Ragged Dick
Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick is a true coming of age story to the most extreme extent. This book follows a series of events that happen to young Dick, yet he is truly only young in age and that is about all. Dick has been on the street fending for himself since about the age of seven. Every single day he faces adversity but overcomes it through an array of creative tactics and characteristics. Though things seem almost impossible at times for young Dick, his morals are what keep him grounded. He prides himself on doing what is right, which brings us to what is really the main point of this novel, good things come to those who wait.
Ragged Dick puts into action the notion that anyone can achieve anything as long as they are determined enough and put forth the required effort. This is a distinctly American value that has been around since the dawn of our country. Through the first approximately sixty pages of this novel, the reader has seen numerous examples of why this honesty policy has always paid off for Dick. One of the first that comes to mind is when Dick is getting change for two dollars and the store clerk keeps his money, saying that it was a counterfeit bill. Dick can easily just cut his losses and walk away or get mean with the store clerk, yet he does neither of these. Dick does the mature and responsible thing by going back to the gentleman that gave him the two dollars, explaining the situation, then going back to confront the store clerk. This small example shows how Dick is beyond his years in intelligence and mannerisms.
As a young boy living on the street, for better or worse he has been exposed to almost every scenario one can imagine. Yet, all of these culminate into bigger and better things for Dick. His morals and impulse control can be given credit for the good things that do happen to him in life, a clear message from Horatio Alger that discipline and perseverance can take you far in life.
It is very important to note though that Dick is not perfect and has certain items that he likes to indulge in. Dick said that he spends his "money foolish, goin' to the Old Bowery, and Tony Pastor's, and sometimes gamblin' in Baxter Street" (Alger 56). Although only halfway through this novel and only having talked about a few events here in this post, it is evident what Alger is doing. He stands firm with the notion that all who work hard will be rewarded for their efforts. This uniquely American value drives the work and his meeting with Frank and his Uncle propels Dick to new heights.
The novel Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger did appear like the events in the story were brought to an extreme in terms of circumstances the main character gets into. The fortunate occurrences that Dick was given seemed too good to be true, but having to look past that there really are lessons to be learned. The idea of rising above one’s situation through perseverance, hard work, and patience is valid. In the book, it could not be truer when he finds his bank-book gone. He began to feel “the bitterness of a reverse of circumstances.” (Alger 105) Yet, he proved to keep moving on and try his hand at patience for the day to come when he would have his bank-book back. Eventually, the problem was resolved, but this demonstrated that even when life seems to be going uphill, there can always be the possibility of something/someone trying to bring you down. The ability for Dick to restrain from going back to his old habits when something seems to go wrong in his life or even well, aids in oneself to understand the difficulties of temptation. Although it may be easy to go down that route, the difficulty of going against it will prove to be very beneficial as Alger has taught through this novel.
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