Essay Questions

Horatio Alger Jr. was originally trained as a minister, and his writing sometimes contains religious references. What is the role of religion in "Ragged Dick"? Is it presented in a positive or negative way?

Religion is presented as a positive influence for Dick. He is introduced to the concept at first by Frank, the young man he escorts around New York, who describes the Bible as a good and worthwhile book to read. Later, Henry Fosdick and Dick have an extended discussion about morality and whether certain behaviors were "good" or "bad". Dick has an instinctive aversion to theft. Later on, Dick and Henry are invited to church and Sunday school by Mr. Greyson, who later provides a character reference that gets Henry a job in a shop.

The story contains boys who are stronger, older, and better educated than Dick, yet Dick is the boy who manages to rise out of poverty first. What attributes does Dick have that help him capitalize on his opportunity?

Dick is assertive, "plucky", and a hard worker. His outgoing nature allows him to get more boot-blacking clients than the better educated but more introverted Henry Fosdick. He also succeeds in attracting the attention of mentors such as Mr. Greyson.

Another factor in Dick's advancement is his honesty. He does not try to swindle other people, nor does he steal. It is his honesty in returning Mr. Greyson's change to him that catches Mr. Greyson's attention and makes the older man more disposed to mentor Dick and Henry.

Dick is courageous. He jumps into deep water to save a little boy, and the boy's father rewards Dick's courage to the extent he is able, by providing Dick with a new set of clothes to replace his wet ones and by giving him a job in his company.

Finally, Dick has a very strong work ethic. Compared to Johnny Nolan, who does very little work and who consequently goes hungry despite having been given some very good opportunities to work, Dick is proactive. He solicits business opportunities that do not involve boot-blacking. Showing Frank Whitney around the city is just one of the money-making opportunities Dick finds for himself.

Although the United States is said by many to be a "classless" society, there are at least three different social classes described in this book: the bootblacks and other unskilled laborers (such as the apple-seller, the landlady Mrs. Mooney, and the bartender), the shopkeepers, and the wealthier families as exemplified by Mr. Greyson. How do they people in these classes identify one another? How do they interact with the people "above" or "below" them? Is class solely a matter of money?

The bootblacks, like the match-sellers and the newsboys, belong to the lowest class of people in the city. Many are homeless and few own more than the clothes on their backs. They spend their money as quickly as they make it. As adults, the unskilled laborers tend to have a place to sleep. Some, such as the bartender Jim Travis, rent space. Others, such as Mrs. Mooney, own or manage a small building. The working class is presented as being tolerant of dirt, uneducated, and sometimes (in the case of Jim Travis) immoral. Their language is unrefined, their diction is sloppy, and they use a great deal of slang.

The middle class, as exemplified by the shopkeepers and the boys they hire, value education and a clean, well-kept appearance. They dress far better than people in the working class and spend more money on clothing and appearance, although they do not necessarily earn more than the unskilled workers. An industrious bootblack like Dick earns more than the starting wage in the shop that hires Henry Fosdick. In general, people from the skilled labor or entrepreneurial class tend to be welcome in restaurants when "dirty" working-class people are not. Many of the boys who are born to this class look down on Dick and Henry for being bootblacks.

The wealthy class, as represented by the Greyson and Whitney families, often owns buildings or businesses. But the gentlemen do not necessarily have to work for a living. They value education, religious morality, punctuality, and good dress. They are not depicted as behaving negatively toward bootblacks or other members of the working or middle class. However they speak in a very refined and cultured way and do not use slang or vulgar expressions.