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Money and success never comes easy. The myth of individual opportunity implies that there is “a fair competition for success that is not rigged according to race, gender, or family history” ( Colombo 254). In the article Ragged Dick, The main character Dick experiences a rags to riches lifestyle. Dick becomes a hero by capturing a drowning little boy and brings him to safety. The father of the little boy repays Dick back by offering him a job that pays $10 a week. Dick happily excepts the job and returns home to tell his friend, Fosdick about his new job. Fosdick was happy for Dick and also expressed his own good news; “his pay had been advanced to six dollars”. Both decided that it was time for them to leave their home on Mott Street and move to a “nicer quarter of the city” (Alger 263). This article is a great example of the myth of individual opportunity because it gives off the impression that anyone of any racial background could have saved the little boy and reaped the same benefits as Dick did. The myth does not take into account people's personal opinions towards women and people of color who try to advance in their career and hold power. Women and people of color are forced to work harder in order to reach the level of people who are not women or colored. The article by Dalton explains how Horatio Alger's article, Ragged Dick gives off the impression that success in life has nothing to do with pedigree, race, class background, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation. Even if merit was to be the only trait that determined success, people still include these characteristics to recognize the person's accomplishment; First Black women CEO and the best black student are just two examples. People need to realize that hard work and individual merit are not guarantees of success. In order for Dick to advance in the work world and get his dream job, Mr. Rockwell helped him get there. Even though Dick really did not work hard to get this success, the point is he did not get it alone.
