Realism in American Literature

The world is an ugly place full of corruption and evil people. However, if one possesses good morals, high principles, and a good work ethic, this person will overcome the obstacles of wrongdoings in the world to succeed in life. This is exactly what Dick Hunter does in the novel Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger. Written in 1868, Ragged Dick educates its readers about the American morals and principles of the mid-1800s. This novel illustrates …

…story of Dick Hunter in Ragged Dick is both an idealistic view of the world, with realism rearing its ugly head from time to time. Horatio Alger blends these two opposite worlds together throughout the novel. The reader can see a coming together of these two types of styles, which is a result of the time of transition in history. Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick exemplifies the transition between idealistic and realistic writing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**