A conflict can be defined as a state of opposition between two forces and is central to the human experience. There are a countless amount of factors which can cause a conflict between individuals, established groups, or within one’s self. The way conflicts are dealt with, can cause a person to better themselves by producing strength and skills or can destroy one’s spirit and cause a great amount of agony. Within “Ragtime” by E.L. Doctorow, Mother is confronted with several key conflicts which include her relationship with Father, her struggle to find personal meaning in society and also her emotional, physical and intellectual change.
Sexual activity is a major theme and conflict in “Ragtime” and although many characters are changed and affected by sexual activity, the relationship between Mother and Father is most defined by it and creates a conflict for Mother. After reading “Ragtime”, one can see that sex and sexual desires are the foundations of the relationship between Mother and Father. At the beginning of the novel, Doctorow writes, “On Sunday afternoon, after dinner, Father and Mother went upstairs and closed the bedroom door” (page 4). This is the first reference of sexual activity and right away, one can get the impression that they have a very physical relationship. While reading the novel, it is understood that as long as their relationship was physical and full of sexual activity, their marriage was happy and easy going. In the beginning of the novel, their relationship seems pretty good but by the end of the novel their marriage dwindles. Mother’s dislike towards Father is presented when Father tells Mother that he and their boy are going to go to the baseball game. Doctorow writes, “She was checked in her response, which was to condemn him for an idiot, and when he left the room she could only wonder that she had had that thought in the first place,