Oil! · Chapter
I explained
The chapter opens with a detailed description of a father and son driving along a perfectly paved concrete road.
What happens
The chapter opens with a detailed description of a father and son driving along a perfectly paved concrete road. The father, Dad, is a methodical and disciplined driver who adheres to a strict speed of fifty miles per hour. The boy emulates his father in dress and demeanor, reflecting Dad's influence and the ethics of motoring. The narrative explores the risks and etiquette of early automobile travel, including near-misses with other vehicles and Dad's characteristic response of muttering 'Damn fool' at any perceived road hazard.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Morality
The father-son relationship is central, with the boy modeling his behavior and appearance after his father, reflecting familial influence and moral instruction.
Idealism vs. Pragmatism
Dad's strict adherence to rules and order contrasts with the chaotic reality of other drivers, highlighting the tension between ideal driving standards and practical road conditions.
Characters to notice
- Bunny Ross
The boy, who rides with his father and emulates his father's driving style and appearance.
- Dad Ross
The father, a disciplined driver who maintains a strict speed of fifty miles per hour and embodies the ethics of motoring.
Key passages
“The road ran, smooth and flawless, precisely fourteen feet wide, the edges trimmed as if by shears, a ribbon of grey concrete, rolled out over the valley by a giant hand.”
The road was perfectly smooth and exactly fourteen feet wide, with edges cut cleanly, like a grey concrete ribbon laid across the valley by a giant.
Sets the scene with a vivid description of the ideal road conditions.
“Fifty miles, said the speedometer; that was Dad's rule for open country, and he never varied it, except in wet weather.”
Dad always drove at exactly fifty miles per hour on open roads, only slowing down when it rained.
Highlights Dad's disciplined and rule-bound approach to driving.
“If there is anything a motorist considers disgraceful it is to 'skid his tires'; and Dad had the conviction that some day there would be a speed law turned inside out—it would be forbidden to drive less than forty miles an hour on state highways...”
Motorists find skidding their tires shameful, and Dad believed that eventually the law would require drivers to go at least forty miles per hour on state roads.
Reflects Dad's views on proper driving conduct and his anticipation of future traffic regulations.