In "Ragged Dick," by Horatio Alger Jr., Dick is a determined and honest young boy who knows a hard days work. He comes from a working class background and knows what it takes to live life day by day. Many kids that were working on the streets, like Dick, stole or cheated for food or business. Dick wasn't one of these kids. He took a moral standard to be different from the rest of the boys. He says, "No, and I Wouldn't. Lots of boys does it, but I wouldn't." "(pg.1)Dick understands that honesty, integrity and perseverance are the keys to success in life. He wanted to better himself in his community. Also, people such as Mr. Whitney understood what a honest working hard individual looked like. He says this to Dick, "All labor is respectable, my lad, and you have no cause to be ashamed of any honest business; yet when you can get something to do that promises better for your future prospects, I advise you to do so."" (pg.55).
This illustrates Dick's remarkable attributes to be honest and trustworthy but Mr. Whitney interjects saying he still needs to get a education to better himself. Luckily, Dick was fortunate to meet Frank and Henry that help inspire Dick to learn to read and write. Frank tells Dick a story about a fellow bootlegger he knew that worked up in society and made something of himself. Again, this showed that Dick was being morally correct individual and not the stereotypical young boy. .
"Dick had gained something more valuable than money. He had studied regularly every evening, and his improvement had been marvelous. He could now read well, write a fair hand, and had studied arithmetic as far as Interest.our hero was very much in earnest in his desire to improve. He knew that, in order to grow up respectable, he must be well advanced, and he was willing to work. "(pg.98).
Dick reaches his dream job as an office manger making a stable income. This novel inspires people of the lower class that it doesn't matter where you start out in life but can work your way up in society with a dose of hard work, determination and honesty.
