Symbolism

Daisy's automobiles (of which there are many) are central symbols in the play. For Daisy, driving her own car represents freedom. This freedom is taken away from her when Boolie hires Hoke. For Hoke, Daisy's cars the Oldsmobile that he purchases used from the dealer after Boolie gets Daisy a new car represents a rise in social status. "Keep them ashes off my 'polstry," he warns Boolie, as the two men drive to the dealership. For Boolie, however, the car is just an object, a large, dangerous object in the hands of his mother, which he places in the hands of a driver he can trust.

Even when Daisy relents and allows Hoke to drive her car in a sense, take away her freedom she does her best to continue to assert herself. On their first trip together, Daisy tries to instruct Hoke on the route to take...