Summary Of Ragged Dick By Horatio Alger

Horatio Alger was a 19th century American author who was well known for works such as Ragged Dick and The Cash Boy. Alger's juvenile novels are also known for constantly and infamously displaying young black Americans undergoing "rags to riches" lifestyle. Horatio Alger describes three myths throughout Ragged Dick. The messages the Alger myths convey are: (1).each of us is judged solely on his or her own merits: (2).we each have a fair opportunity to develop our merits; and (3).ultimately merit will out. (261) So, what Horatio Alger is saying through these myths is that everyone is judged by what they have done or what they have earned show for what they have done.

Dalton finds the myths benign and puts forth rhetorical concept after rhetorical

Ethos is credibility; it is why someone has the authority to say what they are saying. For example, Dalton has ethos established through this since he is a professor at an Ivy League school. He also deeply studies critical race theories and the relationship of law to theology and psychology. (260) Dalton also establishes ethos when he quotes Shelley Taylor, a well-known psychologist who graduated from Yale Law School. Dalton quotes,” To quote Shelly Taylor once again: “The normal human mind is oriented toward mental health and… at every turn it construes events in a manner that promotes benign fictions about the self, the world, and the future. The mind is, with some significant exceptions, intrinsically adaptive, oriented toward overcoming rather than succumbing to the adverse events in life…. At one level, it constructs beneficent interpretations of threatening events that raise self-esteem and promote motivation; yet another level it recognizes the threat or challenge that is posed by the

He writes of this quote saying, “The main point of the Alger myth is to promote inequality” and, “the Alger myth is to proclaim that everyone can rise above their station in life. Dalton’s writes frequently of one of Horatio Alger’s works titled Ragged Dick. Ragged Dick is a novel written by Horatio Alger in 1947. It is about a young black American putting forth hard work achieving merits and working his way up in life and wealth. It exercises the three Alger myths abundantly. Dalton writes that not only merit contribute to success but as does other opportunities and qualities. Speaking on the Alger's first message which says "each of us is judged solely on his or her own merit". Dalton writes that success in life has nothing to do with pedigree, race, background, gender sexual orientation etc. (279). He writes this because it’s quite logical to know that everything he lists is vital in the way a person is judged by society. His suggesting this in a sarcastic tone appeals to the reader because it is common sense to know the examples listed are necessities in life. Another logos-related proof Dalton writes of this myth again. He writes of how he is surprised when he can see a white man play basketball above the rim. He also writes of how Puerto Ricans find it surprising when they find Americans who can salsa well.