Preview

The Transformation Of Ragged Dick By Horatio Alger

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
362 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Transformation Of Ragged Dick By Horatio Alger
Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick, published in 1868, is a prime example for a rags to riches story. The main character Ragged Dick is a young orphan working hard to escape his childhood and achieve the American dream. Although his job as a bootblack did not give him a fortune, he took every opportunity that arrived in his presence. Throughout the novel, Ragged Dick gradually evolved into Richard Hunter. His change in appearance began the snowball effect of his evolution. After Mr. Whitney helps Dick clean his appearance, Dick declared that his transformation reminded him of Cinderella’s switch from rags to riches; it was magical to him how clean skin, brushed hair, and a suit could alter his point of view (Chapter 3). In Chapter 8, Mr. Whitney told
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Summary Of The Story 'From Ragged Dick'
    • 1266 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Summary Of The Story 'From Ragged Dick'

    But most of them have barely any chance to actually succeed because of all the competition that it takes to overcome and some luck. “From Ragged Dick” shows how hard it is in becoming successful in the eyes of society and what kind of luck it takes to get there. Without Mr. Rockwell’s son falling off the ferry Dick would have been polishing shoes until he had another chance at getting a higher paying job and in his circumstances he would probably not get a higher paying job. Without these myths society would not be the same. There would be no drive towards becoming wealthy or getting a high paying job. Competition runs the economy and without people working hard to get up in society there would be less companies and less people having important jobs that help keep society…

    • 1266 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Jay Gatsby. the Failure If the American Dream Essay Example
    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Jay Gatsby. the Failure If the American Dream Essay Example

    Coming from a poor and unsuccessful family, and being the son of “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people”(p. 63), Gatsby overcomes his origin and social barriers and tries to make the best of his personality, working hard on his character in order to become a great man, an American hero. Ever since he was young, Gatsby was obsessed with the idea to re-create himself, as he had an anti-sample in his mind, that of his parents. Owing to his perseverance, Gatsby succeeds. The absolute following of the program of self-improvement, which was taken in smallest detail from B. Franklin's Autobiography, bears its fruits - an ordinary poor boy finally turns into a millionaire. His father recalls later: “ Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what he's got about improving his mind? He was always great for that' (p. 110) .…

    • 1410 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    In The Heart Of The Sea By Nathaniel Philbrick
    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In The Heart Of The Sea By Nathaniel Philbrick

    “In the Heart of the Sea” is a wonderful entertaining movie based on the fact based book written by Nathaniel Philbrick. It has a powerful Christian, moral worldview, and references God and prayer. Actually, the two major characters have a discussion about God and His blessings. The movie depicts author Herman Melville coming to a sailor to listen to the factual tale of what occurred aboard the ship, the Essex. It demonstrates the consequences of ego, and has some extreme action, profane language and mentions cannibalism.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Billy Budd by Herman Melville: Captain Vere
    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Billy Budd by Herman Melville: Captain Vere

    Captain Vere is a rather surprising man to be a captain, for when he is…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ragged Dick
    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Ragged Dick

    Ragged Dick is a novel written in the 1800’s by Horatio Alger. It is a story about a young boy named Richard Hunter, also known as Ragged Dick, as he progresses though his childhood. Ragged Dick is a typical Rags to Riches story where Dick struggles through the hardships of city life, trying to achieve the “American Dream”.…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    An Explication of Edwin Arlington Robinson’s, “Richard Cory”
    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages

    An Explication of Edwin Arlington Robinson’s, “Richard Cory”

    In the poem “Richard Cory”, Edwin Arlington Robinson depicts a “grass is greener” presumption with a twist. The speaker in this poem, representing the working class, tells about a gentleman by the name of Richard Cory; a man everyone admired. This poem is an ironic illustration of how the “glitter[y]” (l. 8) illusion that wealth and stature projects in ones appearance does not always mean the individual has internal happiness.…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Rocking-Horse Winner Madness
    • 244 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Rocking-Horse Winner Madness

    “The Rocking Horse Winner” is a short story that shows how madness can easily ensue when one tries to please the world. The main character of the story, Paul, is born to a family that once had money. Now that they don’t, they continue to act as if they do. I find this reminiscent of Little Women. In both stories, a family once had money, have family members with money, and lose their money.…

    • 244 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Great Gatsby Thinkpiece
    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Great Gatsby Thinkpiece

    James Gatz was a poor guy with a dream to become rich, he used to work by the sea as a clam-digger, a salmon fisher or in any other job that would bring him food and bed. His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people.…

