In Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger, trends of
trustworthiness, honesty, and hard work are hailed as exemplary morals,
demonstrated through the young hero Dick himself. Vagabonds and rascals run
rampant in the New York City of the 1800s, and the city’s elite deem Dick to be
a member of this category simply because he is a lowly boot-black with no home,
no family, and no money. It’s true that Dick has his faults – he gambles most
of his money away and whatever cash is left over he spends on his smoking
habit. However, Dick is not your average vagabond. He is witty, determined, and
street-smart. He holds himself to a greater moral code than that of the
cheaters and conmen which dominate his social caste. Unlike them, “he would not
steal, or cheat, or impose upon younger boys, but was frank and
straight-forward, manly and self-reliant. His nature was a noble one, and had
saved him from all mean faults” (Alger 7). Dick redeems himself with these
noble qualities because, despite his position, he wants to grow up to be an
honorable, respectable young man in the future.
Unlike the
rest of society, who turn up their noses at Dick’s position, his new friend
Frank sees the positive potential in our young hero. He encourages Dick to
pursue an education and continue to work hard in order to change his life and
improve his circumstances. “‘If you’ll try to be somebody, and grow up into a
respectable member of society, you will. You may not become rich,—it isn’t
everybody that becomes rich, you know,—but you can obtain a good position, and
be respected’” (Alger 31). Such emphasis placed on the virtue of hard work is reminiscent
of the Protestant work ethic, which values self-discipline and frugality as the
means of success. As a result, Dick resolves to quit smoking and gambling and
to instead shift his focus towards his own personal advancement. Frank’s uncle
also gives Dick some advice: “‘you will prosper and rise in the world…poverty
in early life is no bar to a man’s advancement…if you try to learn, you can,
and if you ever expect to do anything in the world, you must know something of
books…Save your money, my lad, buy books, and determine to be somebody, and you
may yet fill an honorable position…Remember that your future position depends
mainly upon yourself, and that it will be high or low as you choose to make it’”
(Alger 55-57). With all this in mind, young Dick sets out to earn the respect
he so longs for, in the hopes that once he becomes a prosperous man himself, he
will be able to pay it forward by helping other poor young boys who are struggling
upward, just as he is now.
I agree that morality is probably one of the most important themes in Ragged Dick thus far. With the quote, “‘If you’ll try to be somebody, and grow up into a respectable member of society, you will. You may not become rich,—it isn’t everybody that becomes rich, you know,—but you can obtain a good position, and be respected’” Alger essentially states his idea morality and respectability in society. It is clearly relevant that Dick is in a position in which he is not currently able to be a respected member of society since he is a lower class citizen, and at this time someone from the lower class was not to be respected. However, this also shows something about what it means to be a member of the middle class and help someone from the lower class. Alger seems to be stating that it is necessary or helpful for someone from the middle class to help someone from the lower class in order for them to grow and be respectable. Again, this idea of respectability does not match up with what respectability seems to be in today's society. However, the idea of the richer helping the poor is something that has maintained its relevance into today's society and people still view this idea as important today.
ReplyDelete