Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger, Jr. Ragged Dick is a perfect story of what the American dream should be like. Here you have a boy who lost both his parents, he has no one. He shines shoes just so he can feed himself, and he rises to a higher class through hard work and good character. There may have been a little luck from time to time, but that's also the American dream. Ragged Dick is almost like a guide to raising your social class rank. This isn't really a step-by-step manual, but more of a how-to. Ragged Dick gives you the perfect presentation of the American Dream, and the mindset and work ethic needed for your own American Dream story. I believe the American dream is someone who improves their current situation to a better one. I don't think it's a small change though. The American dream isn't just about getting a car when your family didn't have one before or getting a small promotion at work so your family can actually start saving money. Although it is part of the American dream which, simply put, grows and prospers compared to what you had before. That being said, I believe the true American dream is to start at the bottom with nothing, usually brought to that point by oppression or devastation, and rise above poverty to achieve at least a lifetime easy where money is not a worry in life. The stereotypical story would extend from poverty to upper-class life, but the simple movement toward a better life is all that actually needs to happen to become an American Dream story. Many people would say that this American dream is not possible and completely unattainable, these people are probably not American or just haven't found the stroke of luck. The American dream is simply not about hard work, good personality and good values,...... middle of paper...... making as much money as he shines shoes . He gets more for a better attitude than some of the other shoeshine boys because they're always so dreary. His attitude of helping and caring towards others is what allows him to thrive in life and this makes those more fortunate than him more willing to help him because of his attitude towards others and his sympathy . You can't get anywhere in life if no one loves you and you don't have good character. Ragged Dick wasn't just a good example of an American dream come true. It's also pretty much a guideline for what you need to do or have to make an American dream possible. It clearly shows how Dick's character and moral values ​​play an important role in his rise to bigger and better things. Work ethic and your desire for better things are always necessary. There are six main things that are highlighted in the book.