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 a family and passion for exploration. Both of these paternal figures and their families have their share of problems to deal with, whether they have an advantage of social and ethnic background or not. The differences between these Father and Tateh, whether ethnic, social, financial, and even talent-based, affect their lives greatly, but does not stop them from reaching their full potential, if they so choose.…
