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Chapter 22
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Ragtime, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The American Dream
Replication and Transformation
Freedom, Human Dignity, and Justice
The Cult of Celebrity
Women’s Roles
Social Inequities
Summary
Analysis
One Sunday afternoon, the members of New Rochelle’s Emerald Isle volunteer fire company use their horse-drawn fire engine to block Coalhouse Walker Jr.’s path as he drives back to Harlem from his customary visit to Sarah. They try to extort $25 dollars from him. When he refuses, they block him on the other side to prevent him from escaping. Noticing two Black boys playing nearby, Coalhouse calls them over and asks them to keep an eye on the Model T while he leaves on foot.
Referring to Ireland, the “Emerald Isle” part of the volunteer fire department’s name, strongly insinuates that individuals of Irish extraction make up the company. The peak of Irish immigration to America occurred in the mid-19th century and occasioned a great deal of racism and exclusionary treatment. But, by the early 20th century, many of these Irish American families had become better integrated and accepted into American society as successive waves of immigration from Italy and eastern Europe provided new minority groups to vilify. In part, then, Conklin’s crusade against Coalhouse can be read as an attempt to stake a claim to a certain position in society (if not at the top, at least proximate to it) by virtue of his whiteness.
Themes
Coalhouse finds a police officer downtown, who listens to his story but tells him that it’s a harmless prank and he should drop the issue. But when Coalhouse returns to Firehouse Lane, he finds that someone has pushed his Model T into an adjacent field. The top is torn and there is a “mound of fresh human excrement” on the back seat. Incensed, Coalhouse goes back across the street to the firehouse, where he demands that the firefighters clean his car and reimburse him for the damages. As he does, two police officers (including the one he’d previously spoken to) arrive on the scene. They suggest that Coalhouse take his car and leave while he still can. When Coalhouse insists that the officers hold the firefighters accountable for the damage, they threaten to arrest him for drunk driving. When he protests that he doesn’t drink, he finds himself under arrest.
Earlier, Father opined that the problem with Coalhouse was that he didn’t act like Black man—like a man who understands and accepts that he occupies a lower place in society than the white people around him. Coalhouse doesn’t accept this, and his refusal speaks to his inherent dignity. The way he carries himself with dignity and calmness throws the callous disregard of the police and the cruelty of the fire fighters into even sharper relief—especially when the police arrest him under false charges.
Themes
Father promptly agrees to pay Coalhouse’s $50 bail when the jailed musician calls the house. He feels a little put out when Coalhouse fails to grovel gratefully, though. Nevertheless, Coalhouse follows through on his promise to repay the money the next night. He also tells the family what happened. Sarah listens from the hallway as Younger Brother suggests that Coalhouse press charges and Father offers to help him find a lawyer. Coalhouse is reluctant, but he continues to insist he will not retrieve the Model T until it is restored to the condition in which he left it. The next day, Younger Brother goes to inspect the car for himself. It is now “thoroughly vandalized”—the tires, upholstery, and top have all been slashed to ribbons.
Despite his dislike of Coalhouse, Father still considers himself a generous man, and he charitably pays the musician’s bail. His disappointment in Coalhouse’s response makes it clear that he expected exceptional treatment just for considering Coalhouse as a fellow human being in this instance. Father and Younger Brother betray their privilege when they encourage Coalhouse to find a lawyer—the reaction of the police officers has already demonstrated how the authorities will treat a Black man. Father mostly drops the matter after this. But Younger Brother doesn’t—he is finding his cause.
Themes
