The beginning chapters of Ragtime contain graphic and heart wrenching descriptions of Tateh’s life as an immigrant. Brutal descriptions of poverty, human suffering, and abuse provides a starting ground for him and his daughters ascendance to the higher ranks of the American status. Ragtime uses many individual storylines as allegories for larger societal and class dynamic issues of the 1920s. Tateh’s ‘rags to riches’ plotline is no exception. However, besides the usual idea of finding his talent and place in the world, Tateh’s storyline provides a crucial message about how to find success in the American capitalist system. When Tateh boards the train and runs off from the striking and violence occurring at his workplace, he says that even if they won the strike his wage would only increase by 2 cents. His escape into a different town and making money using his own talents and initiative is therefore tied with the idea of leaving the rest of the working class behind....