Raechel Hearth
Being Successful and Respectable in the Mid-19th
Century
Ragged Dick is a rags to riches story about a young boy who lives
on the streets as a shoe shine, but wishes for a better life. Despite Dick’s hardships, he is described as
a respectable boy, even at the beginning of the novel. He vows to never steal,
and even his appearance is described as likable compared to others who are in
similar situations to him, “Some of his companions were sly, and their faces
inspired distrust; but Dick had a frank, straight-forward manner that made him
a favorite” (Alger 4). He is also generous with his friends, offering to pay
for meals when they do not have enough money, even though Dick himself has very
little money. Alger uses Dick to highlight characteristics that every young man
wishing for success should have: honesty, generosity, and a willingness to work
hard.
It is Dick’s good nature, and respectable nature that
appeals to Mr. Whitney, a wealthy gentleman who helps Dick obtain new clothes,
and sets him on the path of becoming a respectable citizen. When Dick offers to show Mr. Whitney’s nephew
around the city, Mr. Whitney remarks. “He isn’t exactly the sort of guide I
would have picked out for you. Still he looks honest. He has an open face, and
I think he can be depended upon” (Alger 16). While it is luck that brings Mr.
Whitney and Dick together, it is Dick’s respectable qualities that result in
Mr. Whitney trusting and helping Dick.
The novel stresses the importance of honestly,
hard-work, and perseverance time and time again. It is Dick’s key to success. Frank tells Dick, “A good many distinguished
men have once been poor boys. There’s hope for you, Dick, if you’ll try” (Alger
31). Essentially, Alger claims it is important for young men to be honest and
hard-working. These qualities will help them obtain success, through finding a
good job. Dick shows that through
honest, hard work, and a little bit of luck, anyone can raise above their
station and find success in their lives. This combination of luck and an honest, hard-working
nature is what Alger, and likely society, believed it took to obtain
respectability and success for young men in the mid-19th century.
While not related to the entirety of your post, I would like to expand on a few things that you had discussed. As you stated, “Dick had a frank, straight-forward manner that made him a favorite” (4). From the very beginning of the novel, Horatio Alger pointed out people’s appearances and described how their looks made them fit into society. With Dick, there was something about him that made him look honest, which proved to help him on multiple occasions, most notably with Mr. Whitney allowing him to take his nephew around New York. It was from this event that it could be argued that Dick’s life began to turn around. Meeting Frank inspired him to want to become, as he put it, “’spectable.” If Dick had, like his companions, a face that “inspired distrust,” would he have been allowed to take Frank on a tour of New York (4)? Or would his “energy and industry” have been enough to convince Mr. Whitney to allow him to do so (8)?
ReplyDeleteI believe this discounts some of the morals and lessons of the novel to promote hard-work and respectable behavior. This also raises another question of what Alger intended by describing the characters’ appearances in this way. Perhaps he intentionally makes their appearances reflect their inner traits and personalities. I would argue that this is the case, rather than it being coincidental. However, I still think it is important to consider how the characters’ appearances play into them being respectable.