The Horatio Alger Myth

http://snunes.blogspot.com/2011/10/horatio-alger-myth.html

Looking over the beliefs shown in books like Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick the values put across seem to reflect that of De Crevecoeur's Letters, that idea of hard work despite the odds that stand in their way, the work pays off and eventually they become prosperous. The ideals themselves seem to be promoted for purposes of propoganda in order to keep the average American working almost divulging a fear of the working class as they seem to hold up the foundations of society, meaning if they were to stop working the rich would no longer be able to live their lives of excess. So Alger's book can be viewed as either propoganda or a means of hope as all seem to want to live a life of comfort where wealth is not a problem.

I chose the blog post as it seemed to be written from the point of view of the average American it is not a reputable academic source but it is more from a realist perspective that I chose the post due to the fact that this particular person has to live in today's class system to which Horatio Alger's beliefs do not seem to apply.

The blog itself seems to be rather biased due to the fact it's author seems to be rather upset that the story itself is beloved by so many but in a reality the events shown seem to be a mere fantasy, especially in today's economic climate it seems that Alger's stories now hold little meaning.