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TOPIC: ALL THE KINGS ARE MANBY - Robert Penn Warren

SUBJECT: COMMUNICATION SKILLS - IISUBJECT CODE: ENG - 102

SUBMITTED TO:- SUBMITTED BY:-

Mr. Raman Jaswal Name: Jagraj Singh

(Dept. of Comm. Skills) Regn. No: 10807772

Section: C6804Roll No: RC6804A21

Course: B.Tech-MBA EC

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I Jagraj Singh of section C6804, registration no. 1080777and roll no. C6804A21 hereby submit this term paper o

Communication Skills to Mr. Raman Jaswal (dept. o

communication) on the novel All Kings are Men. I havbeen completed this term paper under the guidance of S

itself. It is my heartiest pleasure to be a part of this term

paper.

Also I want to thank my teacher for giving me this wor

on this project.

Submitted to:

Mr. Raman Jaswal

(Dept. of communication)

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Character Profiles

Adam Stanton:A childhood friend of Jack and the brother of AnneAdam is also the personification of honesty and idealismHe is a surgeon and works to help people rather than foprofit. Because of this altruism, Willie wishes to employ himas the director of his new hospital. After Adam receives aanonymous telephone call (which is from Tiny Duffy) and told that Anne has been having an affair with Willie, h

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idealism is shattered and he assassinates him. Adam is shoby Sugar-Boy and a police man in their defence of Willie.

Anne Stanton:Anne is the sister of Adam and friend and forme

lover of Jack. Her affair with Willie Stark is one of threasons that Adam loses his faith in the good. Jack's earlieidealization of her is encapsulated as a memory of hefloating in the water as a child.

Cass Mastern:This man is the maternal uncle of Ellis Burden and

the subject of Jack Burden's uncompleted PhD research. Hstory appears in Chapter Four.

Gummy Larson:Gummy Larson is a marginal figure, but is o

importance as a representative of corruption. DespitWillie's involvement in political machinations and briberyhe initially decides to build his hospital without Larsen as hwants this work to be untainted. Willie's moral downfall complete once he changes his mind and chooses Larson fothe building contract in order to protect his son (antherefore himself) from a potentially damaging sex scanda

Jack Burden:Jack is the first person narrator of the novel and

consequently, it is his perspective that the readers shareHe is a journalist working for the Chronicle when he firsmeets Willie and it is worth remembering that this colorthe narrative. The distance and moral ambiguity required othe archetypal journalist is used authentically by PenWarren in his characterization of Jack. Before his journaliswork, Jack was studying for a PhD in American History an

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this desire to research, and to find the truth, is also anothefacet to his character.

Jack's mother:Jack's mother is not given a full name and

characterized by the harsh way that Jack views her for thmajority of the novel. It is only in the final chapter that hrecognizes his mother has feelings, and that she loveJudge Irwin. The Judge's death drives her to leave BurdenLanding.

Judge Irwin:

Judge Irwin is at first revered by Jack and regarded as a father-figure from his childhood at BurdenLanding. When Jack begins investigating his past for 'dirton behalf of Willie, the catastrophic events that lead to thdeaths of Judge Irwin, Willie and Adam begin to unfolAfter Jack reveals to the Judge that he knows of hinvolvement in a bribery scandal and a suicide, the Judgkills himself and Jack is told by his mother that he has killehis father.

Lois:Lois is Jack's first wife and their unsuccessf

marriage is described in Chapter Seven.

Lucy Stark:

Lucy is the wife of Willie and plays only a slight roin the novel. By the end, her husband and son are dead anshe has adopted the baby she hopes is her grandchild. Shreveals to Jack that she paid the mother $6,000 to ensurthe adoption.

MacMurfee:

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MacMurfee is Willie's political rival for the role oGovernor and is his nemesis throughout the course of thnovel.

Mortimer Littlepaugh:

Once Jack discovers Littlepaugh's suicide, and hohe used to work for the American Electric Power Companyhe begins to find the required 'dirt' on Judge Irwin.

Sadie Burke:Sadie is Willie's secretary and adviser and has ha

a long-standing love affair with him whilst he is Governor.

is her jealousy of Willie and Anne's relationship that inspireher to encourage Tiny Duffy to ring Adam to let him knoabout it. The scars on her face from small pox are constant reminder of her blighted childhood that was mirein poverty.