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Character Analysis: The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Character Analysis: The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

    Once an impoverished boy from North Dakota, Jay Gatsby knows first hand about tough beginnings. On one side, his rags-to-riches story is an inspiring tale about the hard work he put in to attain the American Dream. However, Fitzgerald depicts the rich in the novel by stating that they “smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness". An article called Capitalism and Inequality mentioned…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Herman Melville's Bartleby: A Hero In The Capitalist
    • 2941 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Herman Melville's Bartleby: A Hero In The Capitalist

    As readers come across Bartleby, the Scrivener, something immediately strikes them. Is it just the external appearance of this individual or is it his unorthodox behaviour which is a debatable matter to be inspected? American Author Herman Melville’s Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street, which was published two centuries ago in 1853 in Putnam’s Magazine, shows striking resemblance, with contemporary individuals working in corporate houses. What sets Bartleby apart from the rest and makes him a hero is his innate ability to defy laws of the society and eventually take a final stance against the capitalist world. Bartleby’s occupation, surrounding, community, and the cityscape in itself contribute…

    • 2941 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Death of a Salesman- Conflict
    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Death of a Salesman- Conflict

    The American Dream versus happiness through material wealth is the main conflict that sets the outline of the story. Willy Lowman had been a salesman throughout most of his life, however did not have much success. He believed that he would find happiness when he attained material wealth. In truth, he was certain the being an American would ensure that he would acquire wealth and happiness. However, in his search for his dreams, he alienated those that were closest to him. Towards the end Lowman’s career he was forced to deal with his failed ventures and the consequences his skewed beliefs and dreams had on his life and family.…

    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Herman Melville: How People Can Impact People's Lives
    • 247 Words
    • 1 Page

    Herman Melville: How People Can Impact People's Lives

    Why do people believe that their actions only impact them? All over the world people like to believe that they achieved their goals by themselves, that no one was there to help them along the way, that they were strong enough to succeed on their own; however even the strongest people in the world today are often heard thanking those who helped and guided them. Herman Melville was a renowned American writer who wrote poetry, novels, as well as short stories. Through all of his works, each being widely successful, he wrote something that stood out and has impacted today’s society. It can even be related to a variety of pieces by other authors. Herman Melville once wrote, “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our…

    • 247 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Great Gatsby Theme
    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Great Gatsby Theme

    Gatsby appears to be the embodiment of this dream—he has risen from being a poor farm boy with no prospects to being rich, having a big house, servants, and a large social circle attending his numerous functions. He has achieved all this in only a few short years, having returned from the war penniless.…

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Symbolism and Foreshadowing in Herman Melville's Moby Dick.
    • 1772 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Symbolism and Foreshadowing in Herman Melville's Moby Dick.

    "Do human beings have free will or free choice and if not who or what shapes human destiny?" (McSweeney 9) Herman Melville utilizes Father Mapple's sermon in his nineteenth century epic novel Moby Dick, to illustrate the duality of mankind. Mortal man pursues his own singular interests with selfish intent; however, God has prevailing intentions, which are often beyond the comprehension of the individual. Melville expands and elaborates this theme throughout his epic work. The sermon is an omen for the dynamic action of the novel, which is revealed in Captain Ahab's megalomaniacal pursuit of the white whale. No person, ship or force of nature can sway Captain Ahab from his selfish ambition. He is willing to risk his crew, career, and even his life in this pursuit. Melville, in the chapters The Pulpit and The Sermon, provides us with his core tenets and expands and clarifies these values through the events in the work.…

    • 1772 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Disintegration of Dick Diver in Tender Is the Night
    • 2341 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The Disintegration of Dick Diver in Tender Is the Night

    The exact nature of Dick Diver¹s descent throughout the course of Tender is the Night is difficult to discern. It is clear enough that his disintegration is occasioned by Nicole¹s burgeoning independence, but why or how her transformation affects him this way is less than obvious. Moreover, it is not at all apparent what is at stake, more abstractly, in this reciprocal exchange of fates. In this paper, I will propose a reading of this change that relates Nicole¹s strength to her naturalness, her identification with instinct and natural impulse, and Dick¹s strength to his civilization, his identification with the curtailment of natural impulse through psychiatry and prewar American civilization. The relationship between Nicole and Dick is such that what happens to the one must happen to the other. Both Nicole and Dick turn by the novel¹s end to impulse and instinct, but while Nicole does this by gaining an independent self-consciousness, Dick achieves this only through drinking.…

    • 2341 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics