Origins In the early 1900's, America was the great "melting pot" of the world. Immigrants from all over the world came to the United States in search of the American dream, but many never found it. Immigrants were greeted with a harsh welcome, being hated for the simple fact that they were not "true-blooded" citizens. In Ragtime, the family of Tateh embodies these citizens. Doctorow also follows Father, a character of middle class America with …showed first 75 words of 1223 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1223 total…age of Ragtime, you were either rich or poor, and a small but ever growing middle class. Today there exists a much larger middle class that more people need to be promoted to, like Tateh was. Father and Tateh are excellent examples of the contrast between people in the 1900's, and how determination and hard work can overcome the hardships that the world presents to you. Works Cited Doctorow, E.L. Ragtime. New York: Penguin, 1974