To begin class today (3/31), please consider these three quotations from the second half of Ragged Dick:
“But he [Fosdick] found it no easy thing to obtain a place. Swarms of boys seemed to be out of employment, and it was not unusual to find from fifty to a hundred applicants for a single place” (Alger 91);
“After fifty applications and as many failures, Fosdick began to get discouraged. There seemed to be now way out of his present business, for which he felt unfitted” (Alger 91); and
“I’ve got the place,” said Fosdick, in accents of satisfaction; ‘but it was only because Mr. Greyson spoke up for me” (Alger 95).
Take a few minutes and reflect on their significance. Then, keeping them in mind, try and generate a thesis, or an interpretive claim, about the novel. What do these passages say about the social/economic world in Alger’s fiction? How do they explain the process through which poor young men rise up the social ladder in mid-19th century America?
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These passages serve to illuminate one major concept. For a young man to move up the social chain in 19th century America, he has to know people of good social standing. Fosdick is well-educated and well-spoken for a boot-black living in the streets, but he is not exaggerating when he says that he only was able to get the job in the hat store because Mr. Greyson happened to stop in and spoke highly of him. Dick experiences this as well early in the book when Mr. Whitney takes a liking to him and gives him the five dollars as well as advice on saving it so that he can begin to move up the social chain. In the last chapter of the book Mr. Rockwell is going to pay Dick a large sum of money for saving his son out of the river. Even though the book ends there, it is obvious that Dick is going to be very well-off afterwards with his payment from Mr. Rockwell. All three of these are examples of how getting help from established men in higher places is essential for boys like Fosdick and Dick to get off of the streets and have a successful life. The financial help and life advice the two boys gain from these men are absolutely crucial to their success and for them to succeed without it would be next to impossible.
In the 19th century it was very difficult for boys to obtain employment and higher paying jobs, which in turn made it difficult for them to rise in society. In Alger’s novel it seemed that without luck it was impossible to succeed and grow. Although, the main character did have a good head on his shoulders, it seems that he didn’t do anything exceptional in order to acquire his prosperity. Even Fosdick seemed to fall under a certain stroke of luck, because if Mr. Greyson hadn’t just appeared at the store of which Fosdick was applying, he probably would not have been given the job. It seems as if novel sends the message that if one remains in good morals, than good things shall come; it doesn’t seem to give a specific idea or plan of how one was to progress in society and prosperity. It states the jobs one should obtain in the 19th century, but it does not give specific examples of how to obtain them.
These passages show how difficult it was for someone to move up in economic and social status in Alger’s world. No matter how hard he tried on his own, Fosdick ended up securing a place because of luck and his connections, not on his own merit. In other parts of the book we see this same phenomenon occurring. Ragged Dick gets a position because he saved a man’s son from drowning. He didn’t apply or try for the position; instead he was at the right place at the right time. It was luck and bravery that got him a job. The same was with Mr. Whitney when he gave Ragged Dick $5 to help him move up in the world. At the end of the story Ragged Dick passes on his good fortune to a younger, struggling friend. This shows that Ragged Dick had made it in the world because he became one of Alger’s character’s who had the ability to help others. Alger’s message seems to be that in order to improve one’s status a person needs luck and a mentor type figure willing to help them out.
The significance of these threes passages is evident by taking a look at the story in general. All three outline and expose the very difficult life that these boys were faced to deal with. The first two especially show just how difficult it was for them to remain motivated while seemingly constantly losing self-esteem. With so many boys in their very same situation, looking for a job, the odds were certainly not good that Fosdick would be selected. The third passage, demonstrates that really the only way for any of these boys to get a job was if they knew someone who could “go to bat for them” so to speak. These passages serve to give us perspective on the hardships faced by these young men everyday while they were simply struggling to get by. Situations like these are used by Alger to highlight this struggle in the world that he created. Quite possibly, he wanted to show how bad it could get, so that when the hero was rewarded it seemed all the better.
