Department of English and American Studies - English Language and Literature Ned Kelly in Art: Criminal versus Hero
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Masaryk University
Faculty of Arts
Department of English
and American Studies
English Language and Literature
Markéta Rozmarová
Ned Kelly in Art: Criminal versus Hero
Bachelor’s Diploma Thesis
Supervisor: PhDr. Jitka Vlčková, Ph. D.
2010
I declare that I have worked on this thesis independently,
using only the primary and secondary sources listed in the bibliography.
……………………………………………..
Markéta Rozmarová
Acknowledgement I would like to thank my supervisor PhDr. Jitka Vlčková, Ph.D. for her valuable advice, support and guidence.
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 5
1. Brief History of Ned Kelly’s Life and Actions ................................................................................................ 7
1.1. Childhood .................................................................................................................... 7
1.2. First Conflicts with the Law ......................................................................................... 8
1.3. The Kelly Gang............................................................................................................ 9
1.4. The Trial .................................................................................................................... 11
2. Ned Kelly’s Significance .................................................................................................................................... 12
2.1. Outlawry and the Robin Hood Principle .................................................................... 12
2.2. Criminal versus Hero ................................................................................................. 15
2.3. Ned Kelly’s Persisting Exceptionality ......................................................................... 20
3. Ned Kelly in Art.................................................................................................................................................. 22
3.1. Ned Kelly in Literature............................................................................................... 23
3.1.1. Literary Representations...................................................................................... 23
3.1.2. Other Writings.................................................................................................... 31
3.2. Ned Kelly in Drama ................................................................................................... 33
3.3. Ned Kelly in Film....................................................................................................... 36
3.4. Ned Kelly in Music..................................................................................................... 40
3.4.1. Folk Music.......................................................................................................... 40
3.4.2. Popular Music..................................................................................................... 45
3.5. Ned Kelly in Fine art.................................................................................................. 48
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................................ 51
Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................... 53
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................................. 58
List of Works Cited and Consulted ................................................................................... 58
List of Reference Sources ................................................................................................. 61
Resume...................................................................................................................................................................... 62
Resumé...................................................................................................................................................................... 63
Introduction
In 1878, a huge part of Australian public started paying attention to a controversial
man, a bushranger, who was about to enrich the Australian history. His name was Ned
Kelly, and his extraordinary courage and daring rebellion would be forever remembered,
although police and many other people considered him a criminal. He killed, he robbed, he
fought for justice.
Ned Kelly became a subject of various disagreements, conflicts, and exchanges of
views. He became an anti-hero, a folk hero, a criminal hero, a social bandit, or whatever
else he might be called. He was executed for things he had done, yet he was supported by
thousands of people who gathered one day before his execution. And this support
continues till today. He became a part of Australian identity, history, and folklore. Probably
every Australian knows who Ned Kelly was, and the idiom “as game as Ned Kelly”1 is an
ordinary part of Australian vocabulary. Throughout the whole twentieth century, he was
a great inspiration to many kinds of artists, and this phenomenon still continues. The aim
of this thesis is to deal with several points. It examines what makes Ned Kelly such
an interesting, unique, and never-dying subject; what kinds of artistic fields he affected;
and, above all, how he is portrayed in art – whether he is percieved as a criminal, or a hero.
The thesis is devided into three parts. The first part provides a brief summary of
Ned’s life, and the second part deals with Ned’s significance and exceptionality. It explains
what makes him a persisting phenomenon, and such an outstanding person to be reflected
in art. This part looks back into history, draws out the principle of a life of an outlaw, and
what the fate of a social bandit is. Furthermore, it examines the contrast between both
sides of Ned’s personality – his heroic and criminal tendencies. These two parts of
the thesis serve as an illustration of the legend that surrounds Ned Kelly, and they provide
facts and important information. They are based on facts, essays, and scholarly works. They
1
See
5
are considerably shorter than the third part because they serve as an introduction to
the matter concerning Ned Kelly in art.
The third part is the main part of the thesis, and it deals with Ned Kelly as reflected
in art. The chapter is divided into several subchapters, each of which deals with a different
field of art – literature, drama, film, music, and fine art. It provides an overview of the most
well-known works of art, and pays a close attention to the way Ned Kelly is portrayed,
whether as a positive (hero) or a negative (criminal) character. Since the art (especially folk
music) is also a part of folklore, it partly represents the view of ordinary people. In brief,
whereas the first two factual parts indicate that Ned Kelly was (and still is) perceived as
an Australian folk hero, the third (and main) part examines to what extent this common
knowledge corresponds to thoughts and opinions of artists and ordinary people.
6
1. Brief History of Ned Kelly’s Life and Actions
“I am not a murderer, but if there is an innocent life at stake, then I say I must take some action.”
Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly’s life is a matter of deep study, and many biographies and books about
his life were written in the past to discover who he really was. His life and the ways he
decided to go were influenced by various people, whether they were from his family, from
the same social class, or from some of the authorities such as the police and wealthy
landowners. Moreover, there were aspects having a great impact on his life which he could
not change, such as his origin, the world he grew up in, the life conditions of his immigrant
family, and many others. Since this thesis deals with his personality portrayed in art, it is
important to bring in at least a brief biography of Ned Kelly to understand the whole
context. However, since his life was a complex interplay of many factors, as has been
already mentioned, many details, moments, and people must be omitted.
1.1. Childhood
The exact date of Ned Kelly’s birth is unknown. Some sources, such as Ned Kelly by
Charles Osborne, say it was in June 1855, some say he was born in late 1854 or early 1855,
and others claim he was born in December 1854, such as Ned Kelly by Ian Jones.
Apparently, he came to this world around the year 1855.
