The American Dream “the widespread belief that, by hard work and individual enterprise, even the most poor and lowly Americans can achieve economic success, a better way of life and enhanced social status in a land of immense opportunity (Watts).” Ragged Dick is really about rising from rags to respectable not rags to riches. I view that Dick is an exceptional character showing that true grit to get what he wants even if its almost out of reach, which shows “The American dream” is something you have to work for. Dick has all the qualities of someone who could achieve his goals with hard work.
Dick is a young man who has lived on his own for years, meeting Mr. Whitney changed how Dick viewed people and life. How could a man Dick did not even know have faith in him to appreciate a new suit and not ask for anything in return? But when thinking how “The American Dream” is viewed in Dick’s eyes he sees it as having respect from all and when he is in a suit he receives the respect from his elders. Throughout the book you hear Dick use words such as “bully” when describing something that is very good. In the time that Dick and Mr. Whitney are together you find that Dick starts to show his real thoughts on what he wants to do in the future, which shows that Dick does have a “dream” in a way.
When Dick meets Mr. Whitney’s nephew Frank they bond while Dick shows him around New York. During this time Dick discovers that being a boot black is not something he has to do for the rest of his life, but he understands that working for his money in a respectable way is okay. In a large city as New York Dick and Frank find themselves in difficult situations that always include scams, which end with Dick always knowing the catch. When Dick is in these situations he knows the deal but never lets it show, and this is positive because “The American Dream” makes it so you are respectable which Dick is always which always leads him into a situation where most people think he is a great catch.
When saying Dick has “true grit” it is an understatement he is always bold and that is how he gets what he wants. He never lets things slow him down including living on his own since he was seven years old. Everything about Dick is in the sense considered “true grit” he is someone who is fearless especially when he deals with scammers and other bootblacks. “The American Dream” starts to shine through when Mr. Whitney gives Dick five dollars, which Dick cherishes and knows that he has to spend it wisely no more smoking, Old Bowery, and spending it on expensive food. Instead Dick goes ahead and starts to rent a run down Apartment, where his real “American Dream” starts. A quote from James Truslow Adams said it is not, “... a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position (Amadeo).”
After Dick moves in to his first real ho¬me not a door way or box he meets a boy named Johnny a fellow bootblack that is bad at persuasion Dicks best quality. Dick though he doesn’t have much money still buys Johnny food not really knowing him that well. Dick soon decides that Johnny should stay with him even though he is unable to pay for lodging. Johnny a smart boy helps Dick learn how to read and write in exchange for a bed, which I consider to show how Dick uses his resources to become a better person and achieve “The American Dream.”
Now that Dick has an actual good amount a money he opens up a checking account something that meant you had money and it needed to be kept. Dick decided he was going to become a “New Man” which really was a way to say he was going to save his money like a grown up and make smarter decisions. Soon Dick had the dream he worked, had a “home”, and family which really only included Johnny.
Dick was starting to have a life that any young man would be envious of and that was being able to provide for himself, and still be able to improve. Soon Dick met Henry Fosdick a man that saw an honest man in Dick. Henry decided it would be a good idea to invite Dick and Johnny to Sunday school. This point in the book is where Dick has the realization that his hard work is paying of and he is closer to “The American Dream.” Going back to the definition you find that Dick is showing that he is achieving personal happiness.
Soon in the book Dick and Johnny find themselves in a predicament where Johnny has an opportunity to get paid three dollars a week, which meant Johnny now could stop being a bootblack and continue a life of prosperity. Even though Dick is still a bootblack he does not let Johnny’s new life faze him. Soon you find that now Johnny is on his way to “The American Dream” making it possible for him to climb in the world of success. Something about Johnny and Dick being able to provide for themselves is the reason other bootblacks are so envious of them.
Dick and Johnny soon after working have over 100 dollars in the bank, which for young teenagers is a generous amount. When staying on Mott they are robbed of Dick’s checkbook, knowing Dick he would be able to find a way to get it back. Showing great determination to get it back knowing he has to give money to another bootblack who is soon to be homeless. The thought that Dick cares so much about a little boy is great and shows that even though he has achieved his own level of success he cares for others.
During the end of the book Dick is on a ferry and is faced with a hard decision to save a boy who fell over the side, which Dick knowing he could swim very well he jumped over to save the boy. The dad wanting to repay Dick offered him a job and a got him a new suit. When the amount of money the man was going to pay Dick was greater then Dick had ever expected, and it was a whopping ten dollars a week to be a clerk. After Dick seemed to want to bring himself to the highest possible place in society. The part that shows Dick has gotten to have “The American Dream” is that he wants to keep his old boot blacking equipment to remind him of the hard times he had to achieve where he is now. And to embrace the change Dick stops referring to himself as Ragged Dick, instead he now Richard Hunter Esq., a man on his way to fortune and success.
To conclude why Dick is a representation of “The American Dream” is that he did not rise above the rest, but he did receive respect for what he achieved and much wealth for a young man. His life is on a track envied by the poor and the wealthy. The point of the Ragged Dick is to show how you do not have to be overly wealthy to be happy with what he had. Johnny was a great teacher with in exchange received a mentor that helped him get what he wanted, and be able to live a life of comfort that was for certain the best thing he has had since his family was gone was a new one that him and Dick had created. For Dick to be considered a hero through out the book is a surprise considering his attitude in the beginning. True grit is show through out the book in how Dick is faced with certain challenges that help him succeed in life.
While reading Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick I found that his description of “The American Dream” consist of not just becoming wealthy and a well known person, but doing what is right for society and trying to better yourself during hard times. I think that Alger created a character that was in the beginning a real rascal, but towards the middle and end he started to become a gentleman sort of to speak. I do think that the real “American Dream” was portrayed well in Ragged Dick making I think others wanting to better themselves.