REPRESSIVE IDEOLOGIES OF THE RULING CLASS AND SINCLAIR’S IDEOLOGY IN THE FLIVVER KING: A STORY OF FORD AMERICA

Abstract

Abstract
This research aims to identify and analyze repressive ideologies unconsciously approved by the
society reflected in Upton Sinclair‟s The Flivver King: A Story of Ford America and to reveal Sinclair‟s
ideology in the novel. To answer the objectives of the research, the researcher used the theory of ideology
by Karl Marx which is discussed in Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide Book by Lois Tyson.
This research employed a descriptive-qualitative method using content analysis technique. The main
source of the research was a novel entitled The Flivver King: A Story of Ford America by Upton Sinclair
which was published in 1999 by Charles H. Kerr. The data were some words, phrases, clauses, sentences
and expressions related to the research topic. The data were analyzed through six steps: identifying,
reading and re-reading, categorizing, sorting the data, analyzing and evaluating the data, and making an
interpretation of the findings. The trustworthiness of the data was achieved through reading and rereading
the
data,
providing
rich
and
thick
description
and
conducting
triangulation
via
investigators.
The

findings
of
the
research
show
that
there

are three repressive ideologies that are internalized in the minds
of society; American Dream, commodification and consumerism, which lead to unfavorable social and
economical conditions. From the analysis, it can be concluded that Sinclair‟s ideology is on the side of the
proletariat. By displaying the negative roles of the repressive socioeconomic ideologies, positive images
of the proletariat,and anti-capitalist behaviors. Sinclair wants the readers to blame the system and reject
capitalism.

Keywords: Ideology, The Flivver King, Sinclair, Repressive Ideology