a review of ragtimes *interesting* characters

 Here on the world-reknowned bog blog, we well acknowledge that I hate Ragtime. More specifically, its characters. The author's not-so-well hidden god complex shows through in several of them. Doctorow builds his character's "private" lives through the text, showcasing his abilities as the author of this book to create strange situations for them to interact in. 

Does this book count as historical fan-fiction? I think it does. In some ways it almost feels like a self-insert fan-fiction. Though, I'm not sure how to explain how I get that connection other than just "it feels like it". Maybe its because he just sorta waltzes through history and writes in whatever element he chooses. "Emma Goldman and Evelyn Nesbit meet up together? Heck yeah. It's now in the book." "The Little Boy just so happens to come across Harry Houdini in a completely outlandish car accident? Yeah, why not." None of these characters are actually supposed to meet together, they just sort of do. It reminds me of the very specific genre of fanfiction where different fandoms crossover into this weird scene that doesn't feel quite right. I believe there's such a chapter in The Red Pyramid (or one in the series) where at the very end of the novel there's a chapter where the main character meets Percy Jackson. Why? Because their author, Rick Riordan, decided "why not?". That feels a bit like what this book is. 

Ragtime = Historical Fan-Fiction confirmed. Now, to discuss the characters which are being talked about in this not-technically-fan-fiction-but-it-still-kinda-is book. I'll give Doctorow his credit here, the characters all connect together in extraordinary ways that make you do the pikachu-suprise face when you read the last sections. But half these characters were not necessary. Or they were, I just really don't like them. 

So let's talk about Mother's Younger Brother. I hate him. You couldn't even call him a "controversial character"- if you say you would appreciate him as a person (and not as an artistic character that is the work of Doctorow because that's technically different), I will not listen to a single word you say after that. MYB is an obsessive stalker. He's a nobody who attaches himself to different causes he pretends to have interest in, just to seek self worth. He is my most hated type of person. There's at least a handful of crimes that he commits in JUST the earlier section with Evelyn Nesbit. If there's one significant issue I have with Doctorow- is how he completely just breezes past straight up sexual assault as if there's nothing wrong with it. And it isn't even in his "satire" voice, it's just a lack of consideration to the topics he's writing about half the time. Perhaps he doesn't realize it's sexual assault. For instance, MYB trespasses into Goldman's home, then proceeds to basically sexually assault Nesbit with that unfortunate (and unnecessary) scene at the end of Chapter 8. More discussed on that in the previous blog post!  He's a gross character, utterly irredeemable. 

Now to Evelyn Nesbit's character. She's great, and I most certainly don't hate her. I just hate the way she's written. She has no goals, no interests other than abusive relationships and her weird obsession with the Little Girl. She's a 2D character, who gets no insight into actual redeemable personality past her sexual object persona that is put on by the public. The only half decent character arc she has is when she breaks up with MYB and donates to Goldman. That's the closest thing we get through the story of character progression. No one else in this story shares the same inconsideration. If Doctorow was to continue his ironic voice through her character, she could be given actual hopes and dreams. She's just a poorly developed character (even though she is a real person). Everything given to her as some sort of 'character development" is incredibly basic and outlandish for her progression. It feels cheaply put together. 

Lastly, I'll cover Coalhouse's character. Though I don't have much to say. Ah, how the words of hate are so more driven than praise. He is likely my favorite character in this book. (Perhaps Little Boy-- for the same reasons as Coalhouse which I will elaborate on now). He's given the most 3D character. He has insights, he has things left to be determined by the reader. He has a conscious that is laid through the story by more than just verbatim. He is a character you can visualize even without the text in front of you to instruct your visualization. His character arc with his surrender, with his confession about the movement being in response to Sarah, we see a sympathetic character one can relate to. You don't get this with the other characters. It's certainly out of place for this novel, however. So you should read it as you will. 

Overall review of the characters as my last blog post on Ragtime? They're poorly conceived and for the most part- incredibly annoying. Of course there is some depth here and their, but it seems off placed. MYB, Tateh, and Coalhouse seem to be the most developed character on that front- but even still it feels a little off in certain places. They seem more like caricatures than people. Perhaps its meant to be a statement... regardless it's not exempt from criticism. At least Doctorow likely had fun writing this one.