Critical Analysis of "Ragged Dick" by Horatio Alge
Critical Analysis of "Ragged Dick" by Horatio Alger Jr.
The book Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger, Jr. teaches the modern reader many things about life during the late 19th century. One thing it not only teaches but represents is life in the urban setting. This book is filled with examples and examples of life in the city, telling the reader what he would find and experience in it. Setting is always the first thing a good reader should look for when trying to understand the purpose. It teaches the reader where to begin when researching for the book and also how to place the characters. In Ragged Dick, “our hero” is in New York City during the latter part of the 19th century. “Our Hero” starts out as poor as one could be at the time and ended up educated, and as Dick would say, “‘spectable.” This was a time of progress, change and falsehood in American History. This not only has a vast effect on the plot of the book, but it makes for one heck of a tale.
The fact that the book takes place in New York is not enough to understand the full extent of this book. At this time many Americans were going through one of the hardest times in their lives. The only people making big bucks would have been the Robber Barons-- a small group of wealthy business men. So it is important to realize what this book said about urban living, to the readers it was written for. These readers would have been likely children, from all parts of the economic ladder. But most importantly the bottom part of that ladder would get something very interesting out of this book. They would see the main story here; a boy goes from rags to riches but getting lucky. Yes, Dick is an honest fellow who studies hard for his education, but all the times he got money were just by chance and had nothing to do with his education. First meeting Frank, receiving clothes and getting money and later saving a boy’s life and in turn getting a job. This teaches the reader that the city creates opportunity, and these opportunities are available and possible if you are in the right spot at the right time. ...