A Close Reading of Ragged Dick :: Ragged Dick Essays

A Close Reading of Ragged Dick There were no houses of good appearance near it, buildings being check mainly to rude temporary huts used by workmen who were employed in improving it. The time will undoubtedly come when the greens will be surrounded by elegant residences, and comp be favorably in this respect with the most attractive city in the world. But at the time when blunt and Dick visited it, not much could be said in favor of either the Park or its neighborhood. If this is Central Park, said Frank, who naturally felt disappointed, I dont think much of it. My fathers got a large pasture that is much nicer. Itll look better some time, said Dick. There aint much to see now scarce rocks. We will take a walk over it if you want to. No, said Frank, Ive seen as much of it as I want to. Besides, I feel tired. (p. 48) In this passage from Ragged Dick, Horatio Alger employs the ongoing construction of Central Park as a metaphor for the transformation of Ragged Dick into the es teemed Richard Hunter, Esquire. The narrator informs the subscriber at the outset of this passage that when Dick and Frank are visiting the Park during its construction, there are no houses of good appearance near it significantly, the buildings that are there are only temporary. Central Park, like Ragged Dick, is simply a work-in-progress. Although externally it may appear rough and unpolished, as both the Park and Dick do to Frank, this situation is only transitory. Through diligent and honest work for Dick and workmen for the Park, a revolution will be completed, culminating in a respectable and elegant final product. The fact that Alger utilizes the word undoubtedly informs the reader that for both Dick and Central Park, self-improvement will assuredly be achieved through with(predicate) demanding effort, and this is designed to provide incentives and hope for the young reader. The passage also illuminates a dichotomy in Dicks and Franks perception of the world.