Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Analyzing character in Ragged Dick
To begin class today (Wednesday, March 26), I’d like you to take a few minutes and describe Dick as a character. What is he like? What kind of personality does he have? How does act? What are his values? After you describe him in your own words, include a brief quotation or passage from the novel that illustrates one of your points about Dick. Then explain how this quote relates to your sense of him as a character.
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As a character, Dick is a homeless boot blacker. As i have become familiar with Dick, I have learned that he is not at all like the stereotypical homeless person as I have previously described. Dick is very honest and does what he can to make sure that he is making an honest days wages without stealing, cheating, or lying. Dick has a great grip on reality and is very sarcastic and funny about his situation. Dick is extremely gracious to anybody that ever helps him. Dick offers meals to other people, runs errands, and shines shoes for people. He does not do these things for his own good, but rather for the good of others and to make their lives easier. Dick acts out of equality and integrity and he expects the same from everybody else. "Come on in, I'll treat you this morning." This quote comes from the beginning of the novel where Dick offers to buy breakfast for a less fortunate homeless person and friend, Johnny Nolan. This describes Dick's character because it shows that Dick is kind and giving because he, being homeless, bought a meal for another homeless person who was doing the same job, but was less adapted and successful at the job.
Ragged Dick is a very smart fourteen-year-old boy who is very curious. He is very charismatic, and very quick witted. He has lived out in the streets for as long as he can remember, but he doesn’t seem to mind it at all. He is always looking out for a costumer, he is a very energetic hard working boy. He is very humble and honest which helps him out as a shoe shiner. Dick is a hero, he proves this when he goes to get the fifty dollars from a person who stole it from another person and returns it to the original owner. He makes sure never to steal, ever, because he thinks, “it’s rude”(I didn’t bring my book).
Dick is an interesting character who is extremely optimistic for someone in his situation of living on the streets. When we are first introduced to him he has just been woken up from his bed of straw in a box on the side of the street by a policeman, and despite a night of undesirable sleep partakes in a pleasant conversation with the policeman. Dick remains honest and never steals, (although he seems to have forgotten about the fifteen cents he owed a man and was supposed to leave at the man's office) even when he is hungry. Dick best describes himself in his explanation to Frank: "'but there's one thing I could never do,' he added, proudly. 'What's that?' 'I never stole,' said Dick. 'It's mean and I wouldn't do it.'" He has a strong sense of what is right and wrong, and treats everyone he meets with respect, whether it is a customer, a fellow boot-black, or anyone on the street. The good in him is evident by the many tricks that he plays on dishonest men that Dick and Frank come across on their tour of the city, from the man with the false wallet to the swindler who took the country man's money, Dick knows how to approach situations without causing too much of a fuss, and realizes that his change in appearance allows him to do these things. He is very grateful for the help that he receives and is not prepared to take anything he didn't earn, which he explains to Frank's uncle when he gives him five dollars.
Ragged Dick is a brave, homeless young boy. He has no fear when it comes to interacting with people, and is very friendly. Although he isn’t, as the author says, “a model boy,” he still has some values that he abides by. For example, he never steals like other people often do in his circumstance, but instead earns an honest living. He comes off as charming and ambitious.
“That’s so,” said Dick, soberly. “I never thought how awful ignorant I was till now.”
“That can be remedied with perseverance,” said Frank. “A year will do a great deal for you.”
“I’ll go to work and see what I can do,” said Dick, energetically.”
This passage on page 41 sums up Dick’s character. He is brave and willing to try new things in order to succeed. He knows that education is a way to move up in the world. He has the perseverance that Frank speaks of and is going to pursue education whole heartedly, the way he does most things.
Dick’s personality seems to have the ability to get help him through many of the situations he gets himself into throughout the reading. We quickly learn of his situation, he is homeless, yet he doesn’t appear to be upset or saddened by this as we would expect in most cases. In fact, he seems pretty joyful overall, and happily tends to his work each morning chatting it up with customers, and joking with them. He also seems to have a very relaxed and calm approach to issues that come up. For example, the counterfeit bill debacle at the beginning of chapter 3. When he returns to his customer to tell him what had happened inside the store, Dick doesn’t shout or stress, but when asked where the change bill is he simply replies, “I haven’t got it.” Remaining calm, Dick explains himself to his client, “Hold on a minute, mister’ said Dick, ‘and I’ll tell you all about it. The man took the bill and said it wasn’t good, and kept it.” I think that in most cases a boy of his age would immediately become flustered while quickly trying to prove their innocence. But the personality trait of Dick to remain calm proves to pay off huge for him in situations like these. This, coupled with his likeable personality and generosity will prove to be a huge asset for Dick as the reading continues.
