Ned Kelly and His Heroic Actions

Ned Kelly is a divisive figure in the Australian landscape, some portray him as a cold, evil murderer, whilst, others think of him as a guardian angel helping the poor by giving them money. This argumentative essay will persuade others that Ned Kelly is a hero who stood up to a corrupt police force that served to protect the rich who bribed them with money for unnecessary reasons. Ned Kelly was a hero because he saved a boy who fell into the newly flooded river, he dropped out of school at the age of eleven to look after his family and he robs from the bank and donates some money to the poor. The following paragraphs will address Ned Kelly’s heroic actions.

Ned demonstrated a heroic act while saving a boy who was drowning in the newly flooded river. Although, he had no experience in swimming, his strong physical attributes was slowly built by working on the non-fertile land which did not give him money, in fact, it caused trouble and stress. Arthur Ashe quoted that “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost” quote from brainyquote.com. Accordingly, Ned represented such qualities in helping people in danger by placing his life at risk. Looking after a family of seven in the age of twelve is very difficult but Ned took care of his family and the farm.

Risking his own life was not the only thing that crowned Ned as a hero he saved his own family from bankruptcy and gave them enough money for essential items. At the age of twelve Ned Kelly dropped out of school as he can no longer watch his family struggle for money. “Ned’s mother worked illegally selling alcohol to passing travellers desperately trying to save her children and herself” page 13 Black Snake. In addition, Ned Kelly decided to chop wood to make firewood for a fairly cheap price, Ned felt like he let his family down his family was relying on him to bring his family money to pay for their taxes. “Later he stopped chopping wood after he met Harry Power who was a terrible bushranger exaggerates his stories which made Ned Kelly want to be his apprentice due to the amount of money he earns” evidence from extra history Ned Kelly part one.

Ned did not stop after helping his family he also changed the lives of many other poor farmers. He could not make money out of stealing horses anymore so went to the extent to rob a bank. On Monday December 9th ,1878 Ned plans to rob a bank with some help from the rest of the Kelly gang. The plan was to round up every worker and traveller that passed through the station that day and packed them all into a small locked shed. Later after he robbed the bank the gang apologised for the inconvenience and gave them some of the robbed money. The gang had 2000 pounds left and decided to take it home. “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another” said by Charles Dickens this reflects The Kelly gang brightening other people’s lives after giving them enough money for their own purposes.

In conclusion Ned Kelly is a hero who has done favours for many people. This divisive figure represents Australia’s criminal past. This Argumentative essay must persuade others that Ned Kelly is a hero who has changed many people’s lives positively. Ned Kelly fought for people’s rights and stood against the corrupt police officers who failed to serve the poor instead they protected the rich. Ned is a hero because he saved a young boy from drowning, he left school at the age of eleven to look after his family and has donated some money to the poor.