Fourteen-year-old Dick Hunter is the novel’s protagonist. He is handsome and “might be mistaken for a gentleman’s son” when he is well-dressed and washed (114). However, Dick was orphaned and forced to earn a living on the streets since the age of seven. Horatio Alger begins the story with Dick as an imperfect, uneducated, raggedy bootblack to encourage young readers that having faults and hardships does not mean they cannot transform. Despite his unfortunate circumstances in childhood, Dick eventually attains respectability and prosperity.

The book refers to Dick as “our ragged hero” and notes that he “wasn’t a model boy in all respects” but initially indulges in extravagance, smoking, occasional swearing, and gambling (42). Even when impoverished and uneducated, Dick is portrayed as having an essential goodness, a noble nature, which prevents him from dishonorable actions, such as stealing and cheating. Horatio Alger uses the character of Dick to inspire young readers of the book: they can improve their position in life through honesty, hard work, and generosity. Enterprising and alert, Dick is grateful for any help and eager to learn. He makes the most of his opportunities and his education progresses rapidly because “he was gifted with a natural quickness” (153).