RagtimeRagtimeby E.L. Doctorow by E.L. Doctorow

McElhaneyMcElhaney

Setting:Setting: NYC, 1902NYC, 1902 Upper ClassUpper Class Mentions Flags and Mentions Flags and

PatriotismPatriotism New RochelleNew Rochelle Large populations in the Large populations in the

city activitiescity activities Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt Racial issues Racial issues

““No NegroesNo Negroes No Immigrants”No Immigrants”

The truth about society is The truth about society is not publicizednot publicized

Scandals do existScandals do exist

Winslow Homer paintingWinslow Homer painting

CharactersCharacters Father:Father:

middle Classmiddle Class Flag making businessFlag making business FireworksFireworks WealthyWealthy Amateur explorer (9)Amateur explorer (9) Planning a Trip to the North Pole with Planning a Trip to the North Pole with PearyPeary ““Burly man with strong appetites” (11) Burly man with strong appetites” (11)

Mother:Mother: Large Blonde womanLarge Blonde woman

Little Boy:Little Boy: P6 little boy is smartP6 little boy is smart Reads the newspaper Reads the newspaper

GrandfatherGrandfather Narrator-Narrator-

Child in the FamilyChild in the Family Uncle (Mom’s younger brother)Uncle (Mom’s younger brother)

““mother’s Younger Brothermother’s Younger Brother P4 “Lonely, withdrawn young man, with blonde MustacheP4 “Lonely, withdrawn young man, with blonde Mustache ““Thought to be having difficulty finding himself.”Thought to be having difficulty finding himself.”

More CharactersMore Characters Stanford WhiteStanford White

Famous architect, lover of Nesbit, shot by ThawFamous architect, lover of Nesbit, shot by Thaw Evelyn Nesbit (wife of Thaw)Evelyn Nesbit (wife of Thaw)

““She was an artist’s model and aspiring actress”She was an artist’s model and aspiring actress” Harry K. Thaw (rich playboy)Harry K. Thaw (rich playboy)

““He was a violent man who all his life had created He was a violent man who all his life had created incidents in restaurants.”incidents in restaurants.”

Pg. 6 Long Island sound brother is walking in the Pg. 6 Long Island sound brother is walking in the marshy areamarshy area

HoudiniHoudini Pg 7 Pg 7 HoudiniHoudini makes a visit makes a visit Vaudeville ActVaudeville Act (link)(link) = popular = popular

entertainment at the turn of the century entertainment at the turn of the century 1880s-1930s, variety show, music, 1880s-1930s, variety show, music, dance, sketch comedydance, sketch comedy

HoudiniHoudini was a very popular escape was a very popular escape artist of the early 1900s, performed in artist of the early 1900s, performed in Vaudeville (Vaudeville (pictures of Houdinipictures of Houdini))

Car over heats a Car over heats a “Pope Toledo “Pope Toledo Runabout” Runabout”

““His audiences were poor people- His audiences were poor people- carriers, peddlers, policeman, carriers, peddlers, policeman, children…”children…”

““Warn the Duke”Warn the Duke” As Houdini leaves the home the little As Houdini leaves the home the little

boy runs up and says:boy runs up and says:

List of escapes:List of escapes: Chained to a latterChained to a latter Roped to a chairRoped to a chair HandcuffedHandcuffed Legs put in ironsLegs put in irons Tied up in a straight jacketTied up in a straight jacket Bank vaultsBank vaults Nailed up barrelsNailed up barrels Locked in a roll top desk Locked in a roll top desk Galvanized Iron boiler…Galvanized Iron boiler…

Peary Peary ExpeditionExpedition

P 10 Readers find out P 10 Readers find out the the father is an father is an Amateur ExplorerAmateur Explorer and and will be going to the will be going to the North PoleNorth Pole with with Admiral Peary expeditAdmiral Peary expeditionion on the on the RooseveltRoosevelt..

