Theaterfan101
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A Few QuestionsWhy do so many charecters not have real names, (Father, Mother, Younger Brother, etc)?
I know that little girl has no name because her father told her to not tell, but what about the others.
Also isn't the charecter referred to as Little Boy called Edger? My friend burned me the CD and I think I keep hearing Edger, but on the sypnsops and other topics they just say Little Boy.
Also, who narrators they prolouge? How many kids do the parents have?
I know this is alot of questions, but it will be alot of help. Thank you.
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The Very Angry Woman
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Re: A Few Questions | Theaterfan101 wrote: | | Also isn't the charecter referred to as Little Boy called Edger? My friend burned me the CD and I think I keep hearing Edger, but on the sypnsops and other topics they just say Little Boy. |
Yes, his name is Edgar.
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musicalmousie
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| Quote: | Why do so many charecters not have real names, (Father, Mother, Younger Brother, etc)?
I know that little girl has no name because her father told her to not tell, but what about the others.
Also isn't the charecter referred to as Little Boy called Edger? My friend burned me the CD and I think I keep hearing Edger, but on the sypnsops and other topics they just say Little Boy.
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In the novel of Ragtime, the Little Boy doesn't have a name at all. The reason that the Family isn't (and shouldn't be- 'Edgar' made me kinda mad  ) named is that they're symbolic of all of the families of that time period and of the chages to society in that era- for instance, Father represents the old male-centric way of doing things in America, and Mother's strengthening shows how women break away from it. The Little Boy represents the future. When it is shown at the end that Mother and Tateh get married, and the Little Boy and Little Girl are playmates, it shows the joining of America and the immigrant world.
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broadwaybaby1310
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Each character in the prologue narrates for them self (i.e. talks in third person about themselves) except for the very beginning, which is narrated by Little Boy. Each family has one child, Little Girl for Tateh and Little Boy/Edgar for Mother and Father.
The name change for Little Boy kinda bothered me too, but after I thought about it, it sort of makes sense. Mother and Father call each other by those names, a not uncommon thing (one of my friend's parents call each other Mom and Dad). But for a mother to call her son Little Boy is kinda weird. I don't know, just my thoughts on the matter.
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Celeste_SM
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I think the only question that hasn't been answered is that Mother and Father only have Edgar. Tateh only has Little Girl. Coalhouse and Sarah have Coalhouse Jr. only.
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Theaterfan101
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thanks every one! I defenitly want to
a) see the play
b) read to book
c) perform the play
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broadwaybaby1310
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There's a movie too! Not a musical, but very good and very helpful for getting a sense of the characters and situations.
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metaphor17
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I was "Little Girl" when I was younger. at the time I was completely confused by the fact that I didn't have a name 
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