No cliché rings truer to me than “the grass is always
greener on the other side.” As long as I can remember, I have wished I were someone
else, somewhere else, or otherwise felt that my truer self is different than the
temporal me. My alternate self always has the powers and luxuries
that constantly undermine my contentedness. Although I still aspire to an
ideal self, my feelings of displacement have never been stronger than when I
was a pre-teen. At the time my idols were Huck Fin and “Big Teddy” from Homeboyz (a literary classic). Whether he knew it or not, Alger was
tapping into the exact insecurity and ungratefulness that attracted me to books
about homeless hillbilly children and gangbangers. In class on Tuesday I very
enthusiastically shared the types of books I read when I was a tween, and
pointed out their similarities to Ragged
Dick. The similarities were readily apparent within the first ten pages, and
I have no doubt I would have read Ragged
Dick to shreds if I were born 160 years ago.
Ragged Dick is perhaps the archetype of the characters I was
drawn to. If you’re a Parks and Recreation fan, I would describe him as the Ron
Swanson of boyhood. He has complete freedom to do as he pleases, so long as he
can black enough boots to support it. He is free of the tasks that feel so
burdensome to young boys, and participates in all of the most intriguing adult
habits. He doesn’t have to make a bed in the morning, wash himself, or go to
school. He drinks both coffee and booze, smokes, and can do as he pleases for
entertainment. Of course, half of this is not necessarily by Dick’s choosing,
particularly the bed, washing, and schooling. His lifestyle is admittedly
unappealing at the surface, but he makes it seem so easy. He drums up business at
will, always has enough to eat, and seems very comfortable in his “Box Hotel”
or on a bale of cotton. It isn’t difficult for a boy who has never experienced legitimate
hardship to imagine himself thriving as Dick does. As counter-intuitive as it
may seem, I can very clearly imagine myself desperately wishing for Dick’s
lifestyle, and I have no doubt his freedom from the trivial burdens of boyhood was the greatest source of its
appeal to boys of the Gilded Age, especially the middle class Catholic school boys.
I am commenting on this post for one reason and one reason only. I wanted to write about Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec. I definitely see the connection between Ragged Dick and the man whose alter ego is Dick Silver. The two have vices that they go to time and time again, alcohol's a main one. However, the two are hard-working and dependable in a way many of the people in their respective worlds aren't.
ReplyDelete“You began in the right way when you determined never to steal, or to do anything mean or dishonorable, however strongly tempted to do so. That will make people have confidence in you when they come to know you. But, in order to succeed well, you must manage to get as good an education as you can.” (89)
This quote from Ragged Dick definitely can reflect Swanson and his life mantras as well.
I also agree that Ragged Dick is an "archetype" that is prevalent in plenty of young adult stories. As we talked about in class, the rags to riches story is so popular for good reason. I still enjoy reading and watching stories like this one as it gives me hope that I too can make it big one day.
This rings especially true with me as well. As a young boy I would have (and still do) found Dick's ability to strike up a conversation with anybody at any time and have a meaningful interaction that ends in friendship exciting. From Johnny Nolan, to Frank Whitney, to Fosdick, to Mr. Greyson and his family, to all of the countless small interactions he has with strangers on the street, his ability to meet new people and develop lasting relationships so easily fills his life with adventure and freedom. The lovable Dick Hunter lived such a carefree and adventurous lifestyle full of goodwill and honest work. He seldom got angry at his circumstances but saw opportunities and room for improvement in everything he did. I love how willing he is to spend his money and time on friends and strangers just because that is what he likes to do. He is always rewarded with either a new friend or a positive experience.
ReplyDeleteDick worked honestly for what he had, and because of it he was able to spend his time and money as he saw fit. In the beginning of the novel, he spent it foolishly on plays and gambling, but then he develops the goal of being respectable so he opens a bank account and rents an apartment. Just these two actions alone would have been such an adventure and rewarding as a boy, to feel as though I was a respectable man.
This is exactly what I would have loved my boyhood to have been filled with. Adventure, freedom, and good people.
I think if Ron Swanson read this book, he would argue that Ragged Dick does not need to change. Why should he clean himself up and conform to society when he can do as he pleases without abiding by government rule? He’s still an honest person, which is a value that Ron Swanson cherishes the most. So, a contrasting story could simply be the first few chapters of Ragged Dick - and leave it at that. Even before he changes his “flaws” of drinking, smoking, gambling, and other indulgences, Ragged Dick is still a likeable, hardworking boy. Like I said in class, I hardly noticed that he even had flaws until his new friends told him he needed to start saving money, open a bank account, and move into a house. But like Louisa May Alcott, Horatio Alger has written a book that sets out to establish a societal ideal and their character has to conform to it in the end.
ReplyDeleteHannah Marks
Your fascination and idealization of Ragged Dick's original impoverished lifestyle is incredibly interesting. Until I read your post, I never really considered how his poverty is a blessing in disguise for him. Prior to meeting Mr. Whitney and Frank, Dick truly seems contented with his lifestyle, and your admiration for his boyhood freedom is quite relatable.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I feel as though his freedom and poverty play a larger role in the scope of the story. Dick appears to have learned all of his positive qualities through his independent life on the streets. For example, when he declares, "I keep my eyes open,-that's the way I get jobs," (Alger 11) he proves his hardworking spirit and persistence are skills he's learned through his struggles. Additionally, he has a developed a righteous sense of morality with his dedication toward honestly and distaste for stealing. While it's essential that Dick goes from "ragged" to rich to emphasize Horatio's perspective on opportunity and American Dream, would he even have been capable of success if he had not originally been poor? Would he have possessed the same drive if he had been blessed with more fortunate circumstances and didn't have to learn how to survive on his own? Although his poverty is merely a plot device for Alger's method, I think his impoverished independence is what truly defines him, which is why his prior lifestyle is so appealing.