Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Analyzing character in Ragged Dick
I’d like you to start today’s class by describing Dick’s character. What is he like? What kind of personality does he have? How does act? What are his values? How has being homeless affected him? Then, find a brief passage (a sentence or two) that you think best illustrates your discussion of Dick. Explain how this quote relates to your sense of his character.
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As I read, I found it interesting that although Dick lived on the streets from the age of 7, he was able to live a very honest life. He worked very hard in order to make money living on the streets by selling matches and shining shoes. He is a kind and helpful person and has very upbeat views on life and although he has to work hard to earn little money, he splurges with his earnings every night. Because he splurges, he has little money to spend on finding shelter, his homelessness being the one thing that has probably taught him the most about living in a city. His homelessness has taught him all of the pranks and ways to steal (although he doesn’t steal himself) and it has helped him get to know certain types of people but specific characters in the city as well. In a sense, he has become very good at reading others and their moral values.
ReplyDeleteHis moral character really shined to me however in the scene when he found the man who had swindled another young fellow out of his 50 dollars. After hearing about what happened, Dick found the swindler on a boat while crossing over to Brooklyn and, although he lied to get the money back, was able to convince the man that Dick would have every cop out looking for him if he did not hand it over. Then, Dick went back over to the city and returned the 50 dollars to its rightful owner. During that period of time, 50 dollars was a large sum of money, money in which Dick could have kept and used for his own benefit. Instead, he returned it to the rightful owner, which shows that he really values honesty. Overall, after living on the streets, I found Dick very interesting because he doesn’t steal from others and is actually extremely honest and good, several qualities that many people think homeless people lack.
-Avery Denney
Ragged Dick's life on the streets has not made him jaded. He is generally upbeat. Constantly, Dick is joking about his poverty, sarcastically referring to his shares in the stock market and friends in high places. Dick has strong moral resolve. Even in the most desperate of circumstances, Dick refuses to steal, a point that he pride himself on. Dick's constant boasting of his refusal to steal makes him prideful. Although Dick has little, he is generous, constantly treating his friends. At times, Dick is quite frivolous, spending all his earnings in one night. Dick can afford the grasshopper lifestyle due to his industriousness. Dick is constantly working during the day and always willing to take a job. Dick's frivolity is temporary. After spending the day with Frank, Dick resolves to begin saving and improve his position--further illustrating his great resolve. Though playful, Dick is wise beyond his years. Dick fully understands his position in life and what is needed to extricate himself from it. Many times, there are references to Dick's "sobering" comments.
ReplyDelete"If I get more'n fifty dollars as a reward for my honesty, I'll divide with you. But I say, ain't it most time to go back to your sick family in Boston?" (37)
This quote encompasses Dick's character as it illustrates his his sense of humor, his knowledge, as well as his sense of justice and generosity. Though Dick is joking with the con artist, had this been an honest person, Dick would have made the same offer not in jest. This quote also demonstrates Dick's charisma, as he is able to direct people through his words and robust personality just as well as the practiced con artist.
As a result of being homeless from a young age, Dick is an independent character that is a bit rough around the edges. In order to survive life on the streets, he has had to become very street smart and observant of the tricks and trades going on around him. Furthermore, he has also had to become very outgoing and crafty in order to gain customers for his shining business. However, his character is quite unique to the streets, in the sense that Dick is a very honest man. His belief in never stealing is only one of his values that sets him apart from the other homeless people, but his willingness to work hard, his positive attitude, and his ability to think outside the box allows him to make the most of his situation.
ReplyDeleteRagged Dick was a fourteen year old, homeless boy, that do shine-black for living. He would never cheat, lies, or steals for any kind of reason, but he would swear sometimes. It is rare for a fourteen year old kid to not to steals upon hunger, but he still had thought about stealing. This was in the text when he had no business in the evening and he was hungry, so he went into the bakery to look at the breads and cakes just to make him feel not that hungry anymore. He offered a trade with his matches for the bread, but the owner refused and went to the back to check on his bread. At the time the owner was absent from the scene, he almost steal a loaf of bread and ran away, but he didn’t. Instead, the owner needs some help, so Dick helped him and get some foods as payment. Being homeless affect him by making him more mature and knew how to take care of him. He acts like a very mature man, because he had live in the area for a very long time and experienced lot of difficulties and people. “He was above doing anything mean or dishonorable. He would not steal, or cheat, or impose upon younger boys, but was frank and straight-forward, manly and self-reliant.” This passage is very straight-forward about him, the passage just tell the readers all his personalities, don’t cheat, lie, or steal, but a self-reliant person.
