Oil! · Chapter
VI explained
Bunny and Dad Ross travel through Southern California, stopping in Santa Ynez for a meal.
What happens
Bunny and Dad Ross travel through Southern California, stopping in Santa Ynez for a meal. Dad discusses oil prospects and the local economy while Bunny observes the town's commercialism and speed traps.
Themes in this chapter
Oil and Capitalism
Dad Ross discusses oil prospects and land acquisition, reflecting the oil-driven economic expansion in Southern California.
Social Mobility and Wealth
Dad's generous tip and his interest in land and oil illustrate the pursuit of wealth and social mobility.
Characters to notice
- Bunny Ross
Observes the town and enjoys the meal, imagining historical battles along the road.
- Dad Ross
Drives, discusses oil and land, tips the waitress generously, and complains about speed traps.
Key passages
“Dad would take fried rabbit; and Bunny thought he wouldn’t—not because of the cannibalistic suggestion, but because of one he had seen mashed on the road that morning.”
Bunny declined the fried rabbit not due to any taboo but because he had seen a dead rabbit on the road earlier.
Shows Bunny's sensitivity and practical reasoning.
“Dad gave the waitress a half dollar for a tip, which was an unheard-of thing at a counter, and seemed almost immoral; but she took it.”
Dad's generous tip was considered unusual and almost improper, but the waitress accepted it.
Highlights Dad's unconventional generosity and the social norms of the time.