His full name was Edward Kelly, and he was the eldest son of John “Red” Kelly,
an Irish convict, and Ellen Quinn, the daughter of an Irish immigrant family (Innes 15).
The Quinn and Kelly families became part of a quite large Irish community which settled
in Australia in the nineteenth century. The Kellys wanted to make a living on a land near
Beveridge in Victoria which was located north of Melbourne. However, the situation was
very unpropitious for poor landowners. Making a living from the land was impossible, and
labouring jobs provided by rich landowners were poorly paid. Therefore, in 1863,
7
the family moved north to a rented farm near Avenel. Here the children of the Kellys could
attend the local school. In spite of this, their situation was not much better (Innes 15).
From Ned Kelly’s early age, his relatives were often in fight with the local police,
and many of them were sentenced to imprisonment a few times, especially for cattle
stealing. Ned grew up in a world where people had to be smarter than the police to survive,
or at least they had to try (Osborne 13). In 1865, Ned’s father was convicted of cattle
stealing too. After four months in prison he was released, and one year later he died. Ellen
Kelly was alone with seven children, and Ned became the “man” of the family. They
moved several times, and finally ended up in Eleven Mile Creek near Greta (Boxer 27-34).
The family tried hard to live serenely and happily: they provided bed, meals and drinks for
travellers to get some money (Innes 16).
1.2. First Conflicts with the Law
When Ned was fourteen years old, he joined a bushranger who called himself Harry
Power, and helped him with bush-ranging activities. This was probably Ned’s first serious
conflict with the law. The police tried to catch them, but were not successful. However,
Harry Power considered Ned a coward, so Ned returned back home. From this time on,
Ned Kelly was almost constantly in conflict with the law, or at least he was considered to
be. The same year, in 1869, he was wrongly accused of robbing a Chinese hawker Ah Fook.
Several days later, Ned was acquitted, and he rejoined Harry Power. Together they robbed
a few people, and then Ned came back home. He was arrested again, but soon he was
released because there was not enough evidence (Innes 17).
In 1870, Ned began his sentence of six months hard labour in Beechworth Gaol.
He was convinced of an insult of Constable Jeremiah McCormick. However, Ned denied
his guilt. Shortly after he was released, Ned was charged with stealing a horse, but in fact,
the horse was stolen by his friend Wild Wright, and Ned claimed that he did not know
8the horse was stolen when he borrowed it. He was charged with receiving a stolen horse
and sentenced to three years hard labour (Innes 17-18).
Ned was released in 1874, and soon he became famous among the local people
after winning a boxing match with Wild Wright, which was a revenge for the stolen horse.
Ned found work in sawmills and other places, and tried to do his best. For more than three
years he led quite a peaceful life (Innes 19).
1.3. The Kelly Gang
The era of the Kelly Gang was getting near, and Ned was accused of stealing a bull,
and even a mob of calves from wealthy landowners. In this time, Ned was becoming angry
because, as he claimed, none of the accusations were duly justified: “…not long afterwards
I heard again I was blaimed for stealing a mob of calves from Whitty and Farrell which I
knew nothing about. I began to think they wanted me to give them something to talk
about.“ (Jerilderie Letter 15-16). Ned also said that „if a poor man happened to leave his
horse […] they would be impounded” by Whitty and Farrell (Jerilderie Letter 16). This
alleged injustice forced Ned to steal their horses and sell them along with his step-father
(Innes 19).
The police were soon after him and his helpers again. Furthermore, in 1878, Ned
was charged with “wounding with intent to murder” (Innes 21) Constable Alexander
Fitzpatrick in the house of the Kelly family, although others said he was not there when
Fitzpatrick was shot. In fact, his mother Ellen Kelly was supposed to be the one who shot
him because Fitzpatrick „made unwelcome advances to fourteen-year-old Kate.” Ellen
Kelly and three other people were also charged and arrested, meanwhile Ned and his
brother Dan escaped (Innes 21).
The police posted a reward of Ł100 for anyone who could arrest Ned Kelly, and
this only led to a strong harassment of the Kellys: Ned’s five sisters were under persistent
9control. This whole situation culminated in anger on both sides and led to killings at
Stringybark Creek where three policemen were killed by the Kelly Gang, which now
consisted of Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, Joe Byrne, and Steve Hart (see appendix 1). Ned
declared they had to shoot to defend themselves, although they did not want to kill
anybody (Innes 23).
After the incident at Stringybark Creek, there was no way to ever lead a normal life
for the Kelly Gang. They were officially outlawed. They kept hiding in forests, creeks and
other places in Victoria, and even in hotels (Jones 141-145).
To live as outlaws and survive, Ned and his companions needed money. There was
obviously no other way to get them than to rob a bank. On 10th December 1878, they
arrived in Euroa and did a bank robbery in the National Bank (Jones 167). After this
incident, the police arrested more than twenty potential supporters of the Kelly Gang with
no evidence (Innes 26). Furthermore, the reward for their arrest was raised (see app. 2).
Two months later, the Kelly Gang did another bank robbery in Jerilderie where
Ned dictated the famous Jerilderie Letter to Byrne. The letter served as an explanation and
justification of all his actions.
The gang carried on hiding in mountain retreats. Later in 1880, the gang killed
Aaron Sherritt because he betrayed them. The murder was committed by Joe Byrne.
The gang was now very close to their last action they planned, and it was fighting
the police. The gang supposed the police would soon travel on a police train from
Melbourne or Benalla, so they destroyed the rails near Glenrowan so that the train would
derail. They hid in Glenrowan Inn, and took people from nearby houses as hostages. All in
all there were sixty-two hostages in the inn. They had to wait more then one day for the
train, so they were all drinking and playing games together, but one of the hostages,
Thomas Curnow, managed to escape and warn the coming train. He stopped the train
from derailing, and the police went right to the Glenrowan Inn. The gang decided to fight,
10they put on their armour and went outside. The inn was set on fire during the long fight,
and the police were shooting at anyone who was inside. In the end, Ned was shot about
twenty-eight times, but he survived. His companions were all found dead inside the inn.
