The Crazy, Wacky, and Silly Ending to Ragtime
During our discussions in class there was much heated debate about the ending of Ragtime. Some enjoyed it and saw it is a clever way to end the story, while for others it left a lot to be desired. A lot of people complained, saying the ending was rushed and didn't provide a satisfying ending to some major characters in the book. Others defended it saying that it was just a way for Doctorow to show how the era of Ragtime is over at this point, and that it signifies the continuation in time past the book. While the ending can leave a lot to be desired, I think that Doctorow does this on purpose and isn't just a "bad ending". Doctorow cuts off a lot of the main characters quite mercilessly, quickly skimming through how each character dies. Of course this leaves the reader feeling very unsatisfied, but I think that Doctorow uses this to show how "life goes on". We fell in love with the characters and felt they needed better closure, but in real life, people don...