The idea of luck became prominent in a few of the stories we have read this semester such as Ragged Dick and The Luck of Roaring Camp. As we have seen throughout this course the ideas of the “American Dream” and creating new American individuals has a major influence on what was written for children and secretly hidden for adults. Within The Luck of Roaring Camp we are presented with ideas about the American baby and the idea of luck playing a huge part in turning around lives.
Bret Harte presents us with the idea of the American dream in his story and the idea of being able to succeed with luck. “No, probably not, but you may rise in some other way. A good many distinguished men have once been poor boys. There’s hope for you, Dick, if you’ll try” (394). Working hard is the moral to the story for Dick. Dick was a truthful, earnest, and hard working boy who was given hope that if he continues on this path and really tries that he will succeed in life. As we all know sometimes working hard just is not enough and it does not take us to the places we deserve to be at. From a completely different perspective we see the men from Roaring Camp succeeding with the idea of luck. This story was in the time of the Gold Rush, which was all about luck and striking big. I loved this story because it put a little twist on luck and changes the meaning to the baby being a source of potential and luck. This baby functions as a source of hope the minute it is brought into the lives of these men. “The men had suddenly awakened to the fact that there were beauty and significance in these trifles which they had so long trodden carelessly beneath their feet” (538). I liked this story so much because it shows luck in so many different ways that doesn’t just include making money. These men are lucky because they are being awakened to the beauty of life and being ultimately transformed for the better. “Profanity was tacitly given up” (537). Not only were these men becoming enlightened of the world and nature but they started to clean up their own behavior. The baby was used as a symbol for luck and gave these men luck in a number of ways.
I had never before connected the luck the baby brought to something other than the return of the gold at the end of the story. I like that you expanded upon the definition of what "luck" really is. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteI like how you mention the fact that we can see the American dream coming through the stories. I totally agree. We can really see how the setting and time frame the authors were in impacts the text. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI love how you pointed out the different meanings of luck in The Luck of Roaring Camp than the economical luck they are talking about in Ragged Dick. In the end the baby was more lucky because it didn't bring money and all the greed that comes along with it, but brought out the best in the men and allowed them to see the beauty in life, which makes it worth living.
ReplyDeleteI like how you connected the luck and the baby. The luck and the baby are not the same thing, yet the coexist. They are tied together. The baby brought them luck in a way that changed their lives.
ReplyDeleteI loved when you said that there is much more to luck than fortune. That is such a true comment! The men fortune changed because this little baby brought so much joy to them, which is more than any fortuitous monetary amount. It was a very great observation about how lucky they were that they could turn their lives around.
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