The Symbolism of Coalhouse's Car in "Ragtime"
The Symbolism of Coalhouse's Car in "Ragtime"
Ansh Singh
Symbolism is apparent everywhere in the world. The Statue of Liberty, an emblem of freedom. The heart, a universal symbol representing love. Doctorow's "Ragtime" offers another symbol in the form of Coalhouse's car. In Ragtime, the vandalization of Coalhouse's car by the racist group of firefighters leads to a series of significant events that powerfully impact the story. These events span from Mother's Younger Brother's involvement in Coalhouse's group to Sarah's tragic death and the invasion of J.P. Morgan's home. But why was Coalhouse so dedicated in receiving his car fully repaired in the first place?
Firstly, we need to understand what the car truly means to Coalhouse. To him, the car is more than solely for transportation—it symbolizes his success as a black man in America. As the owner of an expensive, well-kept automobile in a society plagued by racial discrimination, he takes pride being able to take on racial stereotypes through his car, which represents his success and prosperity. His vehicle is a testament to his financial and social achievements. Furthermore, the car symbolizes Coalhouse's desire for respect. Driving in his Model T Ford is a way for him to demand recognition and equal treatment, and seeing the firemen destroy his one source of pride only fueled Coalhouse's yearning for respect.
The reason Coalhouse could not let the situation go is because Coalhouse strongly believed that the repair of the car was as a means of making the perpetrators responsible for their own actions. His belief was so resolute that he had called off his own wedding only to be able cover lawyer expenses, a decision that some lawyers even disagreed with. In particular, one lawyer remarked: "Surely your responsibilities to your intended are more important than the need to redress a slight on the part of white folks." (pg. 184). Additionally, Father expressed his view on the situation stating that "it was ridiculous to allow a motorcar to take over everyone's life as it now had" (pg. 188). Coalhouse believed that if he could get his car restored back to the original state it was in, it would symbolize the possibility of overcoming racial barriers for himself and his community. It would be a step for change in the pursuit of equality. The death of Sarah only further amplified this wish, setting the stage for radical events that would unfold later in the book.
Great post Ansh! I agree that Coalhouse's car is meant to symbolize his success as a black man, and I think you did a great job explaining this. This explains why Coalhouse had such a hard time letting go of his car and why he went to great lengths to get it repaired.
ReplyDeleteAnsh, you make some very good points about Coalhouse's car being a big symbol in the story. I think you nailed explaining why Coalhouse was so adamant about getting his car back to the way it was before the firefighters destroyed it. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteReally good post! Your description that Coalhouse's car is a major symbolism for his success is definitely a key aspect of his story. I think that it not only represents his success, but also the fight against white supremacy. He knows that to stop the cycle, he cannot give up.
ReplyDeleteIn some respects, we might say that Father DOES have a point when he notes that this affair escalates dramatically, to the point where it's not clear whether it's "worth it" simply for a car. Father connects this stubbornness to Coalhouse's "pride," and he associates that pride with racial characteristics, and he uses a racist epithet to characterize it. In the parlance of the times, Coalhouse seems "uppity" to Father--he doesn't "know his place." Readers (like us!) might hesitate to condemn a Black man trying to assert his identity at this time for being "proud"--pride can either be a tragic flaw or a valuable sense of self-worth and embrace of racial identity. The car DOES represent his "pride" in a pretty literal way--his aspirations, his self-created performer's identity, his upward mobility. And this is precisely why it upsets the firefighters so much--he "doesn't know his place." And Father is sort of torn between aligning with the firefighters or Coalhouse, and that's problematic.
ReplyDeleteI really like this exploration of what the car symbolized to Coalhouse. He definitely does have a fixation on it, and I like how you explained both the extent of that fixation and the reasoning behind it. I do think that there is further to be explored on this topic, especially about what Morgan says about the situation, specifically "Give him his automobile and hang him.".
ReplyDeleteI agree that the car is originally symbolic of Coalhouse's financial success. After it's vandalized, it takes on a new meaning and begins to represent the societal and institutional injustices he faces. It's possible Coalhouse's demand of having his car fixed by the people who broke it is analogous to the broader desire to see positive change in the justice system and in his community.
ReplyDeleteAnsh, I love your analysis on Coalhouse's car as something past a method of transportation and the catalyst for future events. No, the Model T car is a symbol, one representing Coalhouse's success, dignity and respect as a black man living in America. When this is destroyed, not only are the physical aspects of his achievements damaged, but his entire personhood is disrespected. Good analysis!
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