![]() Society-Historical stories aren’t only about examining events of the past, though they may reference and involve real events and historical figures within the story. But tyrants or shadow agents seek to gain power by suppressing the agency of individuals or classes. ![]() This dramatizes both the depth and breadth of the problem we want to unpack, how can we expose tyrants to gain agency? Objectively speaking, we all benefit when everyone can exercise their agency to express their unique gifts for the benefit of their communities. So we need access to different characters who represent levels within the hierarchy of the particular setting or domain of the story and their need for agency.Įspecially in the Historical subgenre, we see power hierarchies playing out in several micro settings including political, professional, social, and family arenas. ![]() Society stories explore power relationships and the stories or lies tyrants tell to gain and maintain power. We need Society Stories, and this is a great example. But I want to point out that it’s a story that is just as relevant now as when it was published in 1975. I chose Ragtime before George Floyd’s murder because of the skillful use of narrative device and point of view. After Father is killed on the Lusitania, Mother and Tateh are married, and they along with Little Girl, Little Boy, and Coalhouse’s son move to California. Younger Brother drives to Mexico where he participates in the Mexican Revolution. He convinces the other young men to leave, and the police kill Coalhouse as he surrenders. Father suggests they go to Atlantic City, and they take Coalhouse’s son with them to stay at the beach, where they strike up a friendship with Baron Ashkenazy (Tateh) and the Little Girl.Ĭoalhouse, with the help of his supporters and Younger Brother, occupy JP Morgan’s library and threaten to blow it up if Conklin isn’t turned over and his car restored, but when Father meets with Coalhouse and convinces authorities to negotiate, Coalhouse must decide whether to surrender or not. Mother prevails upon Father to allow Coalhouse to court Sarah, who eventually agrees to marry, but after Coalhouse’s revolt and pressure from the authorities make the family feel unsafe, they must decide whether to stay in New Rochelle or go elsewhere. When they arrive in Philadelphia, he makes a deal to create film books, which enables him and the Little Girl a comfortable living. Tateh and the Little Girl leave NYC and end up in Lawrence, MA, where the millworkers soon strike over cut wages, but when police attack women and children during children’s crusade, Tateh must decide whether to continue as a working man or find another way to support his daughter. Coalhouse blows up a fire station and promises further violence if his demands for justice are not satisfied. Father wants to protest upon his return, but he relents.Ĭoalhouse Walker begins courting Sarah, and she soon agrees to marry him, but when Sarah is killed while seeking justice on his behalf, Coalhouse must decide whether to back down or seek justice through other means. But when the police want to take Sarah and the baby away, Mother must decide whether to take them into her home or not. Mother finds a baby in the garden while Father is away, and the baby’s mother, Sarah, is found. Ragtime is the story of three families, and their stories overlap, eventually coming together in the ending payoff. I’ll start with a summary of the Beginning Hook, Middle Build, and Ending Payoff as they involve the main characters of the novel. ![]() Doctorow, but we’ll also examine the 1981 film of the same name, directed by Miloš Forman from a screenplay by Michael Weller and Bo Goldman.Ĭontent Warning: Just so you’re aware, both the novel and film include racial and cultural epithets. I’ll focus on the 1975 novel written by E. This week, I’m looking at Ragtime to continue my study of Point of View and Narrative Device. Download the Math of Storytelling Infographic ![]()
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