ReplyDeleteDick is a very honest person who doesn’t know how to spend his money in the right ways. He works very hard to earn his money. He is very alert so that when he sees someone he can try to shine their shoes to earn his money. If he wasn’t this way, he would never make any money. Growing up in the streets has taught him how to survive on his own. He is a very strong person from the lifestyle that he has lived. Dick is a very friendly person. He is able to go up to people easily for his job. Being this friendly helps him to earn his money. He knows what he is doing very well and also very kind and honest. He never steals from his customers or anyone else that he passes which shows his honestly. When he is asked to do something for a customer he does it even if they don’t think that he will. Being homeless has made Dick into the person that he is. If he didn’t grow up this way he wouldn’t be as strong of a person that he is. He has seen the worst ways of living and knows that he doesn’t want to go through that again, which will help when he tries to become more of himself.
ReplyDelete“Dick was so astonished that he hardly knew what to say. Presents were something that he knew very little about, never having received any to his knowledge. That so large a gift should be made to him by a stranger seemed very wonderful.” This shows how Dick has grown up with nothing and by getting something that is worth so much amazed him. He has always worked very hard for his things and now he received a present so easily. He was very thankful of this gift. This shows part of his character.
Dick's character is one that doesn't seem to worry much about anything. He does not care where he sleeps and he does not care very much how he looks. He is a hard worker that has a very good work ethic. He seems to be willing to make compromises and seems very willing to bargain. He has a good reason for the things he asks for and the things he does.
ReplyDeleteDick has gained his identity at a young age from living off of the streets. Being homeless would effect many people in different ways but it seems to have helped Dick define who he is. He is witty, smart, clever boy that loves to interact with people and is not ashamed of his life style. Dick is a boy that likes to talk and interact with all people. Dick's personality builds from the interactions that he has but he understands how to engage with people. Dick acts and speaks sometimes to his customers or others homeless people as if he is one step ahead of the conversation. This is Dick's way of making sure that he is not made a fool or stolen from. he stays to true to what he believes in. It would be hard to have no consistent form of income and not steal or cheat others to survive. Dick does not feel that he could live with himself for being mean or untruthful to people. A passage that describes Dick is when Dick is trying to get the young man's $50 back.
ReplyDeleteDick says "There isn't but one thing to do. Just give me back the money, and I'll see that you're not touched. If you don't, I'll give you up to the first p'liceman we meet. Dick looked so determined, and spoke so confidently, that the other, overcome by his fears, no longer hesitated, but passed a roll of bills to Dick and hastily left the boat" (53).
This passage helps to give a sense of Dick's character in many ways. Dick fist off is helping a random man get the money he was cheated out of back. Dick is also helping this man that stole the money see that what he did was wrong and if he does the right thing then he will not get into trouble. Dick is one step ahead of this man in the conversation and is so confident which shows his character and how he carries himself.
Ragged Dick is a character unlike any character I have ever met before. Being a New York born native, he has gained the knowledge of the streets as a city boy and knows how to speak the culture of New York City. However, Dick does not portray one's normal view of a struggling New York City boy who lives on the streets. Yes, he does have a sense of cockiness in the way he acts, but he rather uses this towards his wit. He acts in such a way that is very gentleman like and considerate that, when he is found well dressed thanks to the compliments of Mr. Whitney and Frank, he fits the role well.
ReplyDeleteBeing homeless has taught Dick the will to work hard and how to reap the benefits of doing so. Dick has learned how to earn a living through labor, and has learned how to do it well, too. Dick's place in society has also taught him very much on street knowledge, and Dick is able to get around and succeed (in his own terms) in New York as homeless boy.
"Now, in the boot-blacking business, as well as in higher avocations, the same rule prevails, that energy and industry are rewarded, and indolence suffers. Dick was energetic and on the alert for business, but Johnny the reverse. The consequence was that Dick earned probably three times as much as the other" (Alger 8).
This passage, and the dialogue around it, succeeds in explaining the hard-working aspect of Dick and his sympathy and generosity. Dick knows what it takes to succeed and to get what he wants, and he shows this in his work effort in boot-blacking. Dick then shows his generosity and sympathy for his friends by providing food for them when they do not have their own money to do so, such as Johnny, who does not work nearly as hard as Dick and could use the free meal.
Ragged Dick is in the physical sense of the word a raggamuffin. He dresses in old blackened clothes, his face is full of grime, only his smile and bright eyes prove to the observer that he is part of a sunny world; without them, he might be lost in shadow. From his nonphysical, the moral, the mental, he is much more of an aristocratic business man (from the strictly theoretical standpoint, most business men are probably not as moral and as clever as Ragged Dick). He exudes a feeling of love for life and conversation. He is quick to start up a chat with any fellow that walks his way in order to fabricate some colorful tale that might land a few more cents in his pocket. He is quick witted, and easy to please. His life on the streets have made his standards of living very low, and he is happy to get any sort of accommodation, a hay bail is always a good find! Being homeless has also taught him how to navigate not only the streets, but also the minds of costumers. He knows how to amuse people and how to keep his business going- honesty. Ragged Dick seems to hold honesty, not in the sense of telling the truth but living the truth, higher than any other moral. He always makes sure to do his own work, and do right by people, and has never stolen in his life. I doubt any rich man or priest could claim to have lived in a similar fashion.
