I don’t think I would be the only one to say that the prospect of reading Ragged Dick (a novel originally published in 1868) did not particularly excite me when I saw it on the syllabus. However, upon completion of the book, I’ve found that I was more entertained by it than I thought I would be. Perhaps what’s most interesting to me about this book is that Dick, by all accounts, is a born-and-bred scamp. He’s spent nearly his entire life living on the streets, bouncing from various vagabond jobs as his heart desires, indulging in his whims as they come to him. However, despite this, he’s instilled with a deep and constant moral compass that prohibits him from behaving the same way most of his fellow boot-blacks do.
I can understand the hard-working attitude he possesses compared to his coworkers; that comes from a place of pure survival instinct. What perplexes me, though, is his giving nature and resolve to never steal, cheat, or lie. There are numerous opportunities in the novel where Dick could easily blur the lines of morality with justification (forgetting to return Mr. Greyson’s change, choosing not to help Tom pay his rent, etc.) and yet he proves time and time again that he will always make the right choice even if it isn’t convenient or immediately rewarding to him. Even at the end of the book when Dick gets a new job with Mr. Rockwell, he makes note that he’ll “try to get [his] reg'lar customers to take Johnny Nolan in [his] place.” There’s truly no reason for Dick to do this as Johnny has never repaid any of the various debts that he owes to Dick.
I suppose Alger is making the commentary that anyone, no matter their upbringing or quality of life, has the potential to find success through maintaining strong morals and resilience in the face of adversity. When I view Dick, I see him as a sort of diamond-in-the-rough situation, someone who was always good and just needed to have the grime wiped away to see how valuable they are. It may take others in the book longer to get to Dick’s position, such as Micky and Johnny, but the only thing that distinguishes him from these two is that he actively tries to be a good person. While I'm not sure how useful this book would have been in reforming the ways of young boys in the 1860s, it's still rather entertaining, and there's always a chance these boys would have tried to emulate Dick and his upstanding qualities subconsciously.
It is evident that Alger attempts to create the "ideal" young man who embodies and encompasses all morals that young men should have. At multiple points in the novel, Ragged Dick is given many opportunities to lie, cheat, and steal, and as the post states, he does not jump on any of these opportunities. Dick not only stays away from these vices, but he rights his wrongs (ex- when he forgets to return Mr. Greyson's change). Another example of an time when Dick's perfect moral compass was highlighted is when he does not think twice to jump off the ferry boat to rescue the little boy that fell overboard. All of these situations are all "feel good" scenarios that urge the readers to cheer for Dick's success in life, which he ultimately achieves. Dick's small adventures throughout the novel give the impression that it is possible for humans to be inherently good. Dick has been an orphan and living on his own since a child, has never had a formal education, and never attended church. All of these are reassuring inn the sense that, since he had no guidance for all of his life, Dick is proof that naturally good people exist. However, as much as we as readers enjoy seeing the all the pieces of Dick's life fall perfectly into place due to his honesty and goodness, we must keep in mind that, unfortunately, this is a fictional story. While Alger is attempting to use Dick as a role model for young boys, not all young men will act like Dick and take the most honest path to success.
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