Scholarly Attorney:This is the name by which Jack mainly refers to th

man (Ellis Burden) whom he considers to be his father the earlier chapters of the novel. After leaving his famibehind when Jack is aged six, this character embarks on 'career' of preaching to the world about God's truth. Chapter Eight, Jack and the readers discover that JudgIrwin is his biological father, but this old man comes to livwith Jack and Anne in the final chapter. We are led t

believe that the Scholarly Attorney left the marital hombecause of his wife's affair with the Judge, but it is not cleawhether he has ever known if Jack is his son or not.

Sugar-Boy:Sugar-Boy is the driver and assistant for Will

when he becomes Governor. He is characterized by h

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stammer and love of sugar (hence his nickname), and wholly loyal to Willie. He shoots Adam when he sees hipointing a gun at Willie.

Tiny Duffy:

Duffy is a tax assessor when he first meets JacIn his work for the Democrats, he was party to Willie beindeceived into running for Governor. When Willie is finalinstalled in this position, he makes Duffy his LieutenanGovernor and is aware that he cannot trust him. This borne out when Duffy rings Adam to tell him of his Anneaffair with Willie.

Tom Stark:Tom is the son of Willie and Lucy. Jack's sneerin

descriptions of him as 'All American' refer to his footbaprowess and his over-attachment to stereotypicalmasculine behaviors, such as sleeping with numerouwomen and driving whilst inebriated.

Willie Stark:Willie is the central character as the narrativ

traces the trajectory of his rise and fall. Early in the novehe is an honest, law-abiding citizen who is a CountTreasurer. He loses his job because of his honesty as hwants to take the lowest, best bid for the construction of schoolhouse.

After finally being voted in as Governor, the changes in hcharacter are made apparent. When Jack first meets him his virtually tee-total. With his rise to power, Willie begins tdrink more and has many affairs and relationships witother women. Power is seen to corrupt the innocence of thman Jack initially thought of as 'Cousin Willie'.

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SUMMARY

CHAPTER 1

All the King's Men begins with a long description of a drive to Mason City. The fiperson narrator (who we later discover is Jack Burden) relates how he last came Mason City nearly three years ago in 1936. The narrative then shifts back to this timas Jack tells of sitting in a Cadillac with the Boss (Willie Stark), Tiny Duffy, the Bosswife Lucy and son Tom; Sugar-Boy is driving. The photographer, reporters and thBoss's secretary, Sadie Burke, are in the second car.

They pull up in front of a drug store and everyone recognizes the Boss. The presenof a photograph of him above the soda fountain reiterates his fame. Jack informs threader that he has seen this picture in a thousand places and is signed with the legen'My study is the heart of the people'. Once outside, the Boss talks to the mass of peoptelling them he is not here for votes today - he is home to visit his father. This is the fiindication that the Boss is a politician.

As they drive away, Jack remembers the first time he met Willie about 14 years ago1922. This is when Willie was the County Treasurer of Mason County and Jack was

journalist for the Chronicle. They met in the backroom of Slade's pool hall; Tiny Dufwho was then a tax assessor and Alex Michel (the deputy sheriff) were also preseWillie was an old school friend of Alex. Slade's refusal to join in taunting Willie to havebeer is noted by Jack as the reason that he did so well financially after Willie came power.

The narrative returns to three years ago and the two cars arrive at the house of Williefather. This is arranged as a photo opportunity rather than a family visit. Sadie givWillie the news that Judge Irwin 'has come out for Callahan', that is, he has endorsehim for Senate nomination (rather than Willie's man, Masters). That evening, WilliJack and Sugar-Boy drive down to Burden's Landing (where Jack was born and raiseso that Willie can talk to Irwin. Jack recalls his friends, Anne and Adam Stanton, aremembers Irwin as more of a father than his mother's partners (who appeared whhis father left the marital home).

At Irwin's home, Willie helps himself to a drink and tries to intimidate Judge Irwin wthe suggestion of blackmail: the Judge remains unmoved. On the drive back to h

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father's house, Willie insists that Jack finds 'dirt' on the Judge - even if it takes 10 yeaThe chapter concludes with Jack relating how this was a long while ago; Masters is nodead, as is Adam Stanton, Judge Irwin and Willie.

