ABSTRACT
The conference paper “The Clash between Individual and Order in E. L. Doctorow’s Ragtime” explores the plotline of the character of an African American Jazz pianist Coalhouse Walker, suggesting that his ties with the other characters - Henry Ford, J. P. Morgan, William Conklin and Father represent the struggle of individual against order. As a historical novel, Ragtime is partially factual, thus reflecting the actual sociopolitical issues in America at the beginning of the 20th century, at the same time making an argument about the fight between order and individual that is characteristic of human societies throughout history. Though Coalhouse doesn’t restore justice, his campaign against the establishment and order exercised by the “white power” displays the necessity and possibility of changing the order. This conference paper concludes that Doctorow shows the issues that arise from the rule of elite, a rule that establishes order, which is crippling and limiting and devastating for a man who is unlucky to be born not in the dominant culture community and yet succeed greatly.
Keywords: Order, Individual, Historical novel, Modern american literature, Social hierarchy, Racism.