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
For the next two years, Abner has plenty of work, and his wages rise to $8.25 a day. This seems astronomical to him, except that the price of almost everything is going up. One advantage that Abner has, however, is that because he bought a house, he doesn’t have to worry about rents going up, as others do.
Again, while Abner is finding some success, his prosperity comes with caveats. Because of the increased prices, he doesn’t actually have a greater degree of wealth. And in addition, his experience exposes the inequity of the system: while he gets the benefit of a house, those who were unable to afford a house become even worse off.
Themes
At the same time, Ford runs for the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan. He loses to a naval officer who raises $5 million and bought voter support, but the man is later convicted of bribery. The Allies (including the United States) also win the war, but Abner learns from the papers that there is a new threat called the Bolsheviki, who are even more dangerous than the German spies. Abner starts to look out for them in the plant as well.
This is another exposé of corruption within America: that political offices and power can simply be bought. Even if Ford were to win, he, too, is backed by an immense degree of success. While he might have good ideas, he is still motivated by the desire to retain power, wealth, and status, and thus Sinclair suggests that both of these men would corrupt the political sphere.
Themes