ReplyDelete"'Where'd you get all them clothes' asked Johnny. 'Have you been stealin'?'
'Say that again, and I'll lick you. no, I've lent my clothes to a young feller as was goin' to a party, and didn't have none fit to wear, and so I put on my second-best for a change.'"
This quote, though not the best of the many examples of this, illustrate Dick's fascinating combination of traits. First of all, he gets terribly offended if someone accuses him of stealing, something he would never do, but he proceeds that by a blatent lie that gives his listener something to think about and himself a little fun. Ragged Dick lives life with a smile on his face, honesty and playfulness are both necessary for a sincere smile.
Dick is a good example of a great human being that has had a rough start. He is an honest, genuine and optimistic boy. Although he has grown up in the streets and at times he doesn’t even have a descent place to sleep, he still keeps his chin up and makes the most of what he’s got. Dick is very friendly and outgoing, that is why he tends to get more customers for his boot blacking business than most other boys his age. Another aspect that should be looked upon is that Dick doesn’t ever steal. He doesn’t let the helpless feelings inside him get the best of him. The reason why he doesn’t get involved in such an act is because he feels as though, as he talks on page 38, “it’s mean and I wouldn’t do it.” While he is a truly admirable boy for his values, he also has some issues with spending the small amount of money he has on smoking and going to theatres.
ReplyDeleteRagged Dick is a New York vagrant who makes a living by shining shoes for others. He is so poor that he doesn't even have a shelter to live in. However he is so careless about his modest income that he spends it on gambling and in the theater. He is ragged, because of his poverty. We can tell that Dick has a good nature. He is kind to his shoe-blacking friend, his new friend Frank, and the unfortunate country man who lost his money. He would lend his hand to whoever he sees in trouble and use his wisdom to help them out. Our character is also an intelligent one. He speaks in a witty way and uses different languages in different situations. He is brave to fight against the “villians”, the arrogant lady, the hooligans and the cheater.
ReplyDeleteRagged Dick has grown up on the streets of New York, and life as a bootblack is all he knows. He is surrounded by thieves and lascivious persons of ill repute, but manages to hold onto his beliefs in what is right and wrong, refusing to fully succumb to the habits of individuals who sleep in boxes during the night.
ReplyDeleteDick believes firmly that stealing is wrong, and does not cheat other young boys. He works hard for the pennies he earns, and is rather too generous with his wages when it comes to treating other, less motivated boys to an occasional breakfast or dinner.
Dick has developed quite a knack for sarcasm and story-telling, with many a friendly fib told regarding his clothing, or when explaining the sights of New York, or just interacting with the locals. He's a street-urchin, he knows the common games, and is much too smart to be caught up in the lies of others.
Also, he has an issue with saving his money: that is to say, he doesn't. He lives with no responsibilities, having to care solely about himself and his own entertainment, and as such wastes his time and money at freak shows and a local theatre known for its rough crowd.
But Dick is honest, and helpful, and thankful when appropriate.
Dick has grown up on the streets of New York. He is fine with his way of life even though he is homeless. He lives from payment to payment and spends the money he earns during the day. He is confident and is handsome under his dirty appearance. Dick is confident and sarcastic at the same time. He knows things that you wouldn't expect a homeless boy to know. He is honest and respectful. He never steals and doesn't impose his power on younger boys. Being homeless doesn't affect him because he doesn't mind it. It seems that he makes the best with what he has. He spends the money he makes during the day on things that he doesn't really need. "Some boys get it easier than that," said the porter significantly. "You don't catch me stealin', if that's what you mean," said Dick. "Don't you ever steal, then?""No, and I wouldn't. Lots of boys does it, but I wouldn't." This quotes represents the discussion of Dick because it shows that he doesn't steal. Many would think that homeless would steal because they have no other way but Dick will still not steal. Even though his way of life would not be considered honorable to most he still doesn't do the things that people would expect him to do.
ReplyDeleteDick manages to make a living as a shoeshine boy in late-1860s New York City, fourteen-year-old, an orphan, remains homeless and without many prospects until two new friends inspire him to become educated. If we view everyone is equally that we are all humans, we are actors to play different positions, someone acted as our leader and we all have to listen to the leader, someone acted as our middle class who are working hard to get to the top level class citizens, also someone who acted as poor people who are the lowest class citizens. Mostly what we see from the street boys that they represent as thefts, liars, trouble makers, stealers, cheaters, and they do not happy with the current society, but for Dick, he is a very honest boy and smart. He did not hate his life of been a street boy, he did not adapt to his society to be a liar. He said to Mr. Whitney “honor bright”, that shows he certainly know his moral trait.
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