Ragged Dick is a very smart kid who has grown up way too fast. He has lived on the streets on his own since he was merely seven years old. Most of us in this room are at least 18 and still live at home somewhat. At only 14 he has worked several jobs just to be able to have a place to sleep and eat at night, something that most people take for granted. The great thing about Dick though is his spirits are always up. He does not get depressed or try to make people feel for him because he is a young boy out in the streets, but rather is happy and works hard to get by in life. He definitely shows he is street-smart beyond just about any 14 year old. Frank would have easily lost $20 to the man with the wallet trick and the other young man they came across who took the fake check for $50 would have been completely out of luck without Dick there to help him out. One of my favorite parts is when Frank and Dick are in the carriage and even though they are dressed nicely, the lady still accuses them of stealing her purse. “I shan’t apologize to anybody,’ said the lady whose temper was not the best; ‘least of all young whipper-snappers as they are.’ Thank you ma’am,’ said Dick comically, ‘your handsome apology is accepted”(64). Even after the woman found her purse in her pocket, she was still rude to the boys. I find it pretty impressive and funny that Dick can still be polite and a smart-ass when most people would get really mad at someone who is treating them as rudely as the lady here. This is what makes me see Dick as such an extremely likeable character.
The character Dick seems to go against the general stereotype everyone has of a homeless boy during this time. Although many seem to believe those who live on the street don’t retain a good character (stealing, lying, cheating people out of a fair deal), Dick does none of these things. He is very hard working and honest, making it clear that he is no thief and an honest boy in several situations. His downfall at the beginning of the book might be described as self-indulgence, where he would take his earnings and spend them away on the theater and luxuries he didn’t necessarily need. However, with some good advice from Frank and Mr. Whitney, Dick begins changing these habits in order to save his earnings to provide a better life for himself. Honest and hard-working, Dick is also street-smart and quick to learn. He tells Frank he does not know how to read or write very well because of lack of schooling, but Dick is able to get around situations and survive for years on the street on his own. He is generally a very upbeat person who likes to joke and is aware of who he is and where he stands in life, but who also misses certain aspects of home and family. A quote from the book that shows what a good character and a kind heart Dick has is on page 39; “‘I don’t see why rich folks should be so hard upon a poor boy that wants to make a livin’...If everybody was like you and your uncle there would be some chance for poor people. If I was rich I’d try to help ‘em along’”. This shows that he realizes how the world treats people like him and that, because he has experienced this injustice, if he were to come across money, he would be sure to help out others like him instead of selfishly keeping it all to himself.
Ragged Dick is a fourteen year old boy who has very good morals and values, and while he may have some bad habits to kick, he is a person that would never steal and would never do any intentional harm to someone unless in self defense. At the same time, he is a boy that has a lot of ambition and street smarts. He knows his way around the city (Ney York), and he knows how to handle himself out on the streets. He is a very honest and straight forward when speaking and has a good sense of humor to lighten the mood in any situation. Although Dick may appear strong and happy with his lifestyle, but what he really wants is someone to care for him. He wants a family. This is seen when Dick and Frank are on their way to central park and dick says, “… I’ve seen boys with good homes, and fathers, and mothers, I’ve thought I’d like to have somebody to care for me.” It goes on to say that Dick’s tone changed, and there was then a bit of sadness in his voice. This just goes to show that although Dick is a very strong character in this book, he still has his own personal wants and needs.
Dick is a boot-blacker in the busy city of New York. He lives on the streets, but makes enough to live with some extras of life, like going to the theater and gambling. Although in the beginning of the book, he is spending almost all of his money he earns in a day which prevents him from obtaining a regular place to live, besides a box outside in an alley. Dick is very proud of his honesty and the fact that he has never stolen to make ends meat. He is a rather handsome looking boy when all the grime is washed from his hands and face and he puts on a decent pair of clothes. Because of his honest and well-mannered appearance, Dick is able to make quite a bit more money than the rest of the boot-blackers in New York. He is a very blunt person and doesn’t sugar coat anything. He also seems to be very smart and witty. His witty sense of humor is reoccurring throughout the novel.
“This coat once belonged to General Washington,” said Dick, comically. “He wore it all through the Revolution, and it got torn some, ‘cause he fit so hard. When he died he told his wider to give it to some smart young feller that hadn’t got none of his own; so she gave it to me. But if you’d like it, sir, to remember General Washington by, I’ll let you have it reasonable.”
This statement is made by Dick when a man questions his baggy attire that seems to overflow his body. I think this is a good representation of what type of person Dick is because it shows how witty he is and how he uses bluntness in his humor. It also shows that he is dressed in shambles, but doesn’t seem to be ashamed or bothered by it, almost as if he finds a sense of pride in the way he dresses.
