The Errand Boy; Or How Phil Brent Won Success

As with many of Alger''s works The Errand Boy follows a formulaic plot in which a young hardworking and virtuous protagonist faces adversity and ultimately achieves success through determination and moral character. In this particular story the protagonist is Phil Brent who starts as an errand boy in a city. Despite facing various challenges and obstacles Phil perseveres maintains his integrity and works diligently. Throughout the narrative Phil''s commitment to hard work and his unwavering moral values lead him to opportunities for advancement and success. The story typically conveys the message that virtue and effort will ultimately be rewarded. Horatio Alger''s novels were immensely popular in their time and are often associated with the rags-to-riches theme which was prevalent in American literature during the late 19th century. Alger''s stories often aimed to inspire young readers with the belief that through hard work honesty and determination they could achieve success and upward social mobility. The Errand Boy is one of many novels by Horatio Alger Jr. that follows this theme and it remains a part of the broader literary and cultural history of the United States during the late 19th century.