Sacrificing an identityIn the novel Ragtime, many aspects of American society are explored. The reader understands the history and struggles of different social classes, races, and cultures over the past century. A persistent theme is the existence of the American dream. Doctorow expresses his fascination with social mobility because it includes the poor and disadvantaged. However, he emphasizes that to succeed, one must make sacrifices, negotiating one's morality and identity. Tateh and Coalhouse are crucial examples of how the demands, prejudices, and opportunities of American society can change a man's mentality. During his escalation from poverty to the upper class, Tateh is forced to abandon his social beliefs and identity, believing it to be necessary. in order to achieve a better life for him and his daughter. Their lives began like those of many European immigrants, living in public housing. Similar to many people living in poverty and being a socialist, Tateh criticizes the upper and bourgeois class in a negative light, "his heart... indignant" when he "looked at the palaces" (Ragtime 15). These beliefs lead him to become In the context of a strike in Massachusetts, it is obvious to the reader that Tateh is delighted at the idea of ​​being shot rather than starving to death. Tateh's life, however, is ironic since he hates the rich and yet he aspires to achieve such a fortune. Another point of the novel, he shows distance towards Americans, as evidenced by his relationship with Evelyn Nesbitt. One morning, Evelyn shows up at his door and he hesitantly “welcomes” her. In fact, “Tateh was scandalized by her. visit” that “in great agitation, he smoked a cigarette, in the middle of a paper… Triumph is at the center of all the American dreams illustrated by Doctorow. Tateh and Coalhouse are key examples of how the demands, prejudices, and opportunities of American society can transform a man's mentality. Doctorow highlights his concerns with American capitalism and his overwhelming disdain for people's emphasis on money and power. It is the universal being of capitalism that he distrusts, not only because of the social problems it creates, but also because of the lust on which it feeds. Coalhouse's financial success causes him to ignore the social issues affecting his race. Thus, it is capitalism that makes Walker apathetic toward the plight of his people. Doctorow only presents the allure of wealth in a negative light and highlights the recklessness humans show when trying to achieve the typical American dream of wealth and success.