Bandits and Outlaws

A bandit could be described as a member of an organised gang well known for robbery, especially at gun point. They are thought to act outside the law. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlaw The terms bandits and outlaws were more commonly used in the early 19th century. Eric Hobsbawn's thesis on outlaws states that outlaws were "individuals living on the edges of rural societies by robbing and plundering."

Some famous bandits and outlaws that can be easily recognised include; The Kray Twins, Jesse James and Bonnie and Clyde. The duo Bonnie and Clyde are known for their series of bank robberies and murder of civilians. This was during the Great Depression in America from 1931 to 1934. The motives behind the duo's actions were for pure self greed of money. From these factors it presents how they both had no morals or felt no remorse for their actions, overall being bad. Even though it is said how defiantly bad the duo were, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are among the first celebrity criminals of the modern era. From the types of bandits mentioned it would seem believable to say that all bandits and outlaws are bad, but are they?

The famous story of Robin Hood falls into the category of bandits and outlaws. 'stealing from the rich and give to the poor'. Even though this was therefore under the category of stealing, due to his morals and intentions being in the right place does it make the behaviour acceptable? The story has created a honourable heroic figure from an arguable villain.