Ragged Dick · Theme
Social Class and Respectability
How Ragged Dick develops Social Class and Respectability.
The book explores class distinctions through Dick's interactions with wealthy patrons and his own changing appearance; respectability is tied to clothing, cleanliness, and behavior, but the narrative suggests it can be earned regardless of birth.
Where it surfaces
- IX: A Scene in a Third Avenue Car
The woman's prejudice against the boys, despite Frank's respectable appearance, shows how class and appearance influence perceptions of guilt.
- Dick Hires a Room on Mott Street
Dick's new clothes allow him to dine at a more respectable restaurant and are a factor in his decision to seek a proper room, highlighting the link between appearance and social standing.
- XVI: The First Lesson
Dick's desire to be 'spectable' and his attendance at church reflect his aspiration to rise in social standing.
- Dick's First Appearance in Society
Dick feels out of place in the Greysons' elegant home and struggles with his identity as a bootblack.
- XIX: Fosdick Changes His Business
Roswell Crawford's disdain for bootblacks and the stigma of a Mott Street address illustrate the class prejudices of the era.
- Dick Receives a Letter
Dick's shame at wearing his old clothes and his encounter with Micky Maguire underscore the social pressures and class distinctions in 19th-century New York.