Literature Review (Modern and Classic) - Term Paper Example

Literature Review (Modern and ic) In Ragtime, Doctorow makes reference to recognizable historical figures and events. However, he changes certain details that entirely fabricate the real circumstances. The novel takes on a building block of fantasy as well as addressing the subjectivity of these historical moments. Doctorow does not use a one-sided absolutes instead uses a more complex view of history enriched by a multiplicity of different voices that represent different groups in society (Finkelman 350). Doctorow's many inter related characters and events draw attention to one’s personal reactions to similar events and circumstances. Using this method of characterization, the reader gains a more intimate understanding to both the character and the social trends that influence the character's reactions. The focus of the novel Ragtime by E. L Doctorow is a family of mother, son, father, grandfather and the mother’s brother. Ragtime is centered on several characters that are different. These characters range from rich to poor, the powerful and the meager during the progression are in the United States. The different characters portray different themes and symbols in the novel. Ragtime’s major theme is change. The change is emitted through society and through the characters. Ragtime is a third person narrative, though at first the characters seem to be named mother, father and so forth. E. L Doctorow employs an exceptional narrative technique in Ragtime. The narrator in Ragtime appears to be neither an uninvolved and an omniscient individual nor any single specific character. There are varying opinions that the critics have on the origin of the narrative voice. At most times, the critics are of the same opinion to the fact that the voice seems to be that of an American writing in 1974. This notion is supported by the fact that the narrator applies rhetorical and ironic commentary and also a sense of historical perspective. The reader might believe the fact that the little boy is the one narrating the story since the narrator has the ultimate knowledge of the little boy’s feelings and thoughts. Nevertheless, the narrative voice exists in the third person. Edgar Lawrence Doctorow is known to be a controversial writer yet an original writer. Doctorow was born on 6th January 1931. He later graduated from the Bronx High School of Science. He then enrolled in the Kenyon College where he received his B.A n 1952 (fowler 87). Doctorow’s work mostly involves philosophical probing and the situation where historical figures would be in situations that are in unpredictable. Doctorow published his first novel in 1960, a Western, Welcome to Hard Times. This novel was inspired by job as a script reader for the Columbia Pictures. Doctorow managed to exploit and explore the genre of science fiction in a satire set of a future New York. Most of Doctorow’s work has enjoyed critical success. Doctorow’s work in particular, Ragtime, expressed his political beliefs and also situations and circumstances at the particular time he wrote the book. Ragtime was published in 1975. At this period of time the Vietnam War was coming to a close and at the same time Americans grew disillusioned on both domestic and international issues that affected those (Doctorow et al 53). In Ragtime, Doctorow lays out his beliefs through the use of past American history. The major theme that has been expressed throughout the novel is, change and the impact it has on society and individuals. The main theme of the novel is race relations in the progression era of America. There was animosity between different races in America especially among the blacks and the Jews. The coalhouse walker portrayed this theme. His mannerisms shocked many as they were not expected from someone of his social class. For example, there was intense animosity between father and the coalhouse walker. The other character that brought out this theme is mother and Tateh. Mother and Tateh got married at a time where marriages between their two religions was not accepted; that is Christian and Jew marriages were not accepted. Society’s resistance to change is a theme that has greatly been portrayed in Ragtime. This theme has been brought up in most parts of the novel. Considering that Doctorow gave the novel a setting at the end of a century where the American society experienced a lot of changes. Doctorow communicates the effects of the changes through the characters. There are those characters that welcome the change and accept it and there are those that struggle with the change. Doctorow also uses these to develop his characters. One character that portrays this theme is father. Father faces a hard time coping with the changes he gets after returning from his voyage. The ways of the new century and the alienation he gets from his family makes father feel depressed. Father is a character that struggles with the change. On the other hand, mother accepts the change and feels liberated. Her newfound abilities and her responsibilities to Sarah and her child help mother realize her potential. This liberation leads to mother marring Tateh, a Jew. The impact technology has had on the American culture is a theme that has been portrayed in the novel. The period in which the novel is set, is greatly marked by industrialization and fast technological development. This progressive era has brought about increased urban American scene and also profound entry of immigrants into America. Ragtime focuses on the consequences of the new technology for the average worker in America as most workers would end up being undermined due to the new technology. A discussion between J.P Morgan and Henry Ford brings forth this