Ragtime Father Analysis

Flow with the Changes For most of us, ordinary is the only adjective we would want to use to describe our life. Although we may strive for a simple life, its attainment might not be possible. In the book Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow, a father who likes to read articles to the family during dinner, is the perfect example of this kind of character. He has a family of five. However, big changes occur in his family. An ordinary life is all he seeks, but the world keeps challenging him with changes that completely destroy him. His experiences in Ragtime represent the life and value system of middle/upper class men at the turn of the 20th century. He also represents tragedy; everything can seem perfect at one moment, and yet the next might bring terrible circumstances.

As an only child, Father had a happy childhood until his mother died when he was 14. He attended Groton and Harvard. His dad made a fortune in the Civil War, but lost everything due to unwise speculations. He died suddenly. Father’s constant unhappiness was established during his early adulthood. “His flamboyance had produced in his lonely son a personality that was cautious, sober, industrious and chronically unhappy” (181). He took the money and invested in a fireworks business. Starting his business with inherited money was archetypal during the Ragtime period.

Father and his family live in a three-story house in New Rochelle, New York. Middle-aged, he has a good relationship with his wife. He is solemn and attentive, even his way of saying goodbye to his family seems conservative. Father resents the Esquimos’ open manner regarding their sexual activity. Perhaps he is jealous because he envies a life like that. He goes on the expedition because he wants a sense of accomplishment in life and to experience adventure. Most Americans during this period were racist, especially middle to high class. “It occurred to Father one day that Coalhouse didn’t know he was a Negro” (134). He