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
Abner subscribes to the Dearborn Independent and reads every word faithfully. He starts to avoid stores run by Jews and warns his children about this “evil race.” Noticing that some of the men who are making money out of gambling and whiskey are Jewish, Abner becomes even more convinced by Ford’s stories. One of Abner’s children’s schoolteachers named O’Toole argues that Ford’s material about the Jews is not wholly reliable, causing Abner to wonder if she is Jewish and changed her name to hide her identity.
Abner’s response to the Dearborn Independent stories illustrates the real-world ramifications of misinformation. Reading about anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, Abner actively starts to discriminate against the Jews and even anyone who aligns with them. The fact that Abner immediately suspects anyone who questions Ford’s truthfulness demonstrates an additional problem with the misinformation: even trying to combat it with facts or questions is difficult.
Themes
One evening, a man from the Ku Klux Klan approaches Abner’s home, having gotten his name from the subscription list of the Dearborn Independent. The man explains that the Klan is being revived to put down “Jews, Catholics, Reds, and other alien enemies.” Abner gladly joins up, pays $20, and starts attending Klan meetings. He and the other members nail threats to people’s doors and burn huge crosses on their lawns. As he does this, Abner is reassured that Protestant American civilization is safe.
This moment explores the even greater ramifications that misinformation can have on people’s lives. The Dearborn Independent represents a gateway for Abner to become involved in far more hateful ideologies and groups, even while he feels he’s upholding American values. That irony is exposed here, as Abner believes he’s making America safe by making threats and burning crosses.
Themes
