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
Ford has a difficult time finding businessmen who share his vision. Most businessmen want to market his car to rich people, and they tell Ford to find out what rich people want and build it. But Ford wants to build something useful and then mass market the car—in the same way that bicycles are produced. He argues that the product will advertise itself on the road, and pretty soon everyone will want one.
Ford’s initial idealism again shines through here, as he hopes to make a positive impact on many people’s lives rather than simply market something for the wealthy. He recognizes that technology and progress is important to provide to people across the economic scale, and he searches for businessmen who share those values.
Themes
Companies advertise bicycles through high-profile races: manufacturers employ professional riders and pay them bonuses to beat the other makes’ riders. So to advertise his car, Ford decides to hold a race between himself and a man named Mr. Winton, who is inventing a car in Cleveland. Abner attends the race, and he watches as Ford’s car roars past Mr. Winton’s car. Abner is thrilled when Ford wins and brags about knowing Ford when he was building his first machine.
Ford reveals his ambition through these races. While he still wants to create something useful, he starts to display his desire to beat out his rivals and gain as much success as possible. This race represents the beginning of an unending competition in Ford’s life.
Themes
