Microtheme 1 In the essay “Horatio Alger” by Harlon L. Dalton‚ Dalton argues that the Horatio Alger myth regarding commercial success is false and is socially destructive. He first claims that a individuals success in life cannot be determined by that individual himself. He argues that racism and judgment have an influence on the success that person can achieve in his lifetime. He introduces Stephen Carters “best black syndrome” saying that blacks are being recognized for being the “best black”
Premium Person Writing Argument
Harlon L. Dalton in his essay "Horatio Alger" criticizes a concept of the "American dream" - the idea that presents America as the country where the opportunity for a success is possible for all hard working‚ talented and determined people regardless of race‚ gender and their social status. Dalton implies that not only this idea is not true but is doing a harm to society because that equality is cover only wishful thinking and can not be true unless massive changes in society economic structure and
Premium James Truslow Adams United States American Dream
family. In the reading “Horatio Alger” by Harlon L. Dalton criticizes Alger‚ who conveys
Premium James Truslow Adams United States American Dream
Horatio Alger‚ a short essay written by Harlon Dalton in effort to debunk the myths commonly seen in the classic American hero. It begins with discussing the main ideas conveyed in these stories and how they create a “socially destructive” narrative. The author objects to three main concepts that are portrayed in the Horatio Alger myth. The first idea of these stories is that everyone is only judged based on their own actions and accomplishments (Dalton). The author argues this notion as being simply
Premium Fiction English-language films The Tell-Tale Heart
Dalton questions three myths that derive from Ragged Dick in Horatio Alger: we are all judged entirely on our merits‚ we are all given equal opportunity to gain those merits‚ and that merit will bring us success. If we are all judged by our merits‚ then “it suggests that success in life has nothing to do with pedigree‚ race‚ class background‚ gender... anything beyond our control” (Dalton 273). Dalton gives an example of the “best black syndrome”; Stephen
Premium United States James Truslow Adams Economics
recognizable and enduring stories regarding success in America were those by Horatio Alger. His tale Ragged Dick follows the same formula as many of his other stories. A young man works hard and with a stroke of luck becomes wildly successful. This is the quintessential American myth of success. But in the essay Horatio Alger Harlon Dalton has a different notion of Alger’s work calling it “socially destructive” (261). How can this be? Alger suggests that one need merely work hard and opportunity will eventually
Premium United States F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby
In “Ragged Dick” Horatio Alger promotes the myth of individual success. He states that anyone can be from the lower rungs of the economic ladder and find themselves on the top of the ladder. In the story Dick started out shinning shoes‚ and saved a little boy in a ferry who fell over and was drowning. Mr. Rockwell‚ the father of the little boy offered Dick a job in his counting-room. Even though the odds were stacked against him‚ he was able to find the perfect opportunity to succeed. However‚ the
Premium The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald United States
Jonathan Hartness Professor Greenbuam English 1101 3 April‚ 2014 The American Dream The Death of Horatio Alger is about how the American Dream is long dead due to the poor staying poor and never having equal opportunity‚ and the rich staying rich due to inherits. By Our Own Bootstraps is about creating the American Dream by having equal opportunity through hard work. Both of these articles define the American Dream based on the opportunity given or in some cases if it is ever given to those
Premium James Truslow Adams United States English-language films
dictionaries‚ the formal definition of “rags to riches” is used to describe a situation in which a person who begins his or her life in extreme poverty and moving to great wealth. Through the definition and the articles regarding the influence of Horatio Alger’s stories of success‚ we can conclude the concept of “rags to riches” is to motivate people who born into the bottom of our social hierarchy pyramid that they can change their life prospects and become successful by having strong character as
Premium
living proof that America works for black people‚ and that African-Americans have an equal opportunity of obtaining the American Dream. The Horatio Alger myth states “each of us is judged solely based on [one’s] own merits‚ we each have a fair opportunity to develop those merits and ultimately‚ merit will out” (304). On the contrary‚ Harlon L. Dalton’s Horatio Alger article contends that myth and that racism still exists. Racism involves the belief in racial differences‚ which acts as a
Premium Race Racism Black people