Ragged Dick is Alger’s proposed path for lower class individuals to achieve upward mobility and live the American Dream. Overall, Alger instructs that a person must restrain from over indulgence, obtain proper employment, and possess sound morals in order to achieve upward mobility. He begins to teach this lesson by creating Richard Hunter, a relatable character that is authentic enough to believe in but noble enough to emulate imitate in reality. Alger introduces Richard as a boy who is diligent, “frank”, “straightforward”, and “above anything dishonorable” which saves “him from all mean faults” that he initially possesses.
