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
In the first year after the war, Ford’s sales double. But in 1920, there is a panic on Wall Street and businesses tank. Ford tries to cut his cars’ prices, but even this doesn’t help, as he is producing too many cars for too little demand. He also has a $35 million debt from buying out others’ stock, and $18 million in income tax to pay. Stories about the situation appear in the newspaper, and a group of New York bankers work out a plan to finance Ford because he can’t raise enough money to stay in business.
While Ford’s enterprise has brough him prosperity, there are recurring “panics” on Wall Street. Without any kind of regulation, Ford is overproducing cars to the point where his business might be completely eradicated. The massive debts he has incurred demonstrate the pitfalls of an unchecked system, particularly when the heads of businesses are irresponsible with their financial strategy.
Themes
Abner is shocked to read this story and talks about it with the shop mates: people are worried about what to do if the plant shuts down. But Ford gets his car dealers to immediately sell all of their Ford cars and only take cash for them. The dealers are so desperate to make these sales that they even buy some of the cars themselves—they know if Ford goes out of business, they would also be out of business.
The passage illustrates how dire it can be for average workers and car dealers when the capitalist system fails—not only would Ford lose his fortune, but thousands of others would also be affected. Thus, the situation highlights the need for a safety net to prevent this kind of overproduction, debt, and massive unemployment.
Themes
