The turn of the century in American, when E.L. Doctorow's novel Ragtime is set, was a time marked by rapid technological developments and industrialization. These years also brought a heavy flood of immigrants as well as an increasingly urban American landscape. Technological advancements enabled increased efficiency and mass production. However, Doctorow clearly brings into question the consequences of this new technology for the ... to be known as J.P. Morgan & Co. Throughout Ragtime, E.L. Doctorow constantly refers to the economic status of the families and immigrants. J.P. Morgan's compa...

• Word Count: 1183
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... in the 1950's through the 1960's about story-telling. All the characters introduced in the novel, have some sort of tie or connection to the main narrator, Marisol. The book begins before Marisol is born, and is comprised of stories that ... a significant role in the world in that time, how they were responsible for the household chores and raising the children, while the men in the novel were responsible for working and supporting the families, with very little variance from this. However, there were a select few characters introduced throughout the ... novel that tested that theory, ...

• Word Count: 1045
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... of 15 and produced fiction articles magazines to finance his studies at New York City College. In 1897 he enrolled Columbia University, determined to succeed while producing one poorly paid novel per week. In 1900 Sinclair married his first wife which he later divorced in 1911. The unhappy marriage led to the writing of Springtime and Harvest, "a tale of penniless lovers ... in investigative journalism as well as his socialist beliefs and that of his comrades. The Jungle accounts for the dirty conditions in the Chicago meat-packing industry and the struggles immigrants encounter in hope...

• Word Count: 1001
• Approx Pages: 4

... in San Francisco called the Joy Luck Club. The other members of the club "Lindo, Ying-ying, and An-mei "were three of Suyuan's best friends and fellow immigrants before she had passed on. They told Jing-mei about how her mother had found the address of her half sister and urged her to go to China and tell ... that Rose has not completely understood the lessons she has intended to teach her about hope and faith. Jing-mei speaks for Suyuan in the two mother sections of the novel. Suyaun's story is representative of the fight to maintain the mother-daughter bond through cultural difference...

• Word Count: 579
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In Yekl by Abraham Cahan, the portrait painted is that of Jewish immigrants adjusting to America and it's freedoms. Many of these travelers not only incorrectly predicted what America would be like but also, how they as individuals truly are. Animals in cages ... that comes from being set apart from the norm and this adds to the complications of social adjustment. One of Jake's character flaws is introduced in the beginning of the novel. Jake is described as being tall, muscular, good looking and charming. In the beginning scene, he is the center of attention acting out and explaining sports...

• Word Count: 1155
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... of proficiency in English. The ability to communicate with the mainstream also contributes to an immigrant women's sense of identity and belonging in this country. Nilda, the protagonist in the novel Nilda by Nicholosa Mohr uses her knowledge of the English language to obtain an identity in the United States. Nilda, in a way feels a sense of home in New York because ... The Barrio. However, in many families women are not encouraged to participate in English language training or other services because of their childcare or family responsibilities. The mother in this novel one could see j...

• Word Count: 1038
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate