The ragman, also known as the ragpicker, is a poor old man who lives along the river in the slums of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Suttree has known him since childhood, when the ragman would visit his mother's house and she would give him sandwiches.

He lives in extreme poverty, sleeping under piles of rubbish and newspapers, and spends his days searching for anything that might help him survive.

Suttree visits him regularly to see how he is doing, sometimes bringing him a fish or helping him out in small ways.

The ragman often talks about death and has a rather bleak outlook on life. When Suttree asks him about God, he replies that he has no reason to believe God believes in him. He also wonders why he was brought into this world in the first place, without any obvious reason or purpose.

In many ways, the ragman represents what Suttree himself could eventually become. Both men have turned their backs on conventional society, but the ragman shows what that kind of life might ultimately lead to: growing old, completely alone, forgotten by everyone, and struggling just to stay alive.

For some reason, I like the ragman and feel sorry for him at the same time.