Tateh's Transformation from Radical Socialist to Typical Capitalist One of the most interesting characters in E.L Doctrow’s Ragtime (in my opinion) is Tateh. This is a character that embodies the struggles of the immigrant experience during the 20th century in America, and later a success story of the American Dream. As we are first introduced to Tateh, he is found working on the street. He works day and night tirelessly as an artist to support his daughter, “His hair has turned white in the last month. He is thirty-two years old.” (Doctorow 43). At first, Tateh takes pride in doing hard work: he refuses to take handouts from Evelyn, instead insisting on only being paid for his work, and drawing her portrait. In this way, Tateh embodies his perceptions of hard work and ultimately his socialist values. His role as president of Socialist Artists’ Alliance underscores his commitment to hard work and struggle. At this stage in the book, Tateh’s...