Symbolism of the flashbacks

I think the woman and the man in John's flashbacks are symbols for his relationship to the revolutions - Irish and Mexican. At first he's in 'love' with the 'girl' which is a symbol for the romanticized vision of revolution. The 'man' represents the reality of revolution - violence, loss, etc.

In the scene in the car, John is romancing the girl, while the man/soldier is driving or leading them down the literal road to revolution and death. The man tries to interrupt John's romance and John responds by mashing the accelerator to the floor, hastening the trip to it's inevitable and bloody end.

In the final flashback, John and the girl are again romantically engaged, while the man (the Revolution) impatiently looms over his shoulder, waiting to steal the romantic vision of the girl from John. When John sees what the reality of the Revolution does with his 'girl' he loses his smile, his innocence, and his romantic ideals for good.

Bring me four fried chickens and a Coke