Historical Contexts- Direct Quotations from Ragtime Bridget DiGioia
“There sits among us this evening one of the most brilliant women in America, a woman forced by this capitalistic society to find her genius in the exercise of her sexual attraction—and she has done that, comrades, to an extent that a Pierpont Morgan and a John D. Rockefeller could envy. Yet her name is scandal and their names are intoned with reverence and respect by the toadying legislators of this society. Evelyn went cold. She wanted to pull the shawl over her head but was afraid she would draw attention to herself. She sat perfectly still, string at her hands in her lap. At least the woman had had the grade not to look in her direction as she spoke” (ch. 8).
This quote is important to the story because, on one hand, it shows how frequently and effectively Evelyn uses her sexuality to her advantage. On the other hand, this passage also demonstrates how Evelyn’s sexuality also acts as a disadvantage to her in this situation because it makes Tateh leave her. Evelyn Nesbit is an actual historical figure that was viewed by society at the time as a figure of sexuality. She was a model and pin-up girl known often for her affairs and liaisons. This quote helps to show how women were so much more easily critiqued than men. The passage also highlights how women had little power at the time, besides their sexuality, and yet to use this power is seen as scandal. This passage helps to get across Doctorow’s political statements about women and their role in the Progressive Era. This passage is meaningful to me as a future educator because I could use it to highlight society’s view of women at that time and use it to compare and contrast to the view of women today. Women in the early 1900’s were expected to be the moral compasses in the home, and I think this passage really helps display the changing, sexual woman and calls into question what is acceptable for women verse men.
“But Ford’s achievement did not put him at the top of the business pyramid. Only one man occupied that lofty place. The offices of J.P. Morgan Company were at 23 Wall Street. The great financier came to work one morning dressed in a a dark blue suit, a black overcoat with a collar of lamb’s wool and a top hat… He was at this time in his seventy-fifth year of life—a burly six-footer with a large head of sparse white hair, a white moustache and fierce intolerant eyes set just close enough to suggest the psychopathology of his will…Pierpoint Morgan was that classic American hero, a man born to extreme wealth who by dint of hard work and ruthlessness multiples the family fortune till it is out of sight (ch. 19).
This passage is significant to the story because it makes a statement about the view of the “American hero.” This passage demonstrates the power that money and family connections have for success in this world. The use of “American” is very significant as well because it demonstrates the power and wealth of Americans over that of the immigrants. This passage suggests that Morgan did put forth effort, however his fortunate birth situation helped him to reach such success. This passage is significant to me because it highlights the concept of power as a pyramid. I really think this is a great image to use for understanding power, because there is always the few at the top who are all controlling and then the power and success moves downward as more people are added. I think the image of a pyramid would be a great concept to further explore in the classroom and see where we would place the characters on the pyramid and what conclusions we find by doing so.
“Mother wore lack for a year. At the end of this time Tateh, having ascertained that his wife had died, proposed marriage. He said I am not a baron, of course. I am a Jewish socialist from Latvia. Mother accepted him without hesitation She adored him, she loved to be with him. They each relished the traits of character in the other (ch. 40).
This passage is significant because it demonstrates the possibility of movement amongst social standing and religion. Mother, a Christian, married a Jewish man despite her religion. She also married a man who held much lower standing in society than her first husband and yet, still found happiness. This passage demonstrates the possibility for change and mobility within society. For me, this passage is significant because it demonstrates the ability to find happiness when one looks outside of what they are familiar with. I think this can be a very useful lesson for students because Mother demonstrates the ability to “relish the traits of character” in an individual who is different from herself in terms of social standing and religion. The ability for this marriage to be a happy and content one demonstrates that differences among people are not necessarily bad.
Resources
Doctorow, E. L. Ragtime. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2007. Kindle File.
"The Progressive Era." The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers. George Washington University, n.d. Web.
This quote is important to the story because, on one hand, it shows how frequently and effectively Evelyn uses her sexuality to her advantage. On the other hand, this passage also demonstrates how Evelyn’s sexuality also acts as a disadvantage to her in this situation because it makes Tateh leave her. Evelyn Nesbit is an actual historical figure that was viewed by society at the time as a figure of sexuality. She was a model and pin-up girl known often for her affairs and liaisons. This quote helps to show how women were so much more easily critiqued than men. The passage also highlights how women had little power at the time, besides their sexuality, and yet to use this power is seen as scandal. This passage helps to get across Doctorow’s political statements about women and their role in the Progressive Era. This passage is meaningful to me as a future educator because I could use it to highlight society’s view of women at that time and use it to compare and contrast to the view of women today. Women in the early 1900’s were expected to be the moral compasses in the home, and I think this passage really helps display the changing, sexual woman and calls into question what is acceptable for women verse men.
“But Ford’s achievement did not put him at the top of the business pyramid. Only one man occupied that lofty place. The offices of J.P. Morgan Company were at 23 Wall Street. The great financier came to work one morning dressed in a a dark blue suit, a black overcoat with a collar of lamb’s wool and a top hat… He was at this time in his seventy-fifth year of life—a burly six-footer with a large head of sparse white hair, a white moustache and fierce intolerant eyes set just close enough to suggest the psychopathology of his will…Pierpoint Morgan was that classic American hero, a man born to extreme wealth who by dint of hard work and ruthlessness multiples the family fortune till it is out of sight (ch. 19).
This passage is significant to the story because it makes a statement about the view of the “American hero.” This passage demonstrates the power that money and family connections have for success in this world. The use of “American” is very significant as well because it demonstrates the power and wealth of Americans over that of the immigrants. This passage suggests that Morgan did put forth effort, however his fortunate birth situation helped him to reach such success. This passage is significant to me because it highlights the concept of power as a pyramid. I really think this is a great image to use for understanding power, because there is always the few at the top who are all controlling and then the power and success moves downward as more people are added. I think the image of a pyramid would be a great concept to further explore in the classroom and see where we would place the characters on the pyramid and what conclusions we find by doing so.
“Mother wore lack for a year. At the end of this time Tateh, having ascertained that his wife had died, proposed marriage. He said I am not a baron, of course. I am a Jewish socialist from Latvia. Mother accepted him without hesitation She adored him, she loved to be with him. They each relished the traits of character in the other (ch. 40).
This passage is significant because it demonstrates the possibility of movement amongst social standing and religion. Mother, a Christian, married a Jewish man despite her religion. She also married a man who held much lower standing in society than her first husband and yet, still found happiness. This passage demonstrates the possibility for change and mobility within society. For me, this passage is significant because it demonstrates the ability to find happiness when one looks outside of what they are familiar with. I think this can be a very useful lesson for students because Mother demonstrates the ability to “relish the traits of character” in an individual who is different from herself in terms of social standing and religion. The ability for this marriage to be a happy and content one demonstrates that differences among people are not necessarily bad.
Resources
Doctorow, E. L. Ragtime. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2007. Kindle File.
"The Progressive Era." The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers. George Washington University, n.d. Web.