A motif which runs clearly through the story line of “Ragged Dick” is that of charity, in many instances multiple characters from the book go out of their way to donate money, help or a good word for Ragged Dick or one of his companions. Through these instances the book seems to claim that it is necessary to receive a helping hand to move up in the world, these seems very likely considering the time in which the book was written when much stock was put in someone’s financial success, thus restraining social mobility. Still the book still enforces the idea that hard work is the only way to success as the characters in the book are typically only rewarded with charitable acts after completing an item of labor or courage, as shown in Mr. Rockwell’s payment to Dick or Mr. Greyson’s good word for Fosdick after Fosdick had already attempted employ in fifty other shops.
These three quotations from Ragged dick help illustrate the difficult passage of raising one's position on the economic ladder during the mid 19th century. Fosdick's position in life stunts his ability to get any position of respect in the working world, and this is because it is easiest for people in his position to acquire one of these positions if they have the necessary connections. trying on his own, Fosdicks record for getting a payed position is over 50:0, but with the help of Mr. Greyson speaking on his behalf, He was able to get the position in no time.
Two factors were at work that made it much less easy for people in Fosdick's position to move up the ladder. First was the fact that he was young. Employers often look to those with experience and skills to handle a job. Being young automatically puts you at a disadvantage when job searching during this time period because getting the connections necessary and establishing a reputation for yourself is virtually impossible on your own. the second factor that cause Fosdick's delay in his job-search was his unfamiliarity with the business world. Being a bootblack for so long, he is not aware of the things at work in the business world, which Alger emphasizes by by illustrating Fosdicks discouragement and feeling "unfit."
For the first quote, “But he [Fosdick] found it no easy thing to obtain a place. Swarms of boys seemed to be out of employment, and it was not unusual to find from fifty to a hundred applicants for a single place” (Alger 91), this shows that during this time in America times were so hard and jobs so scarce that young boys were out on the streets looking for work in order to bring in more money for their families, or even support themselves if they were alone. It shows that, not only were the orphaned children from the streets desperate for a source of income, but also “gentlemen’s” boys, too.
Concerning the next quote, “After fifty applications and as many failures, Fosdick began to get discouraged. There seemed to be now way out of his present business, for which he felt unfitted” (Alger 91), this shows that it was not an easy task for a boy from the streets to find work, no matter how educated he was, because he had no real stable family or place to live so the employers thought that they could not rely on them. The orphaned boys or boys whose families were living on the streets with them were forced into street work because, jobs already being hard to find, were even harder for vagabonds. This quote shows the desperate situation Fosdick and many other boys just like him were in at the time; they were all trying hard to find work that suited them in order to have a steady source of income to feed themselves and hopefully to help them find shelter.
In the last quote, “I’ve got the place,” said Fosdick, in accents of satisfaction; ‘but it was only because Mr. Greyson spoke up for me” (Alger 95), Fosdick demonstrates the almost impossibility of a young child from the streets being offered a job because it is very unlikely that many boys had middle or upper class respectable older friends who would speak on their behalf. Without Mr. Greyson, the employer may have wanted to give Fosdick a job but would not have been able to for the sake of his business because, although he seemed good natured, there was no one reliable to confirm that. This shows the unlikelihood of street boys finding work other than self-employed boot blacking, which obviously was not fit for everyone seeing as some had a harder time finding customers than others.
These passages point out that the social and economic world in Alger’s fiction was bleak if it were not for luck in many situations the main characters found themselves in. He writes up a world where many families seem desperate and needy, and many seem without hope of reaching a better place in life. He shows that the economy is hurting if jobs aren’t available and if families who were wealthy were sending their children into the workforce. The process through which poor young men rise up the social ladder in mid-19th century America seems to be, in Alger’s world, a result of a steady and determined mind set to do so and some good fortune along the way. Those who worked hard and had a good heart seemed to find the bright side of their desperate situation and made the best of it until it repaid them by moving them up in life. For Alger, those who wished to obtain a better place in life in mid-19th century America had to have a good character, strong ambitions, and a will not to give up no matter what.
These quotations of the novel provide evidence of how possibilities can sometimes be slim, but hope is still there. Fosdick wanted to rise up the social ladder, moving away from shoe shining to work as an office assistant or a clerk. He desired to make more money and live a better and more comfortable life. With his education and intellect, he was sure that he was qualified for a position. However, when he saw the long line of applicants for the one job position in which he was interested in, his faith soon died down.