On 28th June 1880, Ned Kelly was finally captured (Innes 30-34).
1.4. The Trial
In August 1880, Ned was taken to Beechworth Gaol for his preliminary hearing.
He was charged with the murder of two people: Thomas Lonigan and Michael Scanlon
who were killed at the Stringybark Creek. He stayed in Melbourne Gaol till the trial on 28th
October, which was attended by crowds of people including journalists and sympathizers.
(Innes 35). The trial lasted to the next day, and in the end Ned Kelly was found guilty:
I have now to pronounce your sentence. You will be taken from here to the
place from whence you came, and thence on a day appointed by the Executive
Council to a place of execution, and there you will be hanged by the neck until
you be dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul. (Jones 312)
The Kelly family did not want to give up, so they distributed a petition to spare
Ned’s life. On 6th November 1880, the Kellys presented their petition to the Governor with
32,424 signatures, and said they could get more of them if they had more time. However,
their demand was refused. On 11th November 1880, Ned Kelly was executed by hanging.
The petition was finally signed by approximately 60,000 people (Jones 317).
112. Ned Kelly’s Significance
“But the day will come when we shall all have to go to a bigger court than this.”
Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly became an important part of Australian history and national identity. His
life and actions influenced lives of many people and made him a famous person who was
often a subject of discussions and also of some political matters (Osborne 6). It is no
surprise that such a person had a great potential to become an icon and a figure popular
among various artists from all fields. However, Ned Kelly is not a typical celebrated hero,
nor is he a notorious killer. In fact, he is a so-called outlaw and a folk hero, eventually
a criminal hero, a social bandit, or a bushranger2. Whatever he is called, his character is
quite complicated to fully understand, and opinions about him may rather differ.
Therefore, it is essential to look at his persona more in detail and provide enough
information about the legend that surrounds him. There is undoubtedly something about
Ned Kelly that makes him so famous and debated so often, something that makes him so
attractive and inspiratory to many people working in artistic fields. Looking back to
the history of outlawry, and a comparison of his good and bad acts could be a right way to
help us understand it more clearly.
2.1. Outlawry and the Robin Hood Principle3
Since the term “outlaw” and its history is crucial to fully understand the idea of this
thesis, a deeper explanation of the word is necessary. There are many more or less famous
outlaws in the history of numerous countries in the world. Some of them are considered
social heroes or social bandits, and some of them are viewed as pure criminals and
derelicts.
2
A “bushranger” was a man living outside the law, he stole cattle, robbed travellers and then he escaped
into ‘bush’ (Innes 17).
3
The term “Robin Hood Principle” is used in an essay by Graham Seal, “The Robin Hood Principle:
Folklore, History, and the Social Bandit”.
12Most of dictionaries say the same thing. Outlaw is a “a fugitive from the law”,
“a habitual criminal”, “a person excluded from normal legal protection and rights”
(The Free Dictionary), or a “person under the sentence of outlawry” (Dictionary.com). In
other words, outlaw is a person living outside the law.
Outlawry is quite closely connected to the history of England4. In England,
the offender was almost implicitly sentenced to death, which was not so common in other
countries (Encyclopædia Britannica Online).
In English common law, an outlaw was nothing more than a wild animal. Darryl
Ogier says in his essay that “in the thirteen century, English courts might still pronounce
outlawry with the formula caput gerat lupinum” (Ogier 57), which means “let his be a wolf’s
head” or “may he bear a wolfish head”5.The animal’s head thus refers to the whole person.
It is quite obvious that an outlaw was deprived of all rights and, furthermore, he was not
considered human. Anybody was allowed to kill him as if he was a wild animal. To be
outlawed was a very strict punishment because the oultaw could not use the law to defend
himself.
An outlaw was usually someone who repeatedly defied the law, and as an outlaw he
could not live in society like before. One could be declared an outlaw in English law until
1879, and in Scots law until the late 1940s (Encyclopædia Britannica Online).
The term “outlaw” is also associated with the term “social banditry” and “social
bandit” which is a kind of an outlaw:
The point about social bandits is that they are peasant outlaws whom the lord
and state regard as criminals, but who remain within peasant society, and are
considered by their people as heroes, as champions, avengers, fighters for
4
Since Australia is a British colony, the law of Australia is based on English common law
(Encyclopaedia Britannica Online).
5
See
13justice, perhaps even leaders of liberation, and in any case as men to be admired,
helped and supported. (Pillai)
This is very much connected with the English folklore figure Robin Hood who is
barely considered a criminal. As Encyclopaedia Britannica says, Robin Hood was
a legendary rebel outlaw and a hero who was a subject of English ballads from the 14th and
later centuries. He and his companions are shown “robbing and killing representatives of
authority and giving the gains to the poor.” His enemies were, among others, wealthy
landowners. He fought against restricting laws and “treated women, the poor, and people
of humble status with courtesy” (Encyclopædia Britannica Online).
Although the legend of Robin Hood may differ in many aspects from Ned Kelly’s
life, it is largely believed that Kelly belongs to the group of social bandits who were trying
to fight for justice and equity, but the justice he could not get compelled him to meddle
with crime.
In his essay, Graham Seal deals with the similarities between Robin Hood and
famous outlaw heroes from all around the world, and he calls these similarities and
traditions “the Robin Hood principle” (Seal, “The Robin Hood Principle” 68). This
principle serves as a universal model of outlaws, no matter where they come from, who
“are celebrated in folklore” and “romanticized in the mass media” (Seal 69). They are also
very often symbols of national identity, national icons, and important legends (Seal 69-70).
