Identity in E.L. Doctorows Ragtime Essay example

Identity in E.L. Doctorows Ragtime Written almost thirty years ago, describing an age far removed from its own, E.L. Doctorows novel Ragtime nevertheless explores issues of identity and ethnicity that still face America in spite of its lofty ideals of individualism and diversity. It displays for the reader a rich and hypnotic portrayal of the soul of immigrant America, yet still fails to avoid ethnic bias in certain subtle ways. Whether the lapses into feelings of cultural superiority originate from the purposeful portrayal of the characters Doctorow created or without the authors conscious prior awareness, a careful reading of the text will reveal them. In this way, these same assumptions and prejudices test our†¦show more content†¦There were no immigrants (Doctorow 4). What follows quickly after is the voice of truth and reason in the text, expressed through the fictional re-representation of the anarchist Emma Goldman, who shows white culture that Apparently there were Negroes. There we re immigrants (Doctorow 5). Despite this laudable cultural advancement, the authors meaning of the term immigrant takes place within a very limited context. Asians and indigenous peoples are not invited in Ragtime; while black America is given a voice through the stubborn and noble Coalhouse and the eloquent Booker T. Washington, and the Eastern European immigrant community is given a rich and touching voice through Tateh and his daughter, Doctorow never ventured far enough along to include Asians in his spectrum of ethnic narrative. Just like the Oriental silk cushions that made Houdini feel so trapped in Fathers home, they are deprived of a true voice. Great lengths are taken by Doctorow to empathize with the Eastern European immigrant community. With great emotion, he describes Fathers impression of an immigrant ship, decidedly of a European identity because of the head shawls that the women wore (Doctorow 14). With an emotion that belies the authors role as third-person omniscient, he argues eloquently against this ethnic group being wrongly stigmatized as being lost within moralShow MoreRelatedRagtime by E.L. Doctorow1502 Words   |  6 Pagesectasy of speed.† 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 Do ctorow uses Ragtime to perform a work thatRead MoreThe Poverty Balls And Evelyn And Tateh s Relationship1626 Words   |  7 Pagesso far removed from the poor that they perceived them with a sort of fascination and romanticism because they were so vastly different. I will demonstrate this through examining the poverty balls and Evelyn and Tateh’s relationship in E.L. Doctorow’s novel Ragtime. One of the first storylines introduced in the novel is the relationship between Evelyn Nesbit, Tateh, and his daughter. The sharp contrast of these characters illustrates the deep wage gap that is characteristic of this era. Evelyn isRead MoreThe Question Of Identity2144 Words   |  9 PagesLina Kim Professor Crumpler Commerce and Culture October 1st, 2014 Ragtime: The Question of Identity in Society Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow emphasizes the difference between identity and status in and outside of society by using the characters’ pursuit of self within the novel. Coalhouse Walker is the main representation of how a character’s identity is indefinitely shaped by his choices and can lead to various consequences. As Coalhouse’s personality subtly changes into a new persona, the reader slowly