Horatio Alger: obsession
"A writer for boys should have an abundant sympathy for them ... he should be able to enter their plans hopes and aspirations."Born January 13, 1832 in Revere, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister. His father so rigorously supervised his son's early training that at age nine the boy was known as "Holy Horatio." Soon he was doing superior work at Gates Academy and, later, at Harvard, from which he graduated at the age of 19. After a few years as a tutor and journalist, he acceded to his father's wishes and enrolled in the Harvard Divinity School, from which he received his diploma in 1860. But instead of entering the ministry, thanks to an unexpected inheritance, he was enabled to go abroad. Free from parental supervision, he enjoyed seven months of bohemian travel. Returning home, he served as a Unitarian minister until 1866, when he moved to New York, where he remained throughout his life. Having already published four moderately successful books for children, Alger continued writing, and with Ragged Dick he scored his first success.The opening quote shows insight in to Alger's mind, showing exactly how he believed an author should bring his charictors to life and this is where Alg
All the while the one thing that let him accomplish this, his appetite for young boys was held constant. This is what truly made Alger shine as a writer for young people while at the same time led to his decline as a moral being. Not only was he making funny names, but at the same time he was covering up his lust for young boys by making people laugh as opposed to summoned to court and being kicked out of the town. This is done in order to not be continuously repulsed by his motivations as a writer. "That's the misfortune' of being rich. Yet, even looking at it from a different perspective, the point still stands that, the molestation of boys or girls, whether the evil deed is performed by gay adults or straight adults is wrong and cannot be condoned in any light what so ever. Astor and me don sleep much for fear of burglars breakin' in and robbin' us of our valooble treasures!" (Alger, xi) Alger chooses to show Dick rising up in society not by being corrupt, rather by attributing dicks success to the way that he treats people how they want to be treated and always keep an open mind about things. He decided to implicate lots of sarcasm into his writing. (Alger, 24) Not only does this quote show how Alger thought an author should write, it also shows how deeply he felt about his characters. To acknowledge this aspect of Alger and his work will either leave an uneasy feeling or rather just perplex all who have enjoyed, and would like to continue to enjoy, his tales of hard luck lads overcoming all trials to become successful, savvy young businessmen. " (Alger, ix) Alger is in a way setting an ideal world for his young readers to live in.
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