Seal also states that the hero is “usually charismatic” person who “is spurred into defiance
by an often relatively minor incident” (Seal 69). There is a certain scheme similar to
the Robin Hood legend, which is nearly always followed:
By making use of an existing narrative framework, within which is embedded a
crude but often effective moral code, the celebrated outlaw, his sympathizers,
and his oppressors appear to act out a cultural script with their roles pre-
determined by the tradition. This script almost inevitably leads to a bloody
14denouement. The dead hero then develops an afterlife that feeds back into the
tradition, both keeping the legend alive and providing the basis for the
heroization of the next individual to raise a sword, bow, or gun against an
oppressive power. (Seal 69)
Graham Seal includes Ned Kelly into the list of outlaws who followed this scheme,
and thus he indicates that Ned was one of these outlaws who were and still are considered
national heroes and icons. He went through a similar process that Seal describes, and his
life could be in some aspects compared to that of Robin Hood. However, there are still
things that should be discussed: some of Ned Kelly’s actions appear to be useless and
aggravating, and they do not seem like acts of a fully innocent person who was forced to
do them. There were certainly things Ned Kelly did not have to do at all, and these actions
were most probably the reason of various conflicts between Kelly’s sympathizers and his
enemies, and the matter of many discussions about his crimes, decisions, mistakes, and also
his good deeds. Although he is more likely to be a national hero and the Australian Robin
Hood, there is also a darker side of his personality, which is more closely depicted in
the next sub-chapter.
2.2. Criminal versus Hero
An unavoidable question is whether Ned was really a hero or a criminal who
deserved to be hanged. This question cannot be answered fully, however, this subchapter
examines both points of view, which are based on the facts.
The most important fact that speaks on Ned’s behalf is his troublesome
childhood. He was from a poor immigrant family, he was always surrounded by people
who were often charged with horse or cattle stealing including his father, and at the age of
twelve he lost his father and became the man of the family. What cannot be neglected is
also the situation of the immigrants: “Of all the many ex-convict families that stayed in
15early Australia – English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh – it was the Irish, in particular, who had
the greatest trouble throwing off their clouded past, and who were most likely to remain
outcast in the young country:”6 (Boxer 19). Boxer also says that “the poor settlers had
arrived to find only the worst scraps left for them, from which they had to try and scrape
their living, while beside them huge ranches were already established” (21). All these things
made the life even harder for poor immigrants, and it is quite probable they were forced to
steal from the others, especially from the rich landowners. The Kelly family and its relatives
became a target of the police. In other words, they were highly suspicious if any crime or
theft occured because of their bad reputation.
On the other hand, why would Ned join Harry Power, a bushranger, who was
definitely involved in crime? Was it only an excess of a fourteen-year-old boy? Or an
attempt to help his family? What we know is that his mother probably supported him in
this (Jones 33). Ian Jones says: “When the world seems to offer little justice, when the law
is of England, ancient enemy of the Irish, and when it can be seen to stand between you
and a chance to tip the scales your way, then criminality takes on a very different
perspective” (33). It is obvious that in such circumstances, when people were oppressed by
the law, a crime was a way to save one’s life or family.
However, there were incidents such as the killings at Stringybark Creek, the death
of Aaron Sherritt, and the Glenrowan affair, which definitely crossed the line. According to
Ned’s defence, he was forced to all of this: “‘It is all very well to say that we shot the police
in cold blood. We had to do it in self defence.’” (Jones 305). According to Jones, Ned also
noted that “he had been driven to become an outlaw” (305). This statement suggests that
Ned believed it was not his fault that he became an outlaw, because the conditions of his
former life forced him to fight against the law. For example, he was accused unjustly a few
times. Ah Fook said Ned attacked and robbed him, which was most probably a lie
6
Ned’s father John Kelly was an ex.convict from Tipperary, but he never spoke about his crime, which
“was odd”. Some claims appeared that John “was transported for socio-political reasons”(Jones 1).
16(Jones 39). Allegedly he insulted and assaulted Constable Jeremiah McCormick, which was
likely to be unjustified too (Jones 62). He was convicted of stealing a horse (which he did
not) and, finally, he was accused of stealing a bull and a mob of calves (Innes 19). This all
led to the subsequent actions of the Kelly gang. On the other hand, it is very debatable
whether the killings had to go so far or not. At the Stringybark Creek, the Kelly gang did
not try to escape the police. Instead, they watched them from behind the trees and waited,
probably anticipating that there could be many of other policemen anywhere (Jones 128).
Whether the killings were planned, or at least expected, is very hard to say. Ned Kelly never
admitted he wanted to kill anybody: “‘We could have shot these men without speaking but
not wishing to take their lives we waited’” (Jones 129). The fact that they finally killed three
policemen is quite disturbing. Nevertheless, Ned and his companions denied they did it on
purpose: “I could not have been more sorry for them this cannot be called wilful murder
for I was compelled to shoot them, […]” (Innes 23). If this was a murder in self-defence, it
only led to other plans and killings, which were certainly done on purpose. The murder of
Aaron Sherritt was supposed to be “a trigger for starting a mass police movement towards
Beechworth” by train that would be derailed (Innes 30). Ian Jones claims that Ned “seems
to have opposed the murder.[…] In the end, however, he reluctantly accepted Joe’s
decision to kill his mate” (217). If it was really a reluctant decision can probably not be
proved.
