Was the country ready for these changes? E.L. Doctorow shows the reactions of the different people in America at the time through the characters in his historical fiction novel Ragtime‚ intended to be read by young adults. Edgar Lawrence Doctorow was born in New York City on January 6‚ 1931. After graduating with honors from Kenyon College in 1952‚ he did some graduate work at Columbia University and served in the US Army in Germany. E.L. Doctorow has worked as senior editor and editor in chief
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Ragtime is a novel set in America at the beginning of this century. Its characters reflect all that is most significant and dramatic in America’s last hundred years. One character‚ Coalhouse Walker Jr.‚ a black pianist love affair with young Sarah and abandoned her to later reunite. But who bore his child was resentful when he came to rectify his actions. The novel will take you through the tragedy of their lives. This novel written by the well-known novelist named E.L. Doctorow is about the
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E.L. Doctorow’s novel Ragtime is a story involving certain characters‚ each trying to find his or her place in America. Doctorow focus’s on many themes throughout the novel‚ however‚ one theme that he gives to the reader from the very beginning of the novel is the American dream. Many characters throughout the novel individually take diverse journeys in order to fulfill what they might describe as “The American Dream.” Throughout Ragtime several characters venture upon momentous journeys whether
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narrative‚ citizens of this nation have endured considerable societal transformation. At the beginning of the twentieth century and throughout the start of the First World War when the events in “Ragtime” transpired‚ the United States endured one of these great shifts. In the novel‚ “Ragtime” by E.L. Doctorow‚ the author constructed and personified characters like Father‚ Tateh‚ and Coalhouse Walker in order to explore both the negative and positive effects of evolution on each sector present in a diverse
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the world came to the United States in search of the American dream‚ but many never found it. Immigrants were greeted with a harsh welcome‚ being hated for the simple fact that they were not "true-blooded" citizens. In Ragtime‚ the family of Tateh embodies these citizens. Doctorow also follows Father‚ a character of middle class America with a family and passion for exploration. Both of these paternal figures and their families have their share of problems to deal with‚ whether they have an advantage
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E. L. Doctorow’s Ragtime was a very interesting historical fiction reading that showed the great wealth inequality that occurred between the rich and poor in New York City during the early 20th century. One interesting passage that I found shocking was how Jacob Riis made maps in the latter end of Chapter 3. I previously knew that Jacob Riis took pictures showing the horrific nature of tenements; a fact that is shown in the novel as well with Doctorow writing‚ “The tenements glowed like furnaces
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In the classic E.L. Doctorow novel‚ Ragtime‚ we see the juxtaposition of many motifs to represent Doctorow’s view of the early century. By combining history and fiction Doctorow allows himself to write a semi-accurate interpretation of the early 1900’s while also being able to strongly express his own biases and opinions of the era. The biggest‚ and perhaps most important theme Doctorow applies in the novel is social tension‚ or the battle of the rich versus the poor. Other important themes include
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The analysis of the abstract from the novel «Ragtime» by E.L. Doctorow “Ragtime” is a novel about the American life at the beginning of the 20th century. The extract taken for the analysis tells about the time when Coalhouse gets a good job with the Jim Europe Chief Club Orchestra and tries to bring Sarah back. The theme on the general level is “difficult relations between “white” and “black” people”; the theme on the plot level is “love story of two colored people – Sarah and Coalhouse”. The novel
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Notes on Doctorow’s Welcome to Hard Times Outstanding Writer Course: Dr Z. Ramin Sara Khazai ‚ 2014 Historical Background: 1950s-1960s In The Sixties‚ Arthur Marwick describes the Fifties as “rigid”: [R]igid social hierarchy; subordination of women to men and children to parents; repressed attitudes toward sex; racism; unquestioning respect for the authority in the family‚ education‚ government‚ the law‚ and religion‚ and for the nation-state‚ the national flag‚ the national anthem; Cold War
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In literature‚ one character can impact the entire story and all of its characters. Such is the case with Coalhouse Walker Jr. in E.L. Doctrow’s Ragtime. His characterization provides insight into race relations in turn-of-the-century America. Many characters react strongly to his mannerisms‚ as they believe his social standing does not allow for such behavior. Because Coalhouse conducts himself with a sense of pride unusual of African Americans at this point in history‚ his view of how he should
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