Ragtime – College Essay Example

the tragic events that shaped the protagonist's life.

Both Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Sarah endure suffering in this poignant novel. While we will only examine a small portion of the story, our attention will be on the transformations that take place in the protagonist's personal life. We will also explore the changes that have already transpired when the family who rescued Sarah encounters her child's father. Moreover, if we delve into the concluding section of the narrative, we will witness numerous challenging societal and political shifts where our characters hold significant influence.

Lawrence Doctorow discusses the time when African Americans were despised and fought tirelessly for their rights to be treated as equals in society. This is what the author means by "political and social changes." However, the family's personal beliefs mentioned earlier began to shift after Coalhouse made multiple visits to their home, especially after his captivating performance. The play concluded with applause from everyone. Following that, Mother introduced Mr Walker to Grandfather and Younger Brother, both of whom shook hands with the black man and expressed pleasure in meeting him. The narrative is presented from a third-person perspective, commencing with a depiction of the main character.

The author draws attention to a man of discerning taste, emphasized by his gloved hand. The man possesses an intelligent demeanor, as seen in his stocky build with a glowing brown complexion, prominent cheekbones, and large dark eyes. Sporting a neat mustache, he is elegantly dressed in prosperous attire. Additionally, he owns an impressive car, exemplified by a new T-Ford model gradually ascending the hill. The man's pride is evident as he signals with

his gloved hand.

The text showcases the incomplete mention of everything about Negro, with the author presenting an example through an unfinished sentence: "The bright-work gleamed...I am looking for a young woman of color whose name is Sarah, be said." Additionally, the author's initial words are revealed, crafted as a simple sentence within the narrative. Phrases like "...be said." or "...if he could please speak to Sarah." contribute to the immersive experience of sitting in front of the author as he narrates the story live.

In addition, both we and Coalhouse are invited to the house and introduced to the family that Sarah resides in. This further solidifies the author's efforts to create a unique and challenging atmosphere. This can be seen through the use of anaphora in describing the Mother's actions as she attempts to contact the woman that he came to see. "She told him to wait and closed the door. She climbed up to the third floor. She found the girl Sarah...." Each action is depicted with great precision and accuracy. Throughout this passage, there is a noticeable absence of epithets or metaphors.

The text is primarily structured as a series of actions, except for one instance which will be further addressed. One action mentioned is when "The colored man took another glance at the child, rose, thanked her and departed." Throughout the story, it becomes evident that Coalhouse frequently visits Broadview Avenue. His situation is complex as he desires to express his affection towards his child but finds himself incapable of holding or embracing him. Despite encountering feelings of resentment, betrayal, and distrust, Coalhouse faithfully returns every week.

The

author employs anadiplosis to depict these moments, indicating that the main character will certainly achieve his desires. "Beginning with that Sunday he appeared every week, always knocking at the back door. Always turning away without complaint..." Consequently, we have now reached the climax of the excerpt wherein the Mother decides to provide Coalhouse with additional items for his visit and offers him a cup of tea. This particular scene showcases a fascinating simile: "I see nothing wrong with it. When Mr Roosevelt was in the White House he gave dinner to Booker T. Washington."

The Mother expresses that they can certainly offer tea to Coalhouse Walker Jr. This comparison highlights her imagining herself as a president and Coalhouse as a prominent political leader in the African American community. The simplicity of the situation is evident when the Mother states that "the Negro took tea" the following Sunday, without any hesitation or second thoughts about accepting the invitation.

The story of the main character's life is told by him, ending with an unfinished sentence: "It was important," he said, "for a musician to find a place that was permanent, a job that required no travelling…." It seems that his life was filled with hardships as he had to constantly move from town to town and start anew. However, now he is a pianist and can even afford to purchase chrysanthemums during an unconventional time of year. This is further exemplified by the repetition of the phrase "I am through traveling, he said. I am through going on the road." Finally, he is asked to perform.

The entire family paid great attention to

the man at the piano, as every action of his was observed closely. The scene was specific and rigid; it began with the black man placing tea on a tray, then rising and wiping his lips with a napkin. He placed the napkin next to his cup and walked over to the piano. Sitting on the piano stool, he quickly stood up and spun it... This is where everything started. Once Coalhouse began playing, the music filled not only the house but also the hearts of the family.

The text was filled with artistic words and a soulful flow. The narrator skillfully portrayed the beauty of the story through his words. In just fifteen sentences, we witness an explosion of stylistic devices, such as robust composition, vigorous music, and the description of Sarah as mute and unforgiving. The similes comparing small clear chords to flowers and melodies to bouquets enhance the poetic quality of the text. Furthermore, both the reader and the main character are introduced to all the people living in the house.

The author not only lists the characters present (Mother, Father the boy, Grandfather and Mother's Younger Brother), but also explains why Mother's Younger Brother came to listen to the music. He had come down from his room dressed in a shirt and suspenders to see who was playing because he was the only one who knew ragtime. He had heard it during his nightlife period in New York. The inclusion of this apparently irrelevant information can be attributed to the impact of the music on the atmosphere of the house and the style of the narration.