The Progressive Era was one that made a huge impact on our nation’s history. As a whole the people were beginning to change individually and thus as a whole. Just as Teddy Roosevelt started practicing rugged individualism and bringing that into our nation. It was all about reforming and making a change for the good. Some believed that the government was a tool to carry out this reform. Things like trust busting and social legislation helped our people and thus in turn helped our nation. However, Doctorow shows the age of this Era as it was. It was a time where,
Across America sex and death were barely distinguishable. Runaway women died in the rigors of ecstasy. Stories were hushed up and reporters paid off by rich families. One read between the lines of the journals and gazettes. (1.1)
In the book Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow, there are multiple characters that symbolize different aspects of the Progressive Era. Whether by action or character they highlight main focuses that present the same ideals and thought processes held by the people in this time period.
Specifically, the characters Father, Coalhouse Walker, and Evelyn.
When looking at any Era in time there are always going to be three major groups. These groups are: those who grew up in the past, those who grew up during the era itself, and those who are apart of the generation to come. In our modern day and age these groups are Baby Boomers/Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. Now some of the older generation adapt to the new ideas and philosophies brought about by the, at that time, modern era. But, when growing up with a set of traditional beliefs and ways of thinking, and live most of your life with those same perspectives, it can be hard to change. The new world can look a bit daunting
and unorthodox. Father in this novel represents that group. Although the world and his family are going through these social changes involving things like women and race, he seems to want to hold on to more traditional views, the ones he grew up on. Father, although growing up with a little more wealth before is family lost it, was a self made man through is patriotic firework market. However, after returning from his venture in the arctic Father seems to be in a place of perplexity and isolation just not quite comprehending the new ideals. Father also seem to feel even resentful to these changes and ideals regarding race, women, immigration etc. that the Progressive Era involves.
Another character that represents the Progressive Era is Coalhouse Walker. Throughout the Progressive Era there was lots of reformations that occured. Coalhouse represents and the displays the race related ideologies going on in the Progressive era. The reactions people have to anything and everything the loving musician does gives the audience a glimpse of what people’s mindsets were in that era. Coalhouse, however as a character symbolized what i think what black men and women of that era wanted to be like. Coalhouse did not act like a regular black man in that time, in an Era where people of color would be killed for giving an indifferent look to a white man. Throughout the novel Coalhouse is represented as being a very stubborn man from his constant pursuit of Sarah, to getting his car fixed after it was vandalized by the firehouse. What Doctorow does is emphasize the way Coalhouse acts to create a clear distinction to how people of color usually acted compared to how he acted. An example of this his interaction with Booker T. Washington who is known for his peaceful behavior. Coalhouse is also used as an example to show how interracial relations were thought of and treated during that Era. Not only was it outlawed to be in a interracial marriage, but it was extremely looked down upon by the general public. As a whole Coalhouse represented the African Americans who tested and challenged the beliefs white men had on them in the Progressive Era.
Lastly is Evelyn. One of the largest social reforms in the Progressive Era was with women. Not only did women get the right to vote during this Era but a lot of other rights as well. Women now had access to birth control, divorce became much more common. Women started to shy away from the “victorian lady” fashion and started to lean more towards the “Gibson Girl” style. Evelyn symbolized the escalation of the “sexualized woman” in the Progressive Era. Evelyn is the “supermodel” of the novel pretty much the sexual icon. Evelyn’s husband Harry k. Thaw, killed Stanford White the well renowned Architect who was Evelyn’s former lover. She then cons her way into making a profit from this ordeal and divorcing Thaw. She symbolizes the theme going around the progressive Era of self sufficient women, women who take action into their own hands. She even, towards the end of the book, starting giving her money away for socialist causes donating to her beliefs. Evelyn represents both the sexualized woman and the self sufficient activist women of the Progressive Era.
Doctorow uses these characters to show what the Progressive era looked like from different perspectives. From the traditionalist small business owning white man, the minority who is trying the challenge his rights, and a women going through and making her own way through any means possible. The Progressive Era was one that was well displayed in this novel.
