The Hack Driver Class 10th Summary explains Chapter 10 of the CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet supplementary reader. Written by Sinclair Lewis, the story is an amusing narrative about a naive lawyer who is tricked by a seemingly helpful hack driver while trying to locate a man named Oliver Lutkins in a village.
The chapter highlights themes of caution, wit, and human folly, teaching students that trusting strangers blindly can lead to being deceived. It is humorous, engaging, and valuable for both exam preparation and moral learning.
The Hack Driver Class 10th Summary
The story follows a young lawyer who recently started working as a junior assistant clerk. He is tasked with delivering a court summons to Oliver Lutkins, a prime witness in a legal case, in the village of New Mullion. On arrival, he meets a cheerful hack driver at the railway station, who introduces himself as Bill Magnuson and offers to help locate Lutkins.
The lawyer rents Bill’s hack, and together they search the village. They visit Fritz’s shop, Gustaff the barber, and the pool room, but fail to find Lutkins. Along the way, they share lunch at Wade’s Hill, enjoying the scenic view and Bill’s stories about village life. The lawyer begins to trust Bill, believing him to be a noble and cooperative man.
They also visit Lutkins’ mother’s house, only to encounter a hostile reaction from her. After completing his work for the day, the lawyer thanks Bill and returns to the city.
The following day, while revisiting the village with a colleague, the lawyer discovers the truth: Bill Magnuson, the hack driver, was actually Oliver Lutkins himself. He had cleverly deceived the lawyer while remaining friendly and helpful. Both Lutkins and his mother laugh at the lawyer’s naivety, leaving him embarrassed but enlightened.
Themes of The Hack Driver
After reading The Hack Driver Summary, students should understand the underlying themes of the story. Here are the themes of the story:
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Caution and Distrust
The story shows that blindly trusting strangers can lead to being fooled, as the lawyer experiences firsthand.
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Wit and Cleverness
Lutkins demonstrates intelligence and cunning by disguising himself as a hack driver, teaching the value of clever thinking.
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Humor in Daily Life
Sinclair Lewis uses humor to narrate human folly, making the story entertaining while providing life lessons.
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Appearances Can Be Deceptive
The chapter emphasizes that people are not always what they seem, reminding readers to exercise caution and discernment
The Hack Driver Conclusion
The Hack Driver is a humorous and insightful story that teaches students the importance of caution and careful observation. The naive lawyer is easily fooled by Lutkins, who cleverly disguises himself as a hack driver, showing that things are not always as they appear.
The chapter also highlights the value of wit and intelligence, demonstrating that cleverness and understanding can outsmart even the most trusting individuals. The story conveys a moral lesson about blind trust, human folly, and the need to think critically before believing anyone blindly.