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
There are 54 journalists on Ford’s peace ship, including one from the London Daily Mail. The Daily Mail’s owner rose to power in the same fashion as Ford, only he sold sensations and scandals instead of machinery. The journalist sends out detailed accounts of the pacifists’ disagreements, which are broadcast by the international press.
The description of the Daily Mail’s rise sheds some light on the newspaper industry’s bias. Just like Ford and his cars, the newspaper industry is equally invested in maximizing their profits and selling the news, even if it means printing biased stories or misinformation.
Themes
While the peace ship is sailing, President Wilson calls for a heavy increase in military forces, which delights Wall Street and exasperates the pacifists. When the ship lands in Denmark, Ford’s advisor Dean Marquis urges Ford to return home. Ford takes the next steamer back, and the pacifists continue to hold their meetings. When Ford returns, he declares that he is more of a pacifist than ever. He publishes full-page advertisements full of attacks on the munitions empire.
Again, Ford demonstrates how at this time, he is willing to hang on to his ideals even if this puts him at odds with major politicians and world leaders. Sinclair places Ford at odds with the war-hungry bankers on Wall Street, emphasizing that his desire for profits have not yet fully corrupted him in the way that it has corrupted other businessmen.
Themes