What was the real original purpose of the Glenrowan affair is not clear. The train
full of policemen was supposed to derail, and this could certainly cause many injuries, and
even deaths. Allegedly, the gang wanted to disarm the policemen, capture some of them,
and later exchange them for prisoners related to the Kelly family, who were (like Ned
himself before) wrongly convicted (Innes 30). All the same, the gang was said to have
declared at Glenrowan Inn that their plan was to “send the train and its occupants to hell”
17(Innes 30). This last incident seems to be very suspicious, and it is not easy to say whether
they claimed such things in excitedness and nervousness, or whether they were serious.
Many of Ned’s actions were presumably justifiable, others seemed to have crossed
the line. Still the facts indicate that Ned Kelly and his companions were not cold-blooded
murderers, and the reactions of the public were diverse. After Ned was released in 1874
and started to work in sawmills, he led a peaceful life for some time. In Ned Kelly, Ian Jones
says that his workmates described him as “quiet, very unobtrusive and an excellent
man”(Jones 78). They also said he was “a warm-hearted but rather impulsive young
fellow”, who “would almost do anything to serve a friend”(Jones 78). This indicates that
Ned, although he was impulsive, was considered as a good person among the people
around him. Also the daring but nonviolent bank robbery in Euroa evoked a positive
reaction of the public. Lyn Innes says that “the fact that the robbery was directed against
an institution rather than indiviuals helped to produce a favourable public response to and
interest in the Kelly gang” (25). Regarding the process of the robbery itself, the witnesses
confirmed that Ned Kelly was a charming man with good manners: “she [Mrs Susy Scott]
‘began chaffing Kelly’ and told him ‘he was a much more handsome and well dressed man
than she had expected and by no means the ferocious ruffian she imagined him to be’”
(Jones 168). Mrs Scott’s mother was present as well, and she recalled his first words:
“‘Don’t be frightened, nothing will happen to you, I have a mother of my own’” (Jones
168). The attitude of people was obviously quite affirmative, and the Melbourne Herald
wrote that “‘…The bushrangers played with the children and boys and treated everyone
with the greatest civility.’” People also said that “he [Ned] told the prisoners he was sorry
he hadn’t passed a pub or he would have bought them a drink” (Jones 171). Also
the hostages in Glenrowan Inn acknowledged that while they were waiting for the train to
derail, they were having a great time, drinking, and playing games (Innes 32). This suggests
18that there were groups of people who sympathized with the Kelly gang, and the crowds
that gathered after Ned’s conviction on Guy Fawkes Day proved it.
By contrast, there were people who criticized these sympathizers. According to
Jones, Melbourne’s pressmen tried to denigrate this mass support: “The Argus7 said that
the women present were ‘from little Bourke Street8 and the vicinity’, inferring that they
were prostitutes” (315). Furthermore, Jones states:
The Telegraph quoted an unnamed detective who said, ‘he had never , in the
whole of his experience…seen such a number of known vagabonds, thieves and
persons who had been convicted, gathered in one place.’ While it pointed out
that ‘the lower classes were largely represented’, the same paper found it
‘humiliating to have to admit that a great number of respectable working men
were present’. (315)
There was obviously a considerable protest against Ned Kelly, his companions and
his supporters as well. The Bendigo Independent 9called these people “male and female beasts”
(Jones 315) and claimed “these came out of their holes and were at the Kelly meeting, and
shocking the respectable classes, and enabling them to comprehend upon what a fearful volcano society
stands”10 (315). Countless numbers of such conflicts occurred, however, it seems that
the supporters and sympathizers represent the majority, and this continues even today.
Ned’s controversy, audacity, gallantry and his “proper highwayman style” (Seal, Tell ’em I
Died Game 107) made him an outlaw hero, and a figure of “traditional song and story” (Seal
107). Ned and his mates were popular because they “socialized with their captives, drank
with them (at the bushrangers’ own expense, it seems), danced, sang, and played party
7
The Argus was published in Melbourne from 1846-1957. For more information see
8
Bourke Street is a well-known shopping area in the centre of Melbourne. For more information see
9
For more information see
10
Italics added by the author of the source, Ian Jones.
19games with them.” Although it may seem quite deficient, “these apparently trivial acts were
the stuff of Ned Kelly’s popularity and continuing support” (Seal 108).
2.3. Ned Kelly’s Persisting Exceptionality
Every country has its own icon or national hero, and Ned Kelly managed to
become the icon of Australia. The Australian authorities of the second half of
the nineteenth century probably thought they were finally done with this famous
bushranger, but it has been more than a century since he was hanged, and he is still not
forgotten. What is more, he is very much remembered and reminded.
His extraordinary and controversial life made him a person who cannot be past
recall, although he certainly made some bad decisions. He became a hero for such people
like immigrants and the poor who lived in the same conditions as he did, oppressed by
the law. They worshipped him because he was courageous enough to fight against injustice,
and thus represented everything they ever wished for. He also became an enemy,
a criminal, and a murderer for those who had some power, such as the police and
authorities that were protecting the law, which was the scope of their employment, and it is
not surprising they felt endangered. For the others, he probably became the daring but
good man who had bad luck because the law was bad (Lindop 41).
All in all, he had the greatest potential to become a significant icon and a legend,
and that is exactly what happened. Although he was partly a criminal, and he was
responsible for deaths of several people, he was, according to what has been said in
previous chapters, considered more of a hero than a criminal. And all of this still continues
nowadays in Australia. As Graham Seal says in his book, “Ned Kelly was one of
the national icons we displayed to the world at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.” (Seal
XVII). This is a proof that Australia is aware of Ned Kelly’s exceptionality and its
persistence, and that he is still remembered. It also suggests that Australian people are
20proud of him. Whether they really are or not, the main thing is that he is a part of
Australia’s identity: “But whether we celebrate or denigrate him, love him or loathe him,
Ned Kelly remains inextricably bound up with our sense of national identity” (Seal XVII).