Sub-PlotsSub-Plots1.1. Mother’s BrotherMother’s Brother is in love with Evelyn Nesbit is in love with Evelyn Nesbit2.2. Love Triangle:Love Triangle: Evelyn Nesbit, Harry Thaw, and Evelyn Nesbit, Harry Thaw, and

Stanford White ScandalStanford White Scandal3.3. Mother and Father’sMother and Father’s Relationship Relationship4.4. Immigration-Immigration- commentary on how immigrants commentary on how immigrants

live?live?5.5. Immigrant Family-Immigrant Family- how they must struggle to how they must struggle to

survive.survive.6.6. Immigration/Urbanization-Immigration/Urbanization- commentary on how commentary on how

immigrants live in NYCimmigrants live in NYC

Chapter 2Chapter 2Discussion of Father and Mother’s marriageDiscussion of Father and Mother’s marriage

Things are not good with MarriageThings are not good with Marriage

Houdini’s visit interrupted Houdini’s visit interrupted coituscoitus We find out about Father’s “Strong Appetites”We find out about Father’s “Strong Appetites”P11 P11 ““The marriage seemed to flourish on Father’s absences.”The marriage seemed to flourish on Father’s absences.”P12 P12 Mother said, “These are the happy years and ahead of us are only Mother said, “These are the happy years and ahead of us are only

great disasters.”great disasters.”

P13 ImmigrantsP13 Immigrants Father makes a commentary about the immigrants he sees as he is Father makes a commentary about the immigrants he sees as he is

sailing out of New York harborsailing out of New York harbor “ “ Yet aboard her were only more customers, for the immigrant Yet aboard her were only more customers, for the immigrant

population set great store by the American Flag.”population set great store by the American Flag.”

Characters Immigrant PlotCharacters Immigrant Plot MamehMameh::

Immigrant motherImmigrant mother Sews clothes for moneySews clothes for money Petite, dark-eyed, wavy brown Petite, dark-eyed, wavy brown

hair, Sang softlyhair, Sang softly Tateh: Tateh: (the dad)(the dad)

Immigrant husband and fatherImmigrant husband and father Peddler in the streetPeddler in the street A SocialistA Socialist

The little girl:The little girl: Daughter sewed clothesDaughter sewed clothes Very youngVery young Daughter had to go to school Daughter had to go to school

by state lawby state law

Ch 3 page 15Ch 3 page 15 new plot begins new plot begins with family of immigrantswith family of immigrants

Mameh, Tateh the father, and Mameh, Tateh the father, and the little daughter little girlthe little daughter little girl

Mameh worked and had to sell Mameh worked and had to sell her laborher labor

Lecherous Owner liked Mameh Lecherous Owner liked Mameh and gave extra $ for sexual and gave extra $ for sexual favors.favors.

Mameh felt so poor needed to Mameh felt so poor needed to respond to owner’s sexual respond to owner’s sexual advancesadvances

Ch 3. P 14Ch 3. P 14Subject of ImmigrantsSubject of Immigrants

Most immigrants come from Most immigrants come from ““ItalyItaly or or EasternEastern EuropeEurope””

Ellis IslandEllis Island is described. is described. Mentions hostility of old Mentions hostility of old

immigrants toward new immigrants toward new immigrantsimmigrants

P15 P15 Description of the Morgue Description of the Morgue

really means the immigrant really means the immigrant lifestyle was difficult and lifestyle was difficult and hazardoushazardous

Immigrants live in tenement Immigrants live in tenement buildings- which are very buildings- which are very hazardous, no air, hot, no hazardous, no air, hot, no running water, lots of deathrunning water, lots of death

ImmigrantsImmigrants

Henry Frick and Andrew Carnegie Henry Frick and Andrew Carnegie

Mention of Henry Frick, one of Andrew Mention of Henry Frick, one of Andrew Carnegie’s managers in the Steel Industry, Anti-Carnegie’s managers in the Steel Industry, Anti-Union and was very harsh on the workers, didn’t Union and was very harsh on the workers, didn’t have one bit of sympathy for him.have one bit of sympathy for him.

Workers try to kill FrickWorkers try to kill Frick