The setting and atmosphere in Ragtime

Much of the novel Ragtime has to do with immigration, and poverty. Doctorow sets up the novel in new Rochelle in year 1902. the immigrant family that is talked about in the book is Mameh, Tahteh and the little girl. they live in the farthest thing from a wealthy community. They live in the lower east side of new Rochelle in the worst poverty I have ever read about. They are sectioned off from the middle class people, and the upper class. the book is also right aorund when WWI was just about to start and people were in a sort of utter worriness. the novel ends right around 1917. Toward the end though you can see that father and his family have adapted to the new povershed place they live in, and the changing of the times that have hit them. Doctorow expresses the change of the times a lot through the characters reactions. father has a very hard time adjusting when he comes bacj from his trip. he hated being away from his family for so long. on the other side of the family, mother seemed to be very happy to see the times changing and was welcoming it with open arms. She loved all of her new libertys and freedoms that were given to her. Doctorow gives this book some suspense when father travels to the north pole, and conklin damages Coal House Walkers car. Overal Im really looking forward to reading more of E.L Doctorows novels this semester.