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 arrives at an elaborate mansion; a footman escorts them into the house and he and Clara enjoy cocktails and decadent hors d’oeuvres. They then move to the dining room, which is elegantly furnished with oil paintings, hand-cut glass, and polished mahogany. At the labor meeting, the chairman tells the audience that no liberties have ever been won without a struggle—they have to make sacrifices to win their rights as workers. The chairman then introduces Tom Jr.—the son and grandson of factory workers who has seen the trials of the working class under capitalism. Tom tells his audience that the only way to save the workers is to organize and unite.
While the Fords enjoy the lavish perks of wealth, Tom and the other workers are fighting for basic human decency and fair wages. The descriptions of the elegant mansion, the footmen, and the various décor also recalls the title of the novel—The Flivver King—to show that Ford has become more than a wealthy entrepreneur. He has quite literally become a king, set apart from the working class who do not enjoy a fraction of the same benefits.
Themes
