Ned Kelly – A Victim Of Circumstance

Ned Kelly is Australia's most famous bushranger, outlaw, gang leader, an underdog and convicted police murderer. He has become a symbolic figure in Australian history. Ned was a product of his environment; therefore, was classified as a victim of circumstance. Had Ned grown up in a wealthy family, he may have been crafty enough to create businesses and become an honest and respected figure in society. Ned had no choice but to start a life of theft to help his family survive. His father died when he was only 12 leaving Ned the eldest male of the household, Ned had no direction as his only role models were his larrikin uncles and relatives with a history of crime.

The police and law were against him and he was wrongly accused several times, because of his low economic status, he could not defend his rights. This made a bad perspective of Ned and many people wanted to kill him. ; Therefore, I would argue that Ned Kelly was a victim of circumstance. “Young Ned had no direction, his father recently died, and his only role models were his larrikin uncles and relatives with a history of crime (Wilkinson,2002)”. His father died when Ned was only 12, this made Ned the eldest male of the household. “Ned went to school for less than two years (Wilkinson,2002)”. Ned left school to take his father's place, this left him uneducated and hard to get a job.

Due to the lack of advice, money and education, Ned got nowhere and started a life as a thief to earn money for living. His future was depended on his role models and bad advice he got, he was forced into a life of theft. Ned Kelly was a product of his environment because he had no choice but to start a life on the run due to the advice and amount of education he got. He was also a victim of circumstance and was wrongly accused several times. The police and law were against him and he was wrongly accused several times.

The first action that took place was when Ned got caught for receiving a horse stolen. Ned got a worse punishment than the person that stole the horse. “Wild Wright, the man who actually stole the horse, was sentenced to 18 months in jail whereas, Ned was sentenced to three years hard labour (Wilkinson,2002)”. The law was against him especially Constable Hall. This is what Constable Hall said while Ned was in court “Constable Hall was keen to get Ned back for letting him down in court (Wilkinson, 2002)". Due to his low economic status, he could not defend his rights. The bad perspective of Ned was made in the society and he was an underdog, many people were scared, and some wanted to kill him. Ned was undoubtedly a victim especially because he was a product of his environment. Ned was a product of his environment, therefore being classified as a victim.

The environment he was brought up in influenced the decisions he made later in his life. Had Ned grown up in a wealthy family? He may have been crafty enough to create businesses and become an honest and respected figure in society. Ned had a habit of stealing horses before bringing them back to their original owner and demanding for a reward (Wilkinson,2002). Some people might see this act as reckless, but this is how utterly desperate Ned was to help his family survive. Ned lived in a society of inequality between the rich and poor, squatters and selectors. Therefore, Ned fought for his and the people's rights by "burning mortgages and taxes, he was also nice to the people and treated them well (Wilkinson,2002)". This clears that Ned was a victim but due to the low economic rank/status and poverty he started a life of theft.