In nearly every scene of Ragtime , Doctorow makes an effort to convey a message to the reader about American society. One of my favorite scenes to discuss in class was the one where Ford's Model T was first unveiled, and the employees were given exactly 60 seconds to view it before heading back to work. However, the entire book is full of moments with underlying messages about American society in the early 20th century. Further, it is not only full of commentary on issues such as industrialism and class disparities, but the way that Doctorow writes it convinces the reader to arrive to these conclusions all on their own. In multiple places throughout Ragtime , Doctorow mentions the extreme work conditions in factories and the lack of respect for workers. He chooses not to explicitly say his own thoughts on the matter, but rather pushes the reader to realize it for themselves. In the Model T scene specifically, Doctorow mentions the setup of the factory, how each person focuses o