Ragtime - 1747 Words

Up until the late 1900#8217;s, the American populace on the whole had assumed a very optimistic view of American history. Glossing over disgraceful events, emphasizing the brighter points in our history, our culture has attempted to ignore the obvious fact that we have had, and still have, our fair share of problems. In Ragtime, E.L. Doctorow unabashedly exposes some of the worst aspects of American life in our more recent history. Doctorow doesn#8217;t hold back anything, providing detailed examples of human cruelty and sacrifice, and the evolution of American society. While critiquing American society was not the sole purpose of his novel, Doctorow does expose and examine many issues that people tended to ignore like the†¦show more content†¦They drank. They raped their own daughters. They killed each other casually.#8221; (13) Father#8217;s unnerving brush with poverty leaves him stricken with hopelessness and a feeling of despair. Yet even then, the family had n ot witnessed the full truth of the lives of the impoverished immigrants. Doctorow then proceeds to describe in harsh, uncensored terms the reality of the situation. Doctorow#8217;s disgust with American society was exemplified through this harsh examination of the life of immigrants. Another issue that comes up in the novel as an issue that deserves addressing, is that of racism. America has always been a sort of beacon to the oppressed peoples of the world, and in serving that role has accepted immigrants from all across the globe. Many people have said that America is a nation of immigrants, since virtually all of her citizens have a lineage that did not originate here. Therefore, one would think that since America is composed of such a racially diverse population that racism would not be such a problem. The people would have recognized that they are all part of #8220;a crazy quilt of humanity!#8221; (16) as Jacob Riis referred to his color-coded map for the ethnic division s in Manhattan. But the truth is that racism still existed, indeed, it was much more of a prominent issue in this country. There was racism towards immigrants, towards blacks, towards the Irish, there was racism from the Irish to otherShow MoreRelatedRagtime by E.L. Doctorow1502 Words   |  6 Pagesspeed.† E.L. Doctorow’s novel Ragtime, which has been adapted into a stage production as well, stands as an example of precisely this sort of text. There is the question of the association of the cultural, historical, and fictional characteristics of Ragtime that critic Brian Roberts has called the â€Å"central metaphor† of the novel. When put together with the cohesive historical narrative within the novel, the discussion reveals the ways in which Doctorow uses Ragtime to perform a work that mirrorsRead MoreThe Ragtime And The Blues1184 Words   |  5 PagesBoth ragtime and the blues were essential and influential in their contributions to the development of ja zz. Together, they served as the primary predecessors to the later, more complicated genre. Key elements from each brand are incorporated and mixed to create jazz. Without the creative geniuses of ragtime such as Scott Jopin and James Reese Europe and Blues propagators W.C. Hady and Robert Johnson, the distinctive genre of jazz would not have emerged. Ragtime and blues are both unique in theirRead MoreRagtime American Dream1476 Words   |  6 PagesE.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 â€Å"The American Dream.† Throughout Ragtime several characters venture upon momentous journeys whetherRead More J.P. Mo rgan and Ragtime Essay1244 Words   |  5 Pages John Pierpont Morgan: The turn of the century in American, when E.L. Doctorow’s novel Ragtime is set, was a time marked by rapid technological developments and industrialization. These years also brought a heavy flood of immigrants as well as an increasingly urban American landscape. Technological advancements enabled increased efficiency and mass production. However, Doctorow clearly brings into question the consequences of this new technology for the average American worker. J.P. Morgans discussionRead MoreThe Progressive Era of American History Illustrated in the Novel, Ragtime 1063 Words   |  5 PagesThe turn of the century in America introduced new inventions, new lifestyles, and new cultures. This time was called the â€Å"progressive era†. The cities were bustling and new amazements came every day. The storyline and the characters in the novel, Ragtime, represent the changes of this time period. From Emma Goldman, to mother, to Evelyn Nesbit, all people and their lives evolved in this period. Emma Goldman, an anarchist, fought for freedom in all aspects of life. Mother became the head of the familyRead MoreThe Entertainer Analysis Essay752 Words   |  4 PagesJazz compositions and was known as the â€Å"King of Ragtime. During his brief career, Joplin wrote 44 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas. One of his most well known and popular pieces today is The entertainer which has gone down as one of the all time classics of ragtime and indeed in Jazz. The entertainer was written in 1902 while Scott Joplin was in St Louis and was intended as a moderately paced dance tune. Although ragtime wasn’t particularly popular at the time the entertainerRead MoreIntertextuality In Ragtime1466 Words   |  6 Pagesreferences, It use can be implemented to reflect a period of history. This study aims to reveal and present the intertextual relations that Ragtime presents to America’s history during the early 20th century. The aim of this segment will be to show the use of intertextuality to reveal Doctorow’s intention in citing historical characters and events history within Ragtime, juxtaposing them with the fictitious world of the story. First and foremost, Ragtime’s intertextual material and connections are placedRead More Scott Joplin Essay1053 Words   |  5 Pages Scott Joplin (1868-1917) Scott Joplin, commonly known as the quot;King of Ragtimequot; music, was born on November 24, 1868, in Bowie County, Texas near Linden. Joplin came from a large musical family. His father, Giles Joplin was a musician who had fiddled dance music while serving as a slave at his masters parties. His mother, Florence Givens Joplin, born free and out of slavery, sang and played the banjo, and four of his brothers and sisters either sang or played strings. Joplins talentRead MoreAnalysis Of The Of Ragtime 1734 Words   |  7 PagesSocialism in America E3 Argumentative essay Sonia Rani 3/17/2017 Ragtime is an interesting depiction of cultural and political change. It can be argued that the story is not just a reflection of the events in the 20th Century but the novel reflects the events that continue to happen until today in socialism. For instance, the novel gives a glimpse of the kind of life experienced by many African Americans. They were victimized by the society and the persons in authority refuse to help them. EvenRead MoreWho is Scott Joplin?536 Words   |  2 PagesJoplin would teach students the piano, who would later end up being future ragtime composers, which included Scott Hayden. In 1899, Joplin married Belle the sister-in-law of Scott Hayden. Unconfirmed stories tell that he started his career in music in the 1880’s and traveled to St. Louis, which was becoming a major center of Ragtime. He would play in bars and dance halls, where new musical forms were begin to for the basis of ragtime. Joplin played was the lead cornet in a band in Chicago in 1893 during