renowned bank robber. The police were always looking for him as a thief. The book Black Snake says on page 104 that the gang stayed at the Glenrowan Inn to wait for the train. The gang was also assembling a number of prisoners.” It shows that Ned’s gang gathered innocent people to hold them captive at the Glenrowan inn as they waited unnecessarily for the arrival of the train with police officers. It is because the battle between Ned the cops and Ned caused his brother, best-friend and 4 other innocent people who were kept as prisoners to die. The innocent townspeople may not have died if they had not been kept captive. Before the Kelly Gang robbed the bank they held innocent people prisoner. Ned Kelly had not only been a villain but he also held innocents as prisoners prior to robbing banks.

The fact that he is also a murderer makes him even more of a villain. Ned Kelly’s admirers were many, but their hope began to fade after he shot the first bullet and hit a policeman on the wrist in the Inn (page 95). A sentence on page fifty, “A Second Shot from Ned Killed Scanlon” tells that Ned murdered Scanlon for no apparent reason. Ned also wrote in the Jerilderie Letter, “I shot in his armpit…I fired again with my gun as he was slewed about to surrender.” This quote can be read as Ned killing Sergeant Kennedy while he was trying to surrender. Ned has shot first in nearly all fights, even when he wasn’t defending himself. He also tried to kill police officers and innocent people. It is for this reason that the Jerilderie Letter, as well the book, provide proof of Ned’s villainous reputation.

Ned Kelly’s reputation as a villain is based on many factors. Ned was a bank-robber/thief, and he always held innocents as prisoners prior to robbing banks. Ned Kelly was also a killer and attempted to murder many innocent people, including officers. Ned Kelly had been a larrikin, a criminal and was therefore punished for his actions. In the end, he was an outlaw known for his role as the Australian Bushranger who wore a bulletproof suit during the final shootout with police.