Ragtime: Weaving Reality & Fiction
Ragtime : Weaving Reality & Fiction Ragtime shows an incredible mix of real life and fiction, giving readers a unique look into how they could interact. Many of the main plot points involve characters and events that are real being woven into the lives of fictional characters. By analyzing the book with the knowledge of what is real and what is fake, readers gain an interesting perspective on how much our trust in the narrator shapes our understanding of reality in historical fiction. Doctorow uses this trust to weave intricate storylines that fudge the details of history based solely on coincidences. One of the important examples of the meshing of reality and fiction is seen in the main plot revolving around Coalhouse Walker. The plot of the story centers around his need for revenge against the fire chief who demolished his car as a joke. After his fiancé dies trying to get justice for him, he burns down the fire station in anger and forms a group of followers to cont...