Dick is the protagonist in the novel, often referred to as the hero. Ragged Dick is a young man of lower class. He does not have much of anything, and shines shoes in New York where he lives, to make a living. Although his clothes are shabby and he lives on the streets in boxes or wherever he can lay his head, he maintains a positive mindset. He never gets himself down because of his financial circumstances, but rather acknowledges them and jokes around with his lifestyle. He makes an honest living, and faithfully wakes up to shine shoes, something in which he finds decent success. He takes pride in what he has. He makes ascertains that his clothes come from General Washington after he left the war, which is why they have holes. He makes the best of his box of hay in which he calls his bed. He calls it a �bully� and talks as though it is one of the most comfortable places in all of New York.
Dick is a funny character who uses sarcasm towards other and his own life. He makes jokes a lot. For example, when he and Frank were accused of stealing the woman�s purse on the ride, he made sarcastic remarks and kept a great sense of humor. He joked about how such a great person she was, and even joked about his new wallet. Although she cursed his name and downed him as a person, he turned the other cheek in a sense, and made the best out of the situation.
He is wise. He knows how people swindle each other in New York, and is aware that you have to protect and look out for yourself. He has been taking care of himself since the age of 7, so his is independent and mature. Although he is homeless, he values honesty and prides on the fact that he has never stolen anything in his life. He works for everything that he has, and doesn�t take things from others. He has been tempted, in such cases where the store clerk would leave for the back room, leaving bread and cakes unattended and open to him. However, because of his values and norms of behavior, he didn�t take the bread and cake. As a homeless young man, he was hungry, but was able to uphold his values. Dick is an all around great person with a great sense of humor, a positive mindset, and great values. He makes an honest living and does what he knows best.
Dick is a young boy who lives on the streets. His clothes are torn and his home is a box. Despite his unfortunate situation however, he holds a very positive attitude about life. He jokes with his shoe shine customers about his living condition and he seems happy in general. He is trustworthy and sincere. For example, “‘You don’t catch me stealin’, if that’s what you mean.’” (Alger 3). Dick has less to lose than any other person, yet he chooses not to steal. He feels it is wrong to steal and refuses to lower himself to that level. He wants greatly to make an honest living for himself. He wants to work and earn the money he gets. He feels that he does not need to steal to make his life better. These character traits seem to bring him good fortune. People respect him for being honest and thus he is given opportunities to make his life better.
The character Ragged Dick is a fourteen-year old boy. He is smart, cunning, sharing, and funny. Dick seems like a very good person because he emphasizes that he has never stolen anything in his life. He has a peculiar appearance in which he wears pants two sizes too big for him along with a vest missing various buttons, over a shirt that looks as though it had been worn for a month. Lastly, he wears a coat that is too long for his entire body. He worked at his own little blacking-box as a shoeshine. The book further describes Dick as being an entrepreneur because he is described as being extravagant from always being wide-awake and ready for business. He sufficiently earns enough money to live a comfortable life. Dick has a very light-hearted personality because he takes jokes and humor very lightly. One example from the book is when he is shining a person’s shoe and the person comments about his clothes and how steep the price is for a shoe shine. Dick responds by jokingly saying that part of the cost of the shoeshine goes to paying his rent for his mansion on Fifth Avenue. That scene adds a warm and comical feel to his character making the book interesting.
Dick is a very young boy that lives in the streets of New York. His mother died when he was just a little boy and his father moved. Yet now Dick believes he is dead. By the age of seven he had to take care of himself. his first job was a news paper boy but he messed that up when he had no business and decided to yell out that Queen Victoria was dead just to get his newspapers bought and read. After this he started working as a match boy, yet this did not work either for people did not have the need to buy matches every single day. Which meant no money, which meant no food. So than Dick decided to his "now" job as a shoe shiner which he calls boot black. Being a boot black doesn't just mean shinning boots every day, dick also had side jobs as well. From getting change for his customers from a nearby store, or to return money he owed three to four shines later to its rightful owner, or volunteering himself to give someone a tour of the city. Dick is a very unique character, even though he has hardly any money to live by everyday, he was still honest. I say this because in many occasions he had been tempted to steal because he is so hungry but doesn't because he is honest,"stealing is mean" he always said.
Dick is a testament to the resilience of the working class. He has an amazingly optimistic outlook on life, even though he has been dealt ever bad hand life could throw his way. Sleeping in a box outside and taking care of himself since he was seven, Dick has learned a great deal about how to live on his own. Through working odd jobs like being a boot black, Dick always did an honest days work and began developing what most people in his time would have called character. He was not handed anything in life and made the best of everything for himself. However, it is not just his ability to rise above daunting circumstances in order to provide for himself that is the reason Dick is an exceptional character. His willingness to be selfless despite the fact that he has so little is one of dick's best redeeming qualities. "I Told Tom Wilkins I'd let him have some more money tomorrow, or his sick mother will have to turn out of their lodgin's." Dick feels bad for Tom and gives him money to take care of his mom because he feels he should since he doesn't have a mother to take care of. This selflessness is one of Dick's most admirable qualities and will ultimately be the reason why he moves up in life.
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