Ragtime: Women's Role Illuminated Amber Wright 11th Grade

An issue that has continued to prevail throughout the centuries, and will continue to do so until justice is found, is the role of women in society. For centuries women have been suppressed by the power of men. However, over the past century women’s roles in society have had a splendid metamorphosis. In E.L Doctorow's novel Ragtime he takes the reader through a smaller scale version of the change women have undergone, through a fictional character, Mother. Doctrow highlights two opposing women, Evelyn Nesbit and Emma Goldman, to exhibit how women should act, and the character they should contain, to move society forward. Doctorow is making a significant connection to existing history by implementing these characters. By drawing a literary bridge between historical figures and a fictional character Doctrow is illuminating the issue of the role of women in society for the reader.

Doctrow exhibits the controversy of women’s role in society by highlighting the contrast between two of the main women in the novel. Doctrow starts of the book by discussing Evelyn Nesbit and her reliance on her appearance to move forward in life. Doctrow exhibits her submissive nature that leads to her abuse and inability to find and keep love. Evelyn...