Does Houdini's storyline even matter?


Ragtime is filled with various characters and perspectives, ranging from Tateh living in the slums to J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford at the top of society. Each perspective is entertaining in their own way, some more than others. The frequent switching of perspectives is also fascinating, as it allows the author to intertwine the storylines and use literary devices and elements in a unique way. For example, Doctorow seems to introduce unnecessary characters disguised as main characters.

        First of all, it’s difficult to tell which storyline was the “main one”, if there even is one. In my opinion, Coalhouse Walker’s was the main one, but Morgan’s adventure and Mother’s life with Tateh were also notable. The stories overlapping, evolving, and splitting further complicate the question. The main characters obviously depend on the dominant story, so certain characters may be more or less useful depending on which story seems more important.

For example, although having interesting storylines, main characters Evelyn Nesbit and Harry Houdini weren’t actually very necessary in Coalhouse Walker’s life. The former’s appearances in the book stopped at Chapter 12 (although she was briefly mentioned in the final chapter), and she was mainly used to introduce Tateh, who eventually married Mother. Harry Houdini’s storyline was pretty much independent of the other possible main characters– his only interactions were with the family at the very beginning and Harry K. Thaw, who he helped escape. 

In the end, even if Evelyn Nesbit and Harry Houdini’s don’t matter, they’re entertaining and can be a nice break from an action-packed perspective. It’s also not really necessary to choose a “main storyline”. Whether it matters or not, it’s pretty interesting to map out the different storylines, seeing how one affects or doesn’t affect others.


Comments

  1. MitchellFebruary 22, 2022 at 11:03 AM

    I would argue that Houdini's storyline "matters" in the larger context of the novel as a model of the Jewish immigrant-artist who invents a new art form and reinvents himself with a new name (which makes him famous), a version of the "American Dream" metanarrative. In terms of the main "fictional" characters in the story, the obvious point of comparison is Tateh/Baron Ashkenazy, who also invents a new art form, profits off of it, renames himself in the process. And there's also the ways that Houdini brings in class issues (his angst about rich people not taking him seriously as an artist) and questions of art and meaning (he worries that his art is meaningless). While Tateh/Baron gets a comparatively "happy" ending, poised to enter the emerging film industry and about to get rich on The Little Rascals, Houdini is literally left hanging by the narrative--spinning over 42nd Street while being cursed out by an unimpressed New Yorker.

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  2. Emily SMarch 1, 2022 at 8:33 AM

    I definitely see your point here, I'm just not sure I see the application? I think Tateh and Mother's significance in the story, while they do affect Coalhouse's story, hold more significance in establishing the time period. While Ragtime's main plot is about Coalhouse, Ragtime feels more about american during the ragtime era than anything else. Evelyn Nesbit for one not only furthers Coalhouse's plot, abandonning MYB who then seeks a purpose through Goldman and Coalhouse, but also to set the scene for young women and her status as a sex symbol of America and what she goes through. Harry Houdini also has significance in his strange inbetween area of wealth- being upperclass to most of society, but being treated as lower by the elite likely due to his status of being an immigrant.

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