Perspectives on the American Dream: Illusions and Realities of the Past, Present, and Future Lorenzo Lucchesi 11th Grade

In E.L. Doctorow’s novel Ragtime, Tateh and Father avidly pursue the American Dream while possessing contrasting beliefs about their individual visions for freedom, wealth/opportunity, and social mobility. While Father’s nostalgia, archaic ideas for the family structure, and lavish, international explorations dictate his quest for mental fulfillment, Tateh remains true to his socialist values by seeking to uplift the working-class, criticize employers for their minimal wages and cruel working conditions, and re-organize the Capitalist system which he believes stands as a barrier between himself and the achievement of the American Dream. Although already a wealthy, honorable, and well-respected member of New York City society, Father endeavors in his intellectual pursuits to discover meaning and purpose in his life which only results in his further restrictive behavior and antipathy toward social freedoms. On the contrary, Tateh, fueled by the Anarchist movement headed by Emma Goldman, anxiously advances into the tumultuous 20th century, hungry for equality, monetary fortune, and change. As Upton Sinclair once wrote, “You don’t need to be satisfied with America as you find it. You can change it.” Although both individuals,...