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Ragtime Father Analysis

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Flow with the Changes For most of us, ordinary is the only adjective we would want to use to describe our life. Although we may strive for a simple life, its attainment might not be possible. In the book Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow, a father who likes to read articles to the family during dinner, is the perfect example of this kind of character. He has a family of five. However, big changes occur in his family. An ordinary life is all he seeks, but the world keeps challenging him with changes that completely destroy him. His experiences in Ragtime represent the life and value system of middle/upper class men at the turn of the 20th century. He also represents tragedy; everything can seem perfect at one moment, and yet the next might …show more content…

“No one in the family was unmindful of the dangers, yet no one would have him stay because of them” His life before the tragedies was already quite abominable. The expedition to the North Pole was a turning point in his life. Although his relationships with his wife has never been joyful, it’s about to get much worse. He felt completely invisible after his return. Mother learned all about his business. He even cried. Even his son realized that “His Father, the burly self confident man who had gone away, and came back gaunt and hunched and bearded” (98). Changes in the family ruined him mentally and physically. The author additionally demonstrates his resentment towards of changes through the way he reacts to a full baseball team of immigrants: revulsion. The involvement of his family with Coalhouse Walker was another turning point. Father hated him. His appearance indirectly killed him with the chain of unfortunate events. Father claims that it’s ridiculous to let a car take over everyone’s life (157). He also blames Mother for taking Sarah. He even attempts to threat Conklin. He tries everything to turn his world in the reverse direction. Nonetheless he is doomed with an unstable life. Father, the compassionate husband, dies on the Lusitania ship. A middle-class man started a business, sought an ordinary life, and ended up having many severe family problems. Doctorow made Father a tragic man by

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