debate. Doctorow argues out how technology would undermine an individual as well as his abilities. “"From these principles Ford established the final proposition of the theory of industrial manufacture - not only that the parts of the finished product be interchangeable, but that the men who build the products be themselves interchangeable parts.”" (Doctorow 97) Another important theme that has been demonstrated in ragtime is false emancipation and imprisonment. Doctorow brings out this theme through different characters in his novel. Imprisonment does not necessarily mean a jail term but rather, in this case it can be emotional, philosophical, economic or political. Harry Houdini demonstrates this theme well. Harry amazes crowds with his ability to escape from enclosed areas. In this case, harry demonstrates two kinds of imprisonment that is, physical imprisonment and emotional imprisonment. Physical imprisonment when he sets himself free from the enclosed areas. Privately, harry is still emotionally imprisoned. He does not develop a sense of gratification from his achievements as he still has an obsession with his mother. This obsession is so strong that Harry does not let go of it even after his mother’s death. This prevents Harry from emotional liberation. Another character that was struggling with self liberation is Tateh. Taheh feels like he is in prison when he is in New York. He tries to ‘escape’ to Lawrence, Philadelphia and to other places. The struggle for permanence and meaning is another theme that E. L Doctorow has included in his novel the Ragtime. This theme has been demonstrated throughout in the novel. The characters try to make sense and meaning of the challenges they are facing and how these challenges change them. A discussion between J.P Morgan and Ford about reincarnation reflects the desire for one to seek more outside what is known as well as the desire to give more meaning to life, “Suppose I could prove to you that here are universal patterns of order and repetition that give meaning to the activity of this planet." (Doctorow 113) The search of understanding and the struggle to get meaning is shown through Morgan’s trip to the Egyptian Pyramids and his musings. Peary’s journey to the North Pole which has a lot of mishaps also expresses the effort to find inner peace amidst chaos. Symbols have been included in the novel to rely certain messages to the reader. In Ragtime, the symbols are more of allegorical figures than objects (Siegel 72). The symbolism in the novel will be discussed through the coalhouse walker, father and Evelyn Nesbit. The coalhouse walker is a black musician and Sarah’s lover. Coalhouse walker represents the African Americans that challenge the expectations that have been put forth by the white society. Father has a negative impression of him from the moment they meet and this worsens through their interactions. Coalhouse eventually turns out to be the typical angry black male as he turns to violence to deal with his feelings towards society. Father has been used symbolically to bring out the white man and the customary standards of the nineteenth century in America. Father does not accept these changes and therefore finds it difficult to come into terms with the changes that are experiences during this era. Father’s resentment to the changes also gives the reader an understanding behind the driving force of the anti-immigration force in America. The other allegorical symbol that was used in the novel is Evelyn Nesbit. Nesbit represents the sexualized woman in the progression era in America (Bloom 23). Doctorow labels her as a sex goddess this is because she uses her sexuality and body to gain power and prominence in the society. Nesbit is also used to portray the level of naivete about poverty that is typical of the upper class. This is well demonstrated on her first to the lower east side. Ragtime is a novel that the American readers could relate with especially those that lived in the progression era. Ragtime has made a great mark in the history and development of American literature through the style and themes that has been used in it. Doctorow writes about contemporary issues that affect the society. Critics state that Ragtime is both entertaining as well as educating to the different age groups that read the novel (Quicke 1). The novel can be used in recent times to educate the younger generations on the historical changes and developments as well as the impacts the changes had on the society. Critics’ state that the writing style used in the novel is capable of communicating vital information to different calibers of readers and it also equips them with a sense of historical perspective to the whole novel. The major theme of the of the mentioned novel is to a large extent applicable to modern times as both individuals and society faces changes that have grave consequences. These changes can either be accepted or put aside depending on the individual. Works cited Doctorow, Edgar L. and Christopher D. Morris. Conversations with E. L. Doctorow. Jackson, Miss: Univ. Press of Mississippi, 1999. Print. Bloom, Harold. E.l. Doctorow's Ragtime. Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea, 2009. Internet resource. Fowler, Douglas. Understanding E.l. Doctorow. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1992. Print. Siegel, Ben. Critical Essays on E. L. Doctorow. New York, NY: Hall, 2000. Print. Doctorow, E. L,. Ragtime, New York: Random House, 1975. Print Finkelman, Paul. Encyclopedia of African American history, 1896 to the Present: from the age of segregation to the twenty-first century. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Quicke, S,. Inside books, a review on Ragtime by E. L Doctorow. Web. 26. Nov. 2012 Read More