E. L. Doctorow

In the Novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow we are given much historical insight on the changes affecting the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s. These changes are not only shown through the context of the novel, but through the three families and individual characters represented in the book. Characters react to the changing environment around them in many different ways. Some changes affecting characters in good ways and some in not so good ways. Doctorow shows many social changes throughout ragtime, which affected the United States, many of which are shown through the characters. Doctorow addresses the issue of immigration and Women's Rights, which was a huge issue affecting the United States in the 1800s to 1900s. The struggles of being an immigrant is shown through Tateh and his…

achieving the “American Dream”. The very thought of living a life of freedom in lifestyle choice, economic opportunity, and political engagement, drove many immigrants to this country. E.L Doctorow explores this phenomenon in his novel, Ragtime. Although he speaks almost explicitly about achieving the American dream, what he does not say is almost as important. The American Dream is not achievable for African Americans, or any non-white person, who does not assimilate themselves with the help…

Little did the citizens of San Francisco know, every movement they made, was recorded by The Department of Homeland Security. In Little Brother by Cory Doctorow writes a fictional story about the terrorist attacks on the city of San Francisco. Post the attacks, The Department Homeland of Security heavily enforces setting up high tech cameras, restricted internet access, and extensive surveillance of citizens. After pinpointing a seventeen year old boy named Marcus to the attacks, The DHS…

In the novel, Little Brother, Marcus proves to be clever and quick-thinking. Firstly, Marcus is very clever. In the fifth chapter of the book, Marcus realized someone had been in his room when he found a bug planted in his laptop. He was smart enough to understand the possibility that there is also a camera watching him. Marcus says, “Knowing how to turn a toilet paper roll and three bucks’ worth of parts into a camera detector is just good sense” (Doctorow 85). Overall, this quotation proves…

The nature of heroism lies within the individual’s ability to overcome evil’s power and domination over the wills of others, rising above it using love, hope, and compassion along with the light that is born within them to guide them in the fight against evil. As Gandalf enters Minas Tirith, the fall of Gondor and the fall of men are intertwined together (736), but Pippin looks into Faramir and sees the nobility that lies within him knowing there is still a spark left in the race of men (750).…

In 1831, at the age of twelve, Walt Whitman began working for his local newspaper. He soon fell in love with the written word and started writing his own poetry (“Poet Walt Whitman”). Fast forward to the turn of the 20th century, and Whitman has already made a name for himself as one of America’s most influential poets. Two of Whitman’s most esteemed works are “O Captain! My Captain!”, written in 1865 to reflect on Abraham Lincoln's death, and “O Me! O Life!”, written in 1891 to contemplate…

Throughout history, human civilizations have been built on conforming to social norms. Likewise, there have always been individuals, throughout history, who have ventured outside of those norms, many times to the dismay or even apathy of their respectively societies. E.E. Cummings’ “anyone lived in a pretty how town,” is perfect example of how individualism is viewed in a conformist society, as well as sheds light on the poet’s own views of conformity. Although conforming to social norms is how…

poems written with incorrect spelling and punctuation? Then you would be thinking about E. E. Cummings! E. E. Cummings was birthed upon the world as Edward Estlin Cummings in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1894. He developed a unique style of writing at an early age, being influenced by both Impressionism and Cubism, and grew up to study at Harvard University. The poet would become a famous writer, but while he was alive, his work was mostly left unnoticed because of his different direction when it…

How do we determine if love changes someone or not? In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and in “anyone live in a pretty how town” by E.E. Cummings, the authors use motifs, imagery, and symbolism to show how love can shape an individual change. Throughout the novel Gatsby has changed for Daisy because he is in love with her and in the poem the speaker anyone changed because noone showed him love . In the novel, Fitzgerald uses symbolism to represent a deeper meaning. Some…

Love and death are very meaningful to humans. Love and death are eternal, above and beyond physical entities, and extremely powerful. The poems “Death be not proud,” by John Donne, and “somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond,” by E.E. Cummings are poems about love. “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” by Anne Bradstreet, and “Because I could not stop for Death,” by Emily Dickinson are poems that explain death. Donne, Cummings, Bradstreet, and Dickinson have poems that relate death and love.…