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Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Flivver King, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Capitalism and Dehumanization
American Idealism and Disillusionment
Misinformation, Media Bias, and Ignorance
Individualism vs. Unionization
Technology and Progress
Summary
Analysis
John, Abner’s oldest son, is now 15 years old. He applies for and is accepted into Ford’s trade school, where he learns to work in various parts of the Ford shops. Meanwhile, Hank, Abner’s second son, has become a troublemaker. He frequently lies to his teachers, runs away from home, and cuts school. Once, he lands in jail for breaking into freight cars, disgracing his hard-working parents. Abner has to take off half a day from work and go to court, pleading to get Hank on probation. Hank is better behaved for a while after this incident, but he is already marked as a young criminal.
John’s success in trade school plays into Abner’s values and idealism; he is fulfilling Abner’s American dream that his children might rise up and have more opportunity than he had. However, Hank’s misbehavior contrasts with John’s upstanding nature, hinting at the fact that not every child fulfills that promise and maintains the same ideals.
Themes
