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
Not knowing what else to do about his dire economic need, Abner decides to write a letter to Clara Ford (who is known as a great philanthropist) to ask for help. He explains, in very poor grammar and spelling, about his history with Ford and the poor state of his family, asking if he might be able to get a job at the plant.
Abner’s letter illustrates his tendency towards individualism in place of unionization. Rather than gaining power as a collective, Abner goes in search of benefits only for himself. Even if Abner were successful, it would only highlight the problems with fighting for better conditions in this manner, because no one else would receive the same benefit as Abner.
Themes
