Bandits and Outlaws

Bandits and Outlaws

I found this lecture particularly interesting, to be honest, I have never really thought too hard about our so called ‘heroes’ being nothing more then common criminals and villains but upon reflection it is pretty obvious that the likes of Robin Hood and Jesse James are in actual fact criminals, condemned by the law. Why then do we have this love for them, why have characters like these become popular all over the world and there crimes accepted by the masses? After giving the subject much thought I have came to a somewhat unsteady conclusion. It seems that we, as people like to (in the words of Jack Black) ‘stick it to da man’. It seems that we enjoy anarchy, but only if certain rules or justifications apply, I think it is important to see what type of bandit and outlaw society finds acceptable because in reality it is only a rare few who find this acceptance in our eyes. Society seems to accept the ‘honest criminal’. Even in the Old Testament of the Bible it says ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ or in other words a crime justified as recompense for a previous crime. The story of many bandits can take root in this moral high ground. As well as this, our bandit come hero is almost always fighting against the establishment in some way and represents the lower and working classes. We relate to his struggle and take comfort in his successes even if it doesn’t directly ease our own personal burdens because we see him as ‘one of us’.

This is a very interesting website and the great thing about it is that you can actually see whether you have had any famous bandits or outlaws in your own ancestry!! fingers crossed!... http://www.blacksheepancestors.com/uk/blacksheep.shtml