In the chapter, we learn that a number of families expressed feelings that the car worked to keep families together, it brought the family group together, even promoted unity. For example, it was not uncommon for more privileged or high middle, to upper class families to take day trips to other towns, cities or vacation spots. However, the same was not the case for more blue collar, working class families. For families with less wealth, as any extra money was spent on the actual purchase of the car, there were fewer opportunities for leisure as the car took the brunt of expenses. Many working class families abstained from experience things like such day trips, or drive in movies or just Sunday drives. The actual ownership of the automobile and the new mobility, literally and figuratively, trumped the fun and games that accompanied the …show more content…
The Lynd’s reported in this chapter that although the very first car made its inaugural appearance in Middletown around the dawn of the twentieth century, with almost 200 six years later, there were as many as 6,300 by 1923. This serious growth in the automobile presence illustrates the idea that the car was quickly becoming an important item to people from all lifestyles, for the fulfillment of many different functions. The text illustrates that, “as, at the turn of the century, business class people began to feel apologetic if they did not have a telephone, so ownership of an automobile has now reached the point of being an accepted essential of normal living.” As quickly as the car was incorporated to the commercial and employed realm, it also became the basis of the changes seen on the social and religious