The fact that he is considered one of the symbols of Australian national identity had also
a great impact on various types of art and human creativity.
213. Ned Kelly in Art
“Oh, Ned, you’re better off dead.”
Sandy Denny: ‘The Ballad of Ned Kelly’
Throughout the whole twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first
century, Ned Kelly was an interesting subject of various artistic fields. His exceptionality
and significance served as inspiration to many people, Australian and non-Australian as
well.
Ned Kelly was depicted in films, novels, poems, songs, ballads, and even in fine art.
Since art is also considerably associated with folklore, it says a lot about what ordinary
people thought about him. Art is a way of expression one’s opinions, feelings and
imagination, and it is not restricted by any rules, which proves that it is sincere and free-
harted. This particular and main part of the thesis deals with Ned Kelly as depicted in art. It
provides an overview of the most significant and well-known works of art concerning his
personage, and furthermore, it examines the way he is depicted: whether as a hero or
a criminal.
This chapter serves as a main support or a disproval of the claim that Ned Kelly is
considered more of a hero than a criminal. Art is a matter of expressing ideas, and it is also
a matter of general public because anyone can do art. Considering this fact, this chapter
could serve partly as an illustration of ordinary people’s attitudes toward Ned Kelly
(especially the part concerning Ned in folk music). Apart from previous chapters, which
were based on scholarly works, this chapter deals primarily with points of view of various
artists, and also with Australian folklore. This seems to be the best way to find out how
Ned was perceived by people shortly after his execution, and if the perception changed
during the twentieth century or not.
223.1. Ned Kelly in Literature11
Reactions to Ned Kelly were and still are assorted, and literature is one of
the results of it. Various literary representations, biographies, poems, and other writings
have been produced, and they deal with Ned Kelly from many points of view. Since
the literary works regarding Ned are innumerous, this chapter contains an overview of
the most significant works, and generally provides a portrayal of Ned Kelly’s character
from writers’ perspective.
3.1.1. Fiction and Literary Representations
One of the first literary works on Ned Kelly and his gang was The Book of Keli or
the Chronicles of the Kelly Pursuers by George Wilson Hall, published in 1879. The short text
consists of eight chapters, and “the sewn pamphlet of twenty eight pages retailed for
sixpence and quicky sold out” (Hall, “Introduction”).
The aim of the book was, without any doubt, to ridicule the enemies of the Kelly
Gang. Lyn Innes says: “The Book of Keli is a satire directed against the Victorian police,
and its characters would have been easily recognizable to the Victorian public” (71).
The story of the book is focused on few policemen trying to catch the Kelites (meaning
the Kelly Gang). However, they are absolutely incapable of finding them, and it is not only
due to the smartness of the gang, but primarily due to the policemen’s cowardice and
inability. Hall uses a humorous style of writing, and as it is said in the introduction of
the book, the text “would have been read and enjoyed by the members of the Kelly Gang”
(Hall). Especially the last chapter describes absurd decisions of the police:
“In which direction are they?” And the Ethiopian said, “Me see um just ober to
the north.” […]
11
Due to a lack of primary sources in the Czech Republic, some of the extracts from books and other
information are taken from Ned Kelly by Lyn Innes.
23And when the captain saw all was ready, he placed himself in front of his army,
and said, “Now boys the tribes of the Kelites are to the north; follow me
quickly, we will go directly to the south; quick boys, or they will see us.” So they
galloped away with great haste from the camp of the Kelites, and the Ethiopians
followed after them shouting, “Dat be de wrong way.” (Hall, Ch.8)
The behaviour of the police is derided throughout the book, and in the end
the Kelites, still unapprehended, say: “Go to, thou Bobpeelers, and get thee to your homes,
for we will never be captured by you” (Hall, Ch.8). Such an ending might have been an idle
wish of the author who obviously sympathized with the gang.
In 1881, James Skipp Borlase published the first episodes of Ned Kelly: The Ironclad
Australian Bushranger. This “serialized romance” (Innes 75) is a fictional story of the Kelly
Gang’s adventures. Ned is portrayed as a man whose wife died tragically, and his parents
were executed. However, he has a nice daughter, and he is known for his phenomenal
armour, which he wears anywhere he rides (Innes 75). Extracts from two chapters
provided by Innes suggest that Ned is viewed as a typical hero who is very honourable by
nature, but has to revenge an injustice against his wife and parents: “You see the world and
I have been at war for ever so many years, and it’s a natural thing to hate one’s foe,
especially a foe that murdered one’s father and mother” (Innes 77). It is obvious that
the author wanted to make Ned seem like an absolutely innocent unlucky man who lost his
close family, so his angry feelings can be justifiable. The text looks a bit too heart-breaking,
and even excessive, but on the other hand, it is supposed to be a romance, which explains
the emotional dialogues between Ned and his daughter, and the high contrast between
Ned’s kindness and hardiness:
I cannot believe that you are a bad man, because you have been so good to me;
but if other people are not so wicked as you have always made them out to me
to be, why wage such a cruel and relentless war against them? (Innes 77)
24The daughter depicts Ned’s good features, and, at the same time, she is not afraid
to ask him various questions, so that he can vindicate his actions: “I have sworn to kill your
mother’s heartless destroyer, like a dog, whenever and wherever I meet him” (Innes 77). In
this work, Ned is undoubtedly viewed as a hero.
Robbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood is a successful work describing a life of
Dick Marston: an anti-hero, and a bushranger. Although the character is fictional, the book
was published three years after Ned’s execution in 1883, and there are many similarities
between the two: Ned was an Irish gentleman who claimed to have been forced to become
an outlaw, and Marston joined a gang of Starlight who “was an English gentleman but for
years led a roving life of adventure and crime” (Kirby 2). Whether the similarity is
accidental or not is not clear, however, Innes points out a few facts that are interesting:
Dick was a son of an Irish convict, his brother was shot by police, they used to steal cattle,
and “their mother suffered on their behalf” (Innes 79). All of these signs suggest that Ned
might have been an inspiration to this work. Nevertheless, the author “writes with
a measure of sympathy for the men who were caught up in a life of crime in the colony”
(Kirby 3). If Ned was the original inspiration of this book, he was viewed as a popular
criminal hero.
A very successful novel about Ned Kelly was The Girl Who Helped Ned Kelly by
Charles E. Taylor, published in 1928. According to Lyn Innes, the novel is one of
the attempts to create a character of a woman who is romantically connected to Ned,
although such a woman probably never really existed according to the claims of Ned’s
relatives (131). Although the romantic novel was a success, it is fictional for the most part,
and it definitely evokes sympathy for Ned, who is described as “a brave, though misguided,
young Australian,” who has “superb qualities of leadership” (Innes 131). However,
the book places emphasis on the fact that Ned, no matter what a good person he is, is
against the law, and he would not be that lucky without his friends. A few examples can be
25found in chapters I, XXIV, and XXV: “I’m a bushranger, with a price on my head, but I’ve
got the truest friends in the world. If I hadn’t I wouldn’t be here today” (Innes 132).
“Ned’s unfortunate in some respects, but in one at least he’s the luckiest of men. No one
ever had more loyal friends, prepared to sacrifice so much to help him” (Innes 133). Ned is
thus viewed as a person who, although he is involved in crime, is worth the effort to help
him. In chapter XXV, Ned and his gang return from a bank they robbed together, and they
hide with help of Ned’s sisters, friends, his girlfriend, and the girldfriend’s family. Many
people are involved in helping the gang, and it makes the readers wish them luck.
On the other side, the police is not fully denounced. Some of the policemen are
positive characters:
[…] ‘There is something about that chap Martin I like,’ she announced a
little later. ‘He’s up against my brothers, still he’s a man.’
[…] ‘I wonder why those policemen came here. They must know that if you
are friendly to our family you can’t do anything to help the gang.’
‘Of course I ain’t able, but I suppose you can’t blame ’em. They’ve got their
jobs to do, same as other people.’
‘That’s right, and some of them are pretty decent about it, but not all of
them.’ (Innes 135)
In spite of this, Ned seems generally like a positive character, who can appreciate
good friends, and whose crimes are may be considered as well-founded. His crimes, such as
robberies and murders, are not omitted, but they do not seem to influence his character too
negatively.
Sister Kate by Jean Bedford is focused on Ned’s sisters Kate and Margaret, however,
it is worth mentioning because it is a successful novel, which became a part of English
syllabuses at high schools in Australia (Innes 207). This novel from 1982 is concerned
especially with Kate’s perception of the Kelly Gang. The story is fictional, and describes
Kate’s good relationship with her brothers, Joe Byrne, and Steve Hart. Although the time is
26very bad for her and other members of the family, she takes the risk and secretly helps and
visits the Kelly Gang in the Warby Ranges (Innes 207). Obviously she is not happy about
the Kelly Gang and bank robberies, but she welcomes their help:
It should have been only a time of fear and worry for us all, but the money from
the bank robberies was welcome: Maggie and I had new clothes, and there were
toys for the little ones and a new saddle for Gracie’s mare. (Innes 207)
She is undoubtedly in a very dangerous and burdensome situation, but her
relatioship with Ned is naturally good because he is her family, and he tries hard to help
her. As Innes mentions, Bedford also “portrays the more human and less heroic aspects of
the men in the Kelly gang and their differing characters” (207). Generally, it seems that
Ned is shown as a positive character since Kate consider the police “cowards” (Innes 208),
and she does everything to help them in their struggle.
Some of the literary works on Ned are extremely fictional, such as Kelly Country by
Arthur Bertram Chandler. The book was written in the second half of the twentieth
century, in 1983. Ned Kelly inspired Chandler to create a story with Ned as a leader who
manages to win the fight in Glenrowan, which later leads to the establishment of Republic
of Australia. Ned becomes a leader of the republic, and an emphasis is placed on his Irish
origin: Irish customs and traditions are dominant, “uniforms include saffron kilts and
the national flag is green and yellow” (Innes 190). This book offers an alternative
continuation of Ned’s life if he had managed to derail the train in Glenrowan. Obviously,
he is seen as a smart and powerful person, who is able to fight against injustice until
Australia gains independence. Ned is definitely viewed as a person who has a potential to
have a great impact on Australia:
‘We must show that we have the ability to strike at will,’ he [Ned] went on.
‘That we have the ability to deliver a blow at the very fortress of the rulers of
this State. And that we have supporters on the capital who will assist us, who
27will fight by our side. I needn’t be tellin’ ye that my good friends – our good
friends – in Melbourne are keepin’ me informed as to the feelin’ in the city.’
(Innes 192)
It is evident that Chandler points out Ned’s leadership, which actually was one of
his real abilities, and lets him reach the absolute extreme he probably could: gaining the
control over Australia and giving it independence. This idea almost seems like a utopia, and
it undoubtedly shows Ned as a positive character and a national hero who could “save”
Australia, which is quite ironic since it was Australian people who considered him
an enemy.
