A Critical Examination of Tateh
From the vibrant array of characters developed by Doctorow in Ragtime , Tateh is undeniably among the most complicated. He is featured as one of protagonists, who’s story permeates the duration of the book. Such plot emphasis allows his character to develop in astonishing ways. Although this development leaves Tateh in a favorable position by the end of the story, there are certain inconsistencies in his morals that raise questions about his character. Readers may be inclined to derive satisfaction from Tateh “making it in America”, but a critical analysis of his actions could make readers view his overall character more unfavorably. A cynic could quite effectively argue that economic privilege caused Tateh to abandon his ideals, and even more scrutiny might suggest that Tateh demonstrated inconsistent morals prior to the advent of his success. The blinding pride exhibited in the former stages of his life morphed into apathy and hypocrisy in the latter stages. In the first glimpse of T...