The Horatio Alger Myth

"In many ways the Horation Alger myth is the basis for classic Hollywood narrative form, in which white male heroes with consistent pluck and determination overcome hardship or villainy and obtain (economic) success."

This was a quote I found that says its is pretty much that easy to make something of yourself if you try hard enough. In relation to what I have read, Ragged Dick was exactly one of these people, a young boy who had very little and gradually made himself into a successful young man with a business with a positive attitude. This quote also relates to The American Dream saying that in America anything is achievable if you try and it doesn't matter what other people think.