He felt as though he wasn’t as respectable as some of the other applicants who were children of wealthy families. Just as he thought his chances of getting the position as a store clerk were vague, Mr. Greyson came and put in a good word for him. Although the situation was looking rough and not in favor of him, hope stepped in. He was given the job over a number of other applicants. All in all, when all hope is gone, there is still someone or something that is working in your favor.
The social/economic world in Alger’s fiction shows how competitive the job market was and how there could be hundreds of people competing for one job. These times meant that there were many people without jobs and who were in need for a step up in society. It was a struggle to rise in society. However, it takes courage and a helping hand to give you that push that you need to establish a foundation and build from it. For example, Fosdick had courage and desire, and had Mr. Greyson on his side, which enabled him to get a job as a store clerk, something that he could build upon.
These passages say that for a young man to rise up in the social ladder he needs extra help, a lending hand, and or a reference from an all ready respectable. Another thing that is a huge factor of climbing the social ladder would be getting an education. One example of this would be Fosdick, he first when he goes and applies for the place at the hat store seems to have an advantage because he writes better than the others. Yet even though he seems to have the advantage of education he is almost denied because he does not have his parents with him, and lives in Mott St.
They also provide evidence of how powerful just a few words are from someone respectable or of good social standing to give in a word to get someone like Fosdick a job. “I’ve got the place,” said Fosdick, in accents of satisfaction; ‘but it was only because Mr. Greyson spoke up for me” (Alger 95). If this had not happened Fosdick would have never gotten the place even if he had the education.
Also it seems that they need like a mentor or a gentleman to point them in the right way, as in talk to them about what is out in the world and how to get it. Mr. Whitney and Frank were somewhat as mentors to him. I believe that Mr. Whitney actually seems to be paying a debt when he gives Dick the five dollars and says that he doesn’t need to pay him but instead keep and when he has enough he will give them to some other boy that needs it.
This seems that to succeed you need a great big deal of support and in this particular world a lot of luck and coincidence.
Horatio Alger illustrates the world of a Boot-black in early twentieth century New York City through the many trials and tribulations of Ragged Dick and his friend. Alger makes the point that even if you worked hard your entire life, you would have nothing unless you had honesty and good morals. Through the many situations that Alger portrays Dick and his friend in, the ways in which they always seem to get out of their sticky situations by being honest or having good faith in their favor. Through the many contacts they make under good terms, they are able to find a home, establish a savings, find jobs for themselves, among other things. Through all of these situations Alger says that even in the worst of circumstances, anyone can bring themselves out of them as long as they possess the right values of truth and honesty.
In Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger, the world that Fosdick is apart of is one of struggle and grief. It is ridden with poverty and job opportunities are scarce. Fosdick applies for more than fifty different job openings and fails every time. However, he finally is met with success at one of the places he applies to. After waiting in line, he is able to talk with the owner of the store and as luck would have it, his friend Mr. Greyson walks into the store. Mr. Greyson is a well known and respectable man of good stature. Fosdick is able to use him as a source of recommendation ends up getting the position. Without Mr. Greyson’s help, people like Fosdick would be hard pressed to be able to advance in society.
All of the three passages explain how it was extremely difficult for boys during the 19th century had such a difficult time finding and obtaining jobs. From reading about Ragged Dick’s experience from the novel, it seems like jobs such as a boot-black were very common for boys during that time period. Unemployment was huge during this time period. Because of the huge spike in unemployment, it made it very difficult for young men to rise up the social ladder. The first two quotes are mainly about how hard it was for boys to get jobs but the last quote mentions how sometimes it takes an outside person to help a person get a job. In the story, Mr. Greyson was speaking highly of Ragged Dick explaining to Roswell Crawford and other boys how great Ragged Dick is. The times seemed very hard for people in the 19th century and any help that people could get to obtain a job would be great because of a rise unemployment.
Thanks to everyone who responded to this prompt. Overall, you're all doing smart and savvy work here interpreting Horation Alger's Ragged Dick. As you finalize your interpretive research papers--look to these posts as possible models for how to formulate an interpretive claim or thesis.
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