Perhaps the most mysterious supporting character in Ragtime is the son of the novel's nuclear family: Little Boy. The precocious youngster is rarely elaborated in comparison to character's such as Mother, Father, or Younger Brother, but is nonetheless present for most of the important events pertaining to the family. Additionally, his basically confirmed psychic powers Doctorow decided to bestow him multiply the questions about this kid. The ultimate questions draw from these points; is the Boy being treated as an ironic plaything for Doctorow, or will he/has he affected the story in any significant way?
The child's extrasensory abilities are first called into question during the opening pages of the first chapter. The little sailor boy on the porch of a typical American home has "conceived an enormous interest in the works of Harry Houdini" (8). And just like that, Houdini crashes right in front of them! We discussed the pure coincidence of this incident in class, but brushed it off as another "Doctorow messing with us" type situation. But with his apparent ability to move things with his mind in chapter 15, and his startling prediction of Father taking him to see the New York Giants, it has become clear that this kid has some actual powers. But what has he really done with them? So far, in the course of the story, basically nothing. He warns Houdini to "warn the Duke", but we can surmise that Ferdinand's assassination still occurs since Harry barely acknowledges the comment (11). In other words, no evidence has been shown that the Boy can "That's So Raven" the family, or the world, of any problems through his abilities.
Assuming this "useless" clairvoyance stays the same throughout the novel (who knows though), the actual significance of the Little Boy becomes unclear. He seems to be very sweet during his care of Sarah's baby, and he expresses no contempt for any characters, but neither of those qualities advances his character's agency or impact. One theory could be that his psychic powers are used to shave off any seriousness of this novel, just being another random thing that Doctorow throws in to detach the reader from his story. A less cynical view would be that the boy stands to observe all the changes washing over early 20th century life, with his foresight standing for the ever-approaching future. So yeah, what do you guys think? Has his role been set in stone, or is it too early to even analyze his impact?
This is really interesting! I never really thought about the little boy in too much depth before reading this. I think that he hasn't really done anything to impact the plot so far, but with his abilities Doctorow definitely will cash in on him having them as the book goes on.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting take on the little boy's character. I agree especially with the last point you make, that he seems to exist mostly for the purpose of bringing in plot points and observing important things going on in the world. He isn't really developed (yet) as a character in his own right, he seems more like a way for Doctorow to bring other characters into the story.
ReplyDeleteThe little boy's "clairvoyance" is definitely a curious aspect of this novel, and I admit I'm not too sure what to do with it--other than the rather obvious point that he seems to "know" history before it happens. Like, of course Houdini doesn't "warn the duke" (of what? what duke?), even though he *does* get the chance--because he has no idea what the kid is talking about, and when he does actually encounter Franz Ferdinand (and *archduke*, not just a "duke"!), he doesn't even seem to know that he's a duke. And he wouldn't know what to warn him about anyway.
ReplyDeleteSo, yeah, it is kind of "useless" clairvoyance. But the young boy clearly does represent the future--he will be fully a product of the 20th century; the world Doctorow's readers inhabit is the one he inherits--so there is something appropriate about him having some kind of vague intuitive access to this future.
It seems that the Little Boy never realized his potential over the course of the novel, whether or not he had real powers or was just a curious figment of Doctorow's imagination. I feel that it adds a layer of mystery to the novel, but doesn't change anything important in the flow of events. Either its a wasted mechanic of the novel or it just was meant not play any important role but rather pique the readers interest and make them think more about the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Mikhail said in that the purpose of the Boy's clairvoyance is to add interest and make the reader think. I also think it goes back to the thing we talked about with Coalhouse, which is that Doctorow has his moments when he steps back, gets out of his characters' heads, and allows the reader to form opinions, which are strengthened by the fact that there was nothing pushing them in one direction or another. I'm not sure what opinions Doctorow expected us to form, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to think about all the stuff you said in terms of this under-supported but apparently widely accepted theory that the Little Boy is the narrator. Certainly the idea that the Little Boy's watching this history wash over him is consistent with him being the one to record it (as the narrator has). And I suppose that perhaps the narrator could impose upon his young self knowledge that he didn't come to acquire until later, giving himself the semblance of clairvoyance? I don't know why the narrator would do this, though. I think that's really stretching it. Oh, just a quick question: is there any other hint to the kid's magical abilities besides the "warn the Duke" comment?
ReplyDeleteNow that we've completed the book, there is the example where he is thinking of Houdini when he arrives, when he is thinking of the New York Giants just as Father asks if he wants to go to a game, and also moves things with his mind in one of the first few chapters.
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