CHAPTER 2

Chapter Two begins in 1939 and soon shifts back to 1922 and to the first time Jawent to Mason City. He goes on behalf of the Chronicle to find out about Willie. Oncthere, he talks to old men outside the harness shop, Dolph Pillsbury and the sheriff. Ademonstrate an inherent racism and tell Jack the problem with Willie is that he wantsaccept the lowest bid on the building of the schoolhouse.

Jack visits Willie and discovers Lucy, his wife, has been sacked as a teacher becausof the fuss and he (Willie) probably will not be re-elected as Treasurer as he attainethe position through Pillsbury. He insists he will still run for election, though. Willie

version of events is that Jeffers offered the lowest bid for the building of the schoowhich is the one he favors. There were two other bids between this one and the one thothers (including Pillsbury) want to accept, which is Moore's. Pillsbury uses racism asdefence for arguing against Jeffers as well as the belief he will bring strangers in.

A shift forward in time reveals that Pillsbury 'turned out to be Willie's luck'. Tschoolhouse built by Moore was shoddily constructed. Three years after it was builtfire escape collapsed and killed and maimed children. Through this occurrence, Willieproven to be the honest one. In this period, Willie trains to be a lawyer and is asked

run for Governor by the Democrats. Duffy is in league with the people who ask him run and becomes his campaign manager. Willie is so complimented and awestruck this offer that he fails to see he is being used as a 'sap', and Duffy does not tell himWillie is being used to split the votes of one of the other candidates (MacMurfee).

Sadie inadvertently reveals to Willie that he is being used as a sacrificial goat and Wilproceeds to get drunk for the first time. The next day he gives a speech at a barbecthat had been pre-arranged. This time his speech is convincing as he does not use hnotes full of figures. He calls Duffy a Judas Iscariot and tells the crowd he is pulling oof the election, but insists he will stand again. Willie goes on to campaign f

MacMurfee, who is elected.

After working as a lawyer, Willie later stands in the Democratic primary and wins. Jaresigns from the Chronicle after the editor reminds him the newspaper suppoMacMurfee (so he must too). Jack is unemployed after this resignation and falls inwhat he calls his 'Great Sleep'. This has occurred before, as when he gave up on hPhD and when his marriage to Lois was breaking down. He visits Adam and AnStanton in this period, and she is concerned for him and his relationship with his fatheEllis Burden.

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The chapter ends with Willie, as Governor, offering Jack a job.

CHAPTER 3

This chapter begins with Jack at his mother's home in Burden's Landing in 1933. Hrecalls how, in the past, his mother argued with him about working for Willie. There isshift to when he was six years old and his father left. His mother's next partners alisted as the Tycoon, the Count and the Young Executive (Theodore).

Jack recalls memories of swimming with Anne and Adam Stanton when he was 17, 1915 and of how he later went on to fall in love with Anne. He went to college and tharmy would not have him because of his 'bad feet'; Judge Irwin fought in the war.

This is followed by a description of a dinner party at the Judge's house last time Jawas home. Here, Patton, who is a guest, is critical of Willie as Governor and says hegiving the state away. The Judge reminds him that the Supreme Court has supporteWillie on every issue raised. After the dinner, Jack argues with his mother and tells hhe is not interested in money and neither is Willie. A description of how the Scholar

Attorney met his mother is then given.

After leaving Burden's Landing, Jack is summoned to Willie's office by Sadie. Jawitnesses him reprimanding Byram B. White, the State Auditor, and makes him resig

for his 'nice little scheme to get rich'. It ensues that White is forced to do this as he is be impeached. Hugh Miller, the Attorney General, offers his resignation in disgust as sees that Willie is protecting White and himself with this measure. Willie tells Jack thLucy will leave him now. Jack assumes this is because of his affair with Sadie, bWillie replies it is because he 'took care of Byram White'.

Willie's sexual transgressions are exposed to the readers as it is revealed that he haan affair with a 'Nordic Nymph' ice skater after only six months of being the GovernoSadie shows her anger to Jack as she