Ragged Dick: Critical Reviews

Critical Reviews of Alger's 'Ragged Dick'.

Gorman Beauchamp:

Gorman Beauchamp critiqued Alger’s works in the Michigan Quarterly Review. Throughout his review, he debates the popularity and success, as well as the limitations of the Book ‘Ragged Dick’, which sold at least a billion copies.

Beauchamp suggests that a key plotline in Alger’s works is the idea that “a poor but honest lad who, through grit, industry and some well-deserved hard luck, pulls himself from poverty and into middle-class respectability”. He admits that whilst it does suggests that there is perhaps little variation in Dick’s works, he believes that ‘Ragged Dick’ “clearly answered to something deep and abiding in the American psyche”. It is the encouragement and even reassurance of a character who is able to change their life through hard work, that connected to intimately with the American public.

Furthermore, this can link to the ideological theme of opportunity that is enshrined in the American identity. For Beauchamp, ‘Alger’s stories are stories of beginnings’ and ‘Ragged Dick’ presents someone who rises in society. It is key example of American opportunity being conveyed within literature.

On the other hand, Bauchamp does bring to light those who have critiqued Alger for his character not necessarily rising ‘rags to riches’ as two extremes. Instead, they are rising to the mainstream middle-class standard of living. Cawelti even suggested that ‘Alger hero’s fortune to consist of no more than $10,000, prominence” (Cawelti was a writer for Time).  Perhaps aiming for the middle-class standard of living was intentional, as at the time it may have been a lot more achievable than striving to the upper class standard of living.

Finally, according to Beauchamp, another key theme that Alger explores is respectability instead of materialism or wealth. For Beauchamp, Ragged Dick is ‘engaging’ and holds ‘high spirits’, as well as conveying the ‘merits of middle-class respectability and responsibility’. When looking back at the book, a moment that interlinks with the key theme of respectability is when Ragged Dick has his suit replaced. It highlights the change in himself as a character as well as the shift in his position in society.

Cara Erdheim:

Erdheim intricately critiques Alger’s books, whilst also bringing to light the wider historical aspects surrounding his works.

For Erdheim, ‘Ragged Dick’ is a clear representation of the American Dream. Erdheim even suggests that it’s success places it alongside other classics, such as Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, ‘The Great Gatsby’, and ‘The Death of a Salesman’. As a critical review, Erdheim explores the wider context behind the American Dream. A term coined ‘in the wake of the Great Depression’, it was James Truslow Adams that defined the dream. He believed that ‘one that would allow all men and women, regardless of their origin or social status, to prosper in a place of free and equal opportunity’.

The American dream is central to ‘Ragged Dick’. No matter what obstacles are faced, being another character or event, it is the persistence and hard work of Dick that achieves the American Dream. It is the genuine wish to do better. An example of this is even at the end of the book, Dick saves a drowning boy, without hesitation and without any knowledge of a reward. It is working hard to achieve better results, and not to put down those around you.

John Swansburg:

John Swansburg conveys his critical thoughts on Alger’s ‘Ragged Dick’ in his article ‘The Self-Made Man’ for ‘Slate’. Within this critical piece, Swansburg identifies individuals who were ‘self-made’. This includes Benjamin Franklin, Amos Lawrence, Andrew Carnegie, Horatio Alger, and others.

When looking closer at this critical review of ‘Ragged Dick’, Swansburg suggests that the book conveys a story of ‘well-deserved fortune’. He links the themes conveyed in the book to the philosophical ‘virtues’, which look towards self-improvement.

Swansburg also highlights how Alger’s writing was adaptable to reach a larger number of readers. According to Swansburg, during Alger’s time, he was ‘credited with inventing a moral hero, who becomes modestly successful’. His writings had the ability to be adapted and resold to also appeal to a ‘new generation of readers’. It is this moral hero that is presented in ‘Ragged Dick’, and has made the book so successful.


When summarising these critical reviews, I found deeper critical analysis of Alger’s works within Beauchamp and Erdheim’s writings. While all three critics’ reviews are plausible, it was the close analysis and overview that Beauchamp provided, along with the historical background of Erdheim that proved the most useful to me.

For further interest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stFEYuR4oWo

Sources:
http://bekminsterabbey.blogspot.co.uk/2006/01/response-to-ragged-dick.html
http://www.gradesaver.com/ragged-dick/wikipedia/major-themes