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”. As a child‚ Dick is nothing more than a poor city boy who is trying to earn money on the streets of New York City. He spends his
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Christian Silvia English 209 8/26/2012 Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger Jr. This book entails the struggles of young poor boys growing up in New York City through the eyes of Horatio Alger Jr. Although the author grew up comfortably under the roof of his family‚ he finds a particular calling in helping young boys‚ without the same privileges as he had‚ find a way to advance themselves in life. Horatio Alger Jr. was born in New England in 1832‚ later moved to the states with his family in
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The Role of Minor Characters in Ragged Dick It is impossible for the minor characters in Ragged Dick to have a fair chance at being recognized as decent members of society because of the emphasis Horatio Alger Jr. places on Dick Hunter. The better qualities of Dick are constantly being reminded to the reader‚ giving them little room to disagree with Alger’s heroic portrayal of him. Horatio Alger Jr.’s preference to homosexuality also reflects his choice in excluding any useful female characters
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From Ragged to Richard Dick Hunter was a poor kid living in the streets of New York City. During his years on the streets‚ he had picked up some unhealthy habits such as smoking and gambling. Making a living shining boots‚ Dick only made enough money to feed himself comfortably every day but just under the amount to be able to purchase clothing or any other luxuries. Because there was nothing else to do on the streets‚ Dick would have to gamble or smoke to pass time but if he did‚ he would have
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work hard then they can achieve success. Richard Hunter‚ main character of the book “Ragged Dick” has been a typical example of American notion of success. According to this book‚ by Horatio Alger‚ everybody can become well recognized and financially prosperous if they would work hard and show their merit. Dick‚ “a young gentleman on the way to fame and fortune‚” as his friend Fosdick from the story “Ragged Dick” describes him in the end of the story‚ climbs on the social ladder‚ starting from the
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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
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Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick‚ Alger writes about a rag-to-riches story and points out valid and key messages that tell of things like hard work and determination can take anyone from the bottom to the top‚ despite one’s economic class. I do realize that in real life that although these messages hold key to making it in the world‚ everyone does not have the equal opportunity to succeed or move up in class rankings like Alger says. Dick‚ the main character in Ragged Dick‚ is a man that
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that they appreciate and are satisfied with what they have in their life. In my opinion‚ the underprivileged have a sense of respect for things‚ they things in their life are valuable and don’t take it for granted. In Horatio Alger‚ Jr.’s novel‚ Ragged Dick‚ the main
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business experiences were very varied. Benjamin Franklin wrote The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin over a period of eighteen years‚ making three separate attempts to complete it. Unhappily‚ Franklin died before the completion of the autobiography. Ragged Dick‚ by Horatio Alger‚ is a book projected for young boys. The author‚ a late nineteenth century writer‚ is worried with social values and directing boys into a nourishing and good life. His book tells the classic rags to riches story of the
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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
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