Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men is a story about three characters, Jack Burden Willie Stark Adam Stanton. Each character embarks on a self-discovery journey that ends with tragedy for some but optimistic illumination for others. The novel is a journey of self-discovery for each character. They learn something new about themselves, and face their own morals and roles in the world.

Willie Stark’s death is tragically the moment he becomes aware of his corruption. Willie, the main character, is corrupt on both a personal and political level. He uses manipulation to run the state, and he has several extramarital affairs. Willie has a friendly disposition as governor so long as his supporters listen to him. Willie has a similar commitment to punishing the enemies of his state. Willie is a firm believer that “the goal justifies all means” and uses blackmail and manipulation in order to achieve his goals. Willie convinces moral Adam Stanton to accept that goodness cannot be “inherited”. And you have to do it by using badness… But why? There isn’t any other material to use” (367). Stark is trying his best to justify bad decisions because the outcome is positive. Willie persists in this philosophy until his son Tom suffers a paralysis during a game of football. Willie is weaker than ever before and can’t control what’s happening. Willie tries to appear in control by saying Tom will be okay and praising his son for his toughness. Willie is excited when he can take control of a situation. For example, when he names the hospital Tom. He doesn’t understand what to do when he cannot force the situation to go his way.

Willie is a changed man after Tom’s injuries. He stops his affair, and attempts to reconcile Lucy with him. He wants to clean up his office, rescinding a dishonest contract for a building and telling Tiny Duffy that things will be different from now on. Adam Stanton shoots Willie the very next day, after hearing about his sister’s affair with Willie. Willie says to Jack, as he lies dying in a hospital, “if Adam’s murder hadn’t taken place, it could have been even different” (573).

Adam Stanton is Jack’s childhood friend and an expert surgeon. He has high integrity and high sensitivity. He is easily irritated by those who he perceives as being unscrupulous, or having a lower level of character. Adam is naturally envious of Willie Stark. Willie’s offer to Adam as the director of the hospital is one he accepts, knowing that it will allow him to help more people. This was his ultimate goal. Adam will continue to be beaten down by his virtue. His morality will eventually crumble and he’ll break. Jack exposes Adam’s father, an ex-governor whom Adam admired as a man of honor and integrity. Adam’s delicate moral outlook begins to crack as he receives the news. Adam’s shattered after an attempt at bribery in the hospital and finding out about Willie having an affair with Anne. He thinks he got the directorship at the hospital because he is Willie’s brother. Adam cannot stand this corruption. It involves his sister as well. Both his ego and sensitive spirit are crushed. In desperation Willie shoots Sugar-Boy, Willie’s best friend. Adam is saddened by the fact that his self-discovery is not positive.

Jack Burden, the novel’s narrator and protagonist, is the political-right-hand-man of southern governor Willie Stark. He is lacking the enthusiasm and initiative to pursue goals. Instead, he behaves like a robot who follows his surroundings and accepts whatever fate deals him. He quits his job after working for months on a study of Cass Mastern’s, the grandson of his grandmother. If he loses work, he will not search for a new job because he simply doesn’t want to. He prefers to fill his time with leisure, sleep, and relaxation. Jack has no regard for the future or responsibility. Anne Stanton’s companion, who is also his love interest, finds this a little troubling. He mulls this over a bit in his mind, but doesn’t take any action. Anne then leaves after their summer affair.

Jack’s work for Willie consists mainly of blackmailing political opponents and gathering dirt. Jack never feels any responsibility for his work. Jack is detached in his personal life. Jack believes that all events are the result of nature’s whims, not any person’s action. Jack is absolved of any responsibility by adopting his theory, the “Great Twitch,” (events happen randomly and are uncontrollable).

Jack Burden, a man who was unfeeling before, becomes a caring person only after the passing of Judge Irwin. Jack discovers Irwin’s bribe when Willie blackmails him. Irwin needed the money in order to preserve his estate. Irwin commits suicide after Jack blackmails him with the information. Jack learns that Judge Irwin, who was Jack’s father, is actually Jack. Jack will be the sole inheritor of the estate. Jack is shocked to realize how logically the events unfolded. Judge Irwin received the bribe so that he could save the estate. Then he fathered Jack. Jack blackmailed his father about the bribe which led to Judge Irwin taking his own life. Jack then inherited everything. Jack believes that this incident proves the Great Twitch is incorrect, and people are truly responsible for what they do. This incident breaks his ability to avoid responsibility. Jack apologizes for his involvement in the murder and begins to cry, his very first emotional response. Jack’s inner illumination is greatly influenced by another death, the assassination Willie Stark was committed by Adam Stanton. Jack finds out that Tiny informed Adam of Willie’s affair, and he threatens Tiny, as he had done to Willie’s adversaries.

Jack then realizes that by accusing Tiny of Willie’s fatal accident, he is admitting to the fact that somebody was directly responsible. Jack must accept responsibility for Willie’s death if anyone is to blame. The Great Twitch Theory is destroyed after this incident. Jack is unable to accept this and withdraws. Jack’s mom eventually talks to Jack and helps him come out of the deadened state. She leaves her husband after realizing that she loves Judge Irwin. Jack is now able to see his mother in a new light. He no longer views her as a cold woman. Jack has a heart and is no longer an emotionless machine.

Robert Penn Warren illustrates this concept through Willie Stark’s, Adam Stanton’s and Jack Burden’s characters. Willie’s and Jack’s stories show how corruption and the consequences of it can lead to the realization of one’s own shortcomings, which is a major milestone on the road to self improvement. Adam’s soul cannot bear the revelations corruption can bring.

dylanwest

Dylan West is a 33-year-old education blogger and traveler. He has a degree in education from the University of Texas and has been blogging about education since 2009.