Edward “Ned” Kelly, the head of the Kelly Gang, is a very diversely discussed person. Even nowadays, opinions differ here. Was he a cruel murderer or just a victim of society? Kelly is often compared to Robin Hood who presumably lived in the 13th century in England, Great Britain.
It seems as if every culture has its very own antithetically valuated hero. The Australian bushranger Ned Kelly stands in one line with characters like Jesse James (1847-1882, born in Missouri, USA) and Ernesto “Che” Guevera (1928-1967, born in Rosario, Argentina).
This paper will deal with Ned Kelly’s biography and today’s perception of him, especially regarding current fiction. In this context, I’ll have a look at Peter Carey’s book (published in 2000) and two of the many film versions about Kelly starring Mick Jagger and Heath Ledger in order to compare different perspectives of the bushranger.
At a glance
- Grade: 2.0 (1.0 is the best grade)
- Compares Carey’s novel with films starring Mick Jagger and Heath Ledger
- 21 sources in the bibliography
Contents
1. Introduction
2. “Such is Life” - Biography of Ned Kelly
3. Peter Carey’s “The History of the Kelly Gang“
4. Tony Richardson’s “Ned Kelly”
5. Gregor Jordan’s “Ned Kelly”
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This work examines Ned Kelly’s biography and the contrasting ways in which he is portrayed in a novel and two films. It asks how these fictional representations shape perceptions of the Australian bushranger as a criminal, a victim of society, or a popular hero.
- Ned Kelly’s life and conflicts with the police
- The Jerilderie letter and its influence on literary representation
- Narrative perspective in Peter Carey’s novel
- Tony Richardson’s 1970 film and its portrayal of rebellion
- Gregor Jordan’s 2003 film and its depiction of Kelly
- Australian folklore and the image of the bushranger
Excerpt from the Book
3. Peter Carey’s “True History of the Kelly Gang“
Peter Carey was born in 1943 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria/Australia. His novel “True History of the Kelly Gang” is a fictional autobiography of the bushranger Ned Kelly. It is divided into 13 ‘parcels’ and is framed by a preface and an epilogue by S.C.27, which contains information about the Glenrowan siege and the death of Ned.
The main features of the story agree with historical facts, the most significant change is the love story between Ned and Mary, which is necessary to explain the passing on of his story – eventually, it is addressed to his fictional daughter.
The reader identifies with the protagonist quite early because of the first-person perspective the story is told in. Ned is presumed innocent by the reader in most of his delicts since he illustrates the situations which became his inevitable fate later on. He has the chance to justify himself – just like in the Jerilderie letter. This historical document, which declares loyalty to Ireland as well28, is a builds the base for the story as well as the language. Though, swear words are replaced by ‘effing’ or ‘adjectival’ “for the benefit of Kelly's fictional daughter, presumably by Kelly himself”29. Punctuation and grammar rules are partially disregarded and “the influence of Kelly's Irish heritage is also apparent in his language”30 to make the novel very authentic.
Especially Ellen, Ned’s mother, is positively denoted in the novel. She cares for all of her children by “running a shebeen and taking on a series of lovers”31 after her husband’s death. Generally, Ned is a family person who really tries for a normal life without any trouble. Even when he was still young, he helped his mother as he could32. Also, he always defends and protects his family33. When he falls in love with Mary, he proves himself by heartiness and sympathy.
What definitely differs from the film versions is the relationship between Ned and Alexander Fitzpatrick. They get along well and even talk about love and marriage:
“That night I took my good news [about the wedding] to Fitzpatrick at his boardinghouse he said only an adjectival fool would marry Mary Hearn”34
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: The author introduces competing perceptions of Ned Kelly and sets out a comparison of his biography with representations in fiction and film.
2. “Such is Life” - Biography of Ned Kelly: This chapter recounts Kelly’s family background, encounters with the police, outlawry, the Jerilderie letter and the events at Glenrowan.
3. Peter Carey’s “The History of the Kelly Gang“: The discussion examines Carey’s fictional autobiography, focusing on first-person narration, language, family relationships and the novel’s depiction of Kelly’s life.
4. Tony Richardson’s “Ned Kelly”: This chapter considers the 1970 film’s production and its portrayal of Kelly, his gang and their conflict with authority.
5. Gregor Jordan’s “Ned Kelly”: The author discusses the 2003 film’s voice-over, character relationships, visual imagery and treatment of the confrontation with the police.
6. Conclusion: The final chapter brings the representations together and considers Kelly’s place in Australian popular memory and national identity.
Keywords
Ned Kelly, Australian bushrangers, Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang, Tony Richardson, Gregor Jordan, Jerilderie letter, Australian folklore, film adaptation, narrative perspective, national identity, outlaw hero
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work about?
It examines Ned Kelly’s life and compares portrayals of him in a novel and two films.
What are its central topics?
Its central topics include Kelly’s biography, his conflict with the police, fictional representations of his life and his place in Australian folklore.
What is the main objective?
The author aims to compare different perspectives on Kelly and explore how they contribute to perceptions of him.
What method does the author use?
The work uses comparative analysis of a novel and two films, supported by biographical and historical sources.
What does the main body cover?
It presents a biography of Kelly and examines Peter Carey’s novel alongside films directed by Tony Richardson and Gregor Jordan.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Ned Kelly, Australian bushrangers, the Jerilderie letter, film adaptation, narrative perspective and national identity.
How does the work approach Peter Carey’s novel?
It considers the novel’s fictional autobiographical form, its first-person voice and the influence of the Jerilderie letter on its story and language.
Which film portrayals are compared?
The work discusses Tony Richardson’s 1970 film starring Mick Jagger and Gregor Jordan’s 2003 film starring Heath Ledger.
- Quote paper
- Regina Schultze (Author), 2009, Ned Kelly in Fiction, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/129355
