Doctorow's Emphasis on the Effects of Wealth

Throughout Ragtime, Doctorow delineates the lives of two separate families: Mother, Father and the little boy, and Tateh and the little girl. These two families heavily differ in their social and financial statuses, and therefore also in their ways of life. The little boy is full of excitement for his future, while the girl lives in fear of her past. The contrast between the little girl and the little boy in Ragtime, as well as between Tateh and Father, exemplifies the enduring disparate frames of mind that derive from different upbringings. 

Tateh and Father are two extremely different men who came from separate upbringings, yet Tateh has become satisfied with his life, while Father has not. Tateh is a Jewish immigrant who lost his wife and has raised his daughter on his own. He previously lived an unhappy life, but always found passion in his art. Although it was risky and difficult, Tateh decided to move from New York to find a better life for him and his daughter. It didn’t come easily, but Tateh was able to work his way up from the bottom and get his art “out there”. He is now in filmmaking, has quite a lot of money, and is excited for his future. Father, on the other hand, came from a wealthy family. He learned from his father and played it safe in life. He followed a mold of what he “should” do based on societal expectations. Father has money and a family but has never felt truly fulfilled in himself and what he does. Doctorow shows through this comparison that money does not mean happiness and the people who start from “the top” are not necessarily content with their lives. The book illustrates the idea that coming from the bottom and chasing your passion to the top is far more self-satisfying and respectable.

Doctorow also shows how various upbringings affect the minds of the youth. Little boy is seen as someone who is excited for the life laid ahead of him. He lives inspired by the world that he lives in, quite possibly because he has seen no evil. Little girl lives in fear of the life she is most acquainted with, one of poverty and sorrow. This comparison is depicted in a scene of the two children running. Little girl runs away from her memories while little boy runs to his future. Little boy dreams of his coming life while little girl has nightmares of her past. Quite possibly, little girl will realize in some years’ time the importance of hard work and passion, given by the example of Tateh. She may end up working hard for what she cares about and taking the necessary risks to fulfill her dreams because she never wants to experience her old life again. The little boy may have an abundance of amazing dreams, but if he was never taught to chase them, it’s possible that he won’t reach them. Doctorow compares the two children’s mindsets and outlooks on life to show the importance of one’s upbringing on their life perspective.

    In Ragtime, Doctorow often narrates with a tone of respect for the people who worked their ways up but narrates with an undertone of irony for the people who “got it easy”. He shows the importance of hard work and chasing your dreams through the contrasting lives of Tateh and Father. Tateh started from nothing but rose to eventually becoming fulfilled and excited to live. Father stayed at an “unhappy medium” of life and never has felt entirely satisfied with who he is. Doctorow also indicates the importance of one’s upbringing on their mindset and possible motivations. The little girl might work extremely hard to prevent ever having to return to the life she once lived, while the little boy might believe that everything in life will come easily for him, and never actually reach his most successful self.  Overall, Doctorow compares various characters to express disdain for the wealthy who don’t work hard and the poor who go face extreme ordeals before eventual happiness and stability.