John is Abner and Milly’s first child, and Hank, Daisy, and Tom Jr.’s brother. Growing up, John takes interest in his father’s work and attends Ford’s trade school. He then gets a job at Ford’s as a welder and receives a promotion in less than a year; in this way, John fulfills Abner’s American Dream, surpassing his father’s station in life. John eventually becomes so successful that he receives a monthly salary rather than a weekly one, marries the daughter of his department head, and buys a home in an elegant neighborhood. John and his wife, Annabelle, both revere Ford, grateful for the opportunity and prosperity he has given them. However, when the Great Depression hits, John loses his job and, as a result, his home. He moves into exactly the kind of home in which he grew up, refuting the idea that he has gained greater success and mobility than his father. John’s department then rehires him to work for a few days a week at $6 a day—a fraction of what he was making before. John and Annabelle grow furious at Ford, seeing how is taking advantage of his unemployed workers’ desperation to make any amount of money. However, once the industry picks up again, John is able to regain his position and he tries to save as much money as possible in order to guard himself against another economic downturn, reinforcing how the capitalist system takes advantage of workers and only spurs people to try and make as much money as possible.
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John Shutt Character Timeline in The Flivver King
The timeline below shows where the character John Shutt appears in The Flivver King. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 11
...Over the following six years, they have six children, of whom four survive: three boys (John, Henry “Hank,” and Tom Jr.) and a girl (Daisy). While Abner and Milly are fulfilling...
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Chapter 24
...to keep up the new house, and he also gets to watch his children grow. John is now 10 years old and interested in everything his father does and says. The...
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Chapter 38
John, Abner’s oldest son, is now 15 years old. He applies for and is accepted into...
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Chapter 47
John finishes trade school and gets a job in Ford’s factory as a welder—a skilled job...
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Chapter 50
John manages to find a job for Abner in the tool shop of the welding department,...
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Chapter 52
...to refashion the machines, and 100,000 men are laid off as this happens, including Abner. John again finds Abner a job as a sweeper in the welding factory; he makes $6...
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Chapter 53
...Abner Shutt returns to spindle-nut screwing, and his children continue to climb the social ladder. John is promoted and receives a monthly salary; he marries the daughter of his department head,...
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Chapter 55
The first panic on Wall Street affects John Shutt very little. He is a specialist in welding at the new plant, he has...
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...Ford is a feudal lord with wealth and the power of the press. The more John works for Ford, the more John prospers; the more John prospers, the more he admires...
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Chapter 57
John and Hank keep their jobs, but Daisy has just married a bookkeeper who works for...
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Chapter 59
After three years living in his elegant home, John Shutt loses his job at the Ford Motor Company. He and Annabelle immediately panic, as...
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Annabelle grows resentful of John; she is frustrated that he was giving money to his family while she felt that...
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Chapter 67
...and he is horrified that the men lured him to the march. Abner realizes that John might have been helping to defend the plant or Hank might have been in the...
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Chapter 77
That summer, John regains his former job as the industry picks up again. Terrified of experiencing another slump,...
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