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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page essay that examines the structure of Doctorow's novel Ragtime and argues that the final chapter of this is far more than the jumbled stew of coincidences that it appears to be on the surface. Rather, the final chapter of this novel offers a successful closing that ties up the loose ends of its historical observations as well as its plot machinations. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khdocrag.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
mosaic, in which "the lives of different kinds of Americans are placed next to one another" (146). In creating this mosaic, Doctorow undercuts the image of American society as a
melting pot. From the beginning of the novel, Doctorow juxtaposes images that emphasize the diversity of experience in the US, and how reality often was at odds with the general
perception of public opinion. This point can be seen in the final chapter of the work, which is far more than the jumbled stew of coincidences that it appears to
be on the surface. Rather, the final chapter of this novel offers a successful closing that ties up the loose ends of its historical observations as well as its plot
machinations. Doctorow begins Ragtime by setting the stage for the era. He describes how patriotism was in fashion, women were heavier than today and everyone wore white in the
summertime. To the mainstream consciousness of middle-class America, "There were no Negroes, There were no immigrants" (Doctorow 3-4). By this Doctorow means that middle and upper class Americans simply refused
to see either Negroes or immigrants as elements in their society. However, Doctorow quickly juxtaposes an observation against this one that is more accurate. This occurs with the introduction of
two of his real-life characters, Evelyn Nesbit, the celebrated beauty, who once met Emma Goldman, the revolutionary, who informed Nesbit about some of the harsher realities of life -- "Apparent
there were Negroes. There were immigrants" (Doctorow 5). This is the pattern that is established early-on in the work and which finds its culmination in the final chapter. The
final chapter follows both the misconceptions and the realities of this era to their completion, as this novel uses "juxtaposition and interaction to illustrate significant patterns and forces in the
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