...Assignment 3 – Ragtime Introduction The novel Ragtime takes place in America in the early 1900's. It illustrates several life stories and destinies all woven together in different ways. Most of the characters in the novel are pure fictitious but some historical men and women from the era are featured. We get to met Houdini, the biggest illusionists of his time, JP Morgan, one of the wealthiest men in America, Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company and Emma Goldman, an anarchist and political activist. One of the main characters, and the main focus of this analysis is the Latvian, Jewish immigrant referred to as Tateh. We follow Tateh and his daughter Sha's progression through the different stages of becoming assimilated in the American melting pot that is the American culture. Main Body Tateh and his family arrived to America in the beginning of the nineteenth century. This was a time in history when immigrants, mostly europeans were flowing into New York. Between 1901 and 1910 as many as 8.8 million people arrived from overseas (Duncan and Goddard, 2009:66) all stepping of the boat filled with dreams and hopes of a better life in “the land of opportunity”. The reality in New York was different. The streets were dirty, crime was increasing along with the growing population and assimilation was not easy. “The officials changed names they couldn't pronounce and tore people from their families... “They were despised by New Yorkers. They were filthy...
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...Alan Cyril Balleine was born in Saint Peters of Jersey in the Channel Islands, England on July 11th, 1898. He was a single father of John Alfred Balleine who was also born in St. Peters. His son was named after his father and his mother's name was Marthe Louisa Biard. Balleine was part of the Church of England which was the tradition for where he lived. During his enlistment on the 12th of February, 1916 Balleine was described to be 5 feet 6, had dark features (dark complexion, black hair, and black eyes), and to look 18 years old, which would have been true five months later. He has never served in any Military Force and was working as a Clerk beforehand. Military Movements The day of his arrival in England on October 6th, 1916 he was "Taken on Strength" to the 69th Battalion and soon was transferred to the 23rd Battalion on the 18th of October where he spent a month in a small camp called Dibgate. He then "reverts to the rank to proceed O/s (overseas)" and is drafted on the same day to the 14th Battalion where he will stay until April 9th, 1917. During the wet months of December and January, it was recorded to be "very dull days" consisted of training such as drills, bayonet fighting, and salutes. The 14th B.n marched to the reserve at Berthanval Wood Brigade on the 16th of December until the 21st where the battalion was relieved; Units then proceeded to the Divisional Reserve Billets at Estree Cauchy. A day later, at 8:00 a.m the 14th B.n lead the march (The order of the...
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