The aim of this paper is the attempt to analyse individual and society in one of the Miloš Forman’s films Ragtime which is based on the novel of E. L. Doctorow. The beginning of the twentieth century in the USA is very interesting and promising time. But what makes this period so enticing to explore? Obviously, it is the society, the people themselves, their decisions, convictions and passion. Forman, a Czechoslovakian with an unusually keen eye for American society (Ebert 3). Telling the stories of outstanding characters, their love, desires and hatred, Ragtime shows the America and its history of that period. Different stories are connected in one plot that reveals the young country in the beginning of its prosperity.
PEOPLE AND THE COUNTRY
One of the main features of Ragtime is the newsreel which is shown from time to time during the length of the film. It is always accompanied by the ragtime music and it is played by the jazz musician. The events and characters represent the USA in the beginning of the twentieth century, the history of the country and its society. Most people in the documentaries are among the main characters of the film. Americans of different means and personalities are the society themselves and at the same time they encounter the problems of this society in the given country of the given time. There are a lot of tragic and moving situations, but, in spite of it the film is not about people, it's about the period and the country itself. At least, this feeling prevails after watching Ragtime. Forman shows different living conditions, interesting and shocking situations. All these details are America itself, they formed the country and have created it's reputation.
RACE CONTEXT
The main issue of the film is racism and human's dignity; these notions have always been combined. Coalhouse Walker Jr. is a decent and honest man, who is a talented black pianist in jazz club. This is him who plays ragtime, accompanying the newsreels. His life is getting better, he has a little baby boy and he is going to marry. Walker encounters the insulting attitude and he does not want to tolerate the situation. The only thing he demands is justice, according to the law. This position does not find understanding among the people he knows, and leads to horrible circumstances. The society does not understand this aspiration for truth and the fact that dignity seems to be the most important thing for Coalhouse. Even people, who wish him the best, try to persuade him to forget about the humiliation. The Walker's life and it's tragedy are the main line and it has direct and indirect connection with other characters.
Another interesting issue is classes and differences between them. The life of the upper crust society has nothing in common with the life of the poor. Everything is allowed if you are among the wealthiest persons. The millionaire Harry Kendall out of false feeling of humiliation shoots another man in public place. Thanks to high paid lawyers, Kendall was put into the asylum and in the end of the film he is released from the institution. On the other hand, Ragtime shows the period of self made men, the time and the country of opportunities. The classes are shifting. The poor Jew Tateh, facing personal tragedy, leaves the New York with his daughter for Atlantic City. His hobby makes him to become a director and shoot films, it is a new and profitable business. He is a representative of the future huge industry and a man who will inevitably belong to the high class of this country. This is the beginning of the twentieth century and the society of America wants new entertainments and something joyful to spend the money on.
GENDER CONTEXT
Apart from race and class there is another important issue. Ragtime shows the differences of the people's positions, according to their gender. America of that time is the men's world and women's living conditions depend strongly on men. Evelyn Nesbit, who was previously a chorus girl, always tries to improve her life and make carrier by having relations with different men of different opportunities. One line in the complicated plot concerns the lives of an affluent white American family from New Rochelle, consisting of the nameless Father, Mother, Mother’s Younger Brother, Grandfather, and Little Boy (Jařab73). Father, his wife and her brother are very different, but they are very decent and kind in their own way. Each of them takes very active part in the life of Coalhouse Walker and his child. The wife is a very quite woman who relies only on her husband's income, according to the unwritten rules of the society of that time. In the end of the film she leaves him with Tateh and Coalhouse's son. Apparently, the style of living of this woman will not change; there will still be financial dependence on her new love.
CONCLUSION
The film is kaleidoscope of human's stories of love, devotion, dignity and prosperity. Everything happens in the rhythm of ragtime, the real events are similar to the newsreel. The main character is a black musician, whose life somehow has a connection with other lives in the film. His longing for justice, inner freedom and self respect reminds of McMurphy, the hero of another Forman's masterpiece “One flew over the cuckoo's nest”. Maybe, people like Coalhouse and McMurphy always have a short lifetime, it is impossible to force them to live, according to the rules of the society. These rules are sometimes far from fair. All of the characters of the film live in the society of that period, and at the same time they are society themselves. The director has made a film about black pride and rage and, not only white racism, but also white liberalism (Ebert 2) The analysys of characters in this paper inevitably leads to the analysys of the society and to the attempt to explore the period and the country. The era of the ragtime is running out and the country waits for new life and new rhymes.
Works Cited
Jařab, J. American History as a Ragtime Tune. Czech Republic: Palacký University, 2013. Print.
Ebert, R. Watch Now. Nashville: Reviews, 1981.
