Ragtime: Embrace or Resist Changes?
Doctorow defined America’s early 20th century with a series of technological, cultural, and political changes. Upon examining the consequences of different personal responses to such changes, an interesting trend of individuals finding success through embracing change surfaced. In the story, characters who embrace transformation, such as Tateh, rise into new identities and life; those who resist, like Father, trap themself in the past. The opposite fates of these characters portray one’s adaptation ability as essential to finding identity and stability in a constantly developing society. Tateh’s journey starts as a powerless immigrant at the bottom of the social pyramid. Living in the Lower East Side slum, their family suffers severe poverty to the extent that his wife was coerced into selling her body. Even under such abject situations, Tateh perseveres and not once sacrifices his pride. This perseverance to defend his dignity is shown through his reluctance to accept Evelyn’s financi...