In 1991, a successful novel Our Sunshine by Robert Drewe was published. Drewe’s
interest in Australian myths and stereotypes resulted, among other works, in the story of
Ned’s life primarily before the Glenrowan affair. The story is told from Ned’s standpoint
and, as Michael Ackland suggests in his critical essay, the author “creates ‘a chronicle of
imagination’ that brings to life the familiar arguments that race, class, and injustice played
a considerable part in Kelly’s revolt” (Ackland). This statement obviously speaks on Ned’s
side, and confirms the claims that Ned’s actions were strongly influenced by
the circumstances, which he could not change. Moreover, Ackland cites one particular
situation from the book, when Ned says: “‘Did I ever consider going straight? Madam, it's
not as cut and dried as that. Things flew over into other things.’” According to Ackland,
this sentence indicates that Drewe believed that “existence is shaped by coincidence” and
actions with “unforseeable and irreversible consequences”, which means that not only were
Ned’s actions affected by the circumstances, but he also could not change
the consequences. Reportedly, Drewe was also sceptical “about the role of the media in
reporting reality” (Ackland). Many newspapers at that time wrote unflattering articles about
Ned, which was mentioned in the second chapter of this thesis, and it was probably what
Drewe reacted to in this novel.
28In an extract from Our Sunshine presented by Innes, Ned complains about
the prejudice on the part of the police:
Police’s version has me evil from the start, born into a bad-blooded family on
both sides, to be stamped out like rabbits, like some sort of plague. They tut-tut
about my riding with Harry Power the bushranger at fourteen and holding up
the squatter McBean. And the fight with the Chinaman name Ah- pardon me,
ladies- Fook. Couldn’t make those charges stick but they went on my record just
the same. (Innes 198)
Evidently, Ned is depicted as a positive character, but his “dark side” is shown as
well, for instance when he describes his feelings about robbing banks: “Naturally, the real
pleasure’s in the handing over of the cash. There’s no neater transaction – I love it” (Innes
199). However, these contrasts stress out the controversy that always surrounded him, and
they also shape his nature that is similar to that of Robin Hood: “So – make a bonfire of
the ledgers and the poor men’s debts” (Innes 199). This extract is also from a scene
describing Ned’s feelings and memories about the bank robberies. It explains that,
although he feels good when he is handed over the cash, his intention is to fight against the
institution in general, and to express his disagreement with the unfair treatment of the poor
people. Robert Drewe thus portrayed Ned Kelly positively as a criminal hero.
Probably the most successful novel ever written on Ned Kelly is The True History of
the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. This book, published in 2001, was a winner of The Man
Booker Prize12 and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize13, which are the top British literary
awards (Comninos). Although the title says it is a “true” story and it basically follows true
events, the author added some fictional moments, and the novel is therefore considered as
a fiction. The novel is written as a long letter from Ned to his fictional daughter:
12
For more information see
13
For more information see
29I lost my own father at 12 yr. of age and know what it is to be raised on lies and
silences my dear daughter you are presently too young to understand a word I
write but this history is for you and will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell
if I speak false. (Carey 7)
The fact that the major part of the book is written from Ned’s point of view
emphasizes the alleged truthfulness of the story, and it also makes it very authentic.
The language of Ned’s letter is very informal, it is barely concerned with punctuation, and
it contains unsual expressions and abbreviations:
We all witnessed the bushranger lay his carbine on the table it were a terrifying
weapon its bore were almost one inch the stock 1/2 cut away the barrel severely
shortened.
[…]
Shutup you little b----r cried my mother but it done no good Dan were a
wombat charging back to Annie’s bed […] (Carey 62-63)
This kind of writing supports the authenticity of the letter. Ned describes all his life
in this way until the siege at Glenrowan, when he gives his letter to Thomas Curnow who
promises to do a proofreading for him, but only if he is allowed to take it immediately
home. Ned lets him go, which is a fatal mistake because Thomas is the one who betrays
him. However, this final part of the novel is fictional except that Thomas was really
the traitor.
As regards Ned’s personality, it is naturally portrayed as honest, since it is “him”
who tells the story. He describes him as a victim of a colonial injustice:
God willing I shall live to see you read these words to witness your
astonishment and see your dark eyes widen and your jaw drop when you finally
comprehend the injustice we poor Irish suffered in this present age. (Carey 7)
30The novel continues in a similar way with Ned justifying his actions and describing
all his life. A reader most probably develops a positive attitude to Ned, who seems to be
a tough but a very kind person. He is also concerned with his daughter and ommits bad
words, which are replaced by hyphens. All in all, Ned Kelly is depicted as a good person
and as a victim whose actions are fully justified in this novel. The final two chapters are
written from a point of view of an unknown author whose initials are “S.C.” (Carey 419).
He describes the fight at Glenrowan Inn in full details. In this part, Ned is shown as a man
who fought until the last moment, and who died game14.
3.1.2. Other Writings
Other writings concerning Ned Kelly include plenty of works based on facts,
however, they seem to be infuenced by authors’ subjectivity. This part examines some of
the most significant ones.
The Last of the Bushrangers: An Account of the Capture of the Kelly Gang by Francis
Augustus Hare is a very significant work because it was written from a point of view of
a policeman who was involved in the hunt for the Kelly Gang in 1878. Hare concentrates
on the hunting of the gang, and puts the information from his own point of view.
However, the book is based on facts and his real experience. The essential aspect of this
book is that Ned is not viewed as a brave man fighting for justice. Furthermore, Hare
claims that Ned Kelly did not ‘die game’ as everybody said at that time. According to Hare,
the police were “doing their ‘level best’” (Hare 3), and denies claims that they were
cowards. He also speaks about the sympathy for the Kelly Gang, and accredits it to people
from lower classes, and also to their indolence and fear to stand up to him:
[…] they commanded an enormous amount of sympathy among the lower
orders. It was a well-known fact that they had friends and adherents, either open
14
The expression “game as Ned Kelly” is still used in Australia, and means “very daring and devil-may-
care” (The Dinkum Dictionary).
31You can also read
