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Ragged Dick

             wrote Ragged Dick Or, Street Life in New York with the Bootblacks in 1868. Alger recreates the story of a boy and his life as a boot black in the streets of New York City in the 19th century. While telling this story, Alger addresses some of the major issues in society. One was the belief of the middle class society: that anyone and everyone could improve themselves with hard work, good manners and an education. Another of Alger's own beliefs was that the wealthy should help the poor. In the following paper I will address Alger's thoughts on the hardship and prosperity of life in the New York City economy. .
             Before Ragged Dick meets Frank and his uncle, he doesn't realize his ignorance; namely his speech, lack of care for his appearance and his acceptance of his station in life. Both characters tell Dick stories of poor boys rising up in the world, making him eager to learn to read and write so he can leave his boot-blacking career. Throughout the novel Dick encounters others who give him the "hard work and education" speech. In this manner Alger shows the notorious Victorian worldview (Boyer). It was mainly a belief of the middle-class society; preaching hard work and education as the only aspects needed to move up in the world. But this in itself is not entirely true. In order for a low class member to get an education they have to have one of two things: money or friends in a higher class. And having money doesn't necessarily guarantee having enough money to survive. So in some ways the Victorian's views are partially skewed. .
             Additionally, this view is incorrect in that not every hard working low classmen with some type of education is guaranteed to rise to a higher level in society. Alger gives people a false sense of reality with the characters he portrays in his book. Many of the people Dick meets are more than ready to help him or befriend him, whereas in real life it is very unlikely that a fourteen-year-old bootblack would find so many willing benefactors.


Essays Related to Ragged Dick

1. Ragged Dick

... Richard Hunter" (p. xix). After reading the novel, though, the reader is left to wonder whether or not Trachtenberg's assertion is correct or not. While it is certainly true that Ragged Dick is a story of a young man who overcomes incredible odds to make something of himself, it is not necessarily evident that money is solely responsible for his unlikely ascent. It seems ... climb the social latter, and as a result of this he made more and more money. It would be unfair to Dick's good character to say that money alone was responsible for his truly incredible transformation. First and f...

  • Word Count: 1585
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Ragged Dick

... the busy city of New York during the 1860's, Horatio Alger JR's novel Ragged Dick is the story of an inspiring young boy who had nothing, and made himself into something great. Ragged Dick, or Richard Hunter, is a fourteen-year-old boy. He was completely on his own at age seven. After a few unsuccessful occupations he became successful at shinning shoes at ten cents ... that he had become a very respectable person. This story shows that even though people who are born into poverty can still make something out of themselves. Ragged Dick, like so many others, brought himself from nothing ...

  • Word Count: 529
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Ragged Dick

... 95) is not always necessary and that difficult situations can often be solved through a more thoughtful process. Alger also emphasizes the importance of honesty through Ragged Dick. While most boys of Dick's age often steal to make ends meet, Dick refuses to deviate from his moral principles. He continually communicates his feelings about theft and swindling saying that "it ain't my style." (pg. 16 ... instruction, while also emphasizing to young minds that even in the most desolate situations, a proper education can help one overcome his surroundings. In Ragged Dick, Alger also illustrat...

  • Word Count: 696
  • Approx Pages: 3

4. Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger Jr.

In "Ragged Dick," by Horatio Alger Jr., Dick is a determined and honest young boy who knows a hard days work. He comes from a working class background and knows what it takes to live life day by day. Many kids that were working on the streets, like Dick, stole or cheated for food or business. Dick wasn't ... standard to be different from the rest of the boys. He says, "No, and I Wouldn't. Lots of boys does it, but I wouldn't." "(pg.1)Dick understands that honesty, integrity and perseverance are the keys to success in life. He wanted to better himself in his community. Also, people such as Mr....

  • Word Count: 1930
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Struggling Situations

... America, he could not find enough opportunity to maintain his heritage so he lives his life today as a white man wearing the mask of a Chinaman. Ragged Dick is a boy who lived in New York as a poor, homeless shoe shiner and spent his earlier years struggling to survive off of what few cents he ... to save his money for some useful purpose, -- to aid his advancement in the world. So he could not afford the theatre" (Alger 131). Ragged Dick is so determined to become rich that he saves money that he would normally have spent on the theater (or other forms of entertainment) and better meals...

  • Word Count: 1276
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Hard Work and the American Dream

... ; Through the passing of time, the original quest for settlement and freedom has evolved into a continuing struggle to achieve a big house, a nice car, and a life of ease. Horatio Alger's book Ragged Dick is a very suitable portrait. Alger tells the reader that anyone and everyone could improve themselves with hard work, a positive attitude, and an education, and the "American Dream" is ... dream – proof that in this country anyone can succeed, even a skinny black man with a funny name. Needs an introductory sentence here. In Ragged Dick, the narrator informs the reader at the outset o...

  • Word Count: 1288
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Rags to Middle Class

... way to fulfill their stomachs. There were children who had dreams of something more. Some wanted to do something special with their lives to be respected by others. The novel Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger was an explanation of how a poor white native born male can go from Hell's Kitchen to Middle class with individual effort and inner qualities. Alger made the ... character, Ragged Dick, who was a very honest and hard working poor boy that lived in Hell's Kitchen. Dick would never cheat or steal. He was very ignorant, but Alger gave him hope of a better life ... for his special desires....

  • Word Count: 712
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Media

... into a powerful man (after) who is the best detective in town and wins the girl - but only in his dream. In three of the readings from class, Franklin's Autobiography, Alger's Ragged Dick and the Autobiography of Malcolm X are all tales of self-improvement. Malcolm X develops his own terminology to make himself feel good. Benjamin Franklin embodies ideas of self-improvement by writing ... a certain kind of appearance you leave a positive image for society. We have to keep in mind that this was written in the 18th century, so by the time Alger wrote Ragged Dick in the mid-19th century th...

  • Word Count: 1730
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The American Ladder of Success

... must be motivation. Let's face it, if a person is not motivated to work hard and succeed, they will not do it. In the story by Horatio Alger entitled, "Ragged Dick" (p 299), the boy named Dick was motivated to save the drowning boy, just out of a sense of helping someone else. He had the desire to save him, as probably did everyone else that ... . Motivation is more of the reason behind your decision or determination. Determination is basically the decision you have made about something and you are going to carry it out. In "Ragged Dick" by Horatio Alger, he says, "Until he should obtain...

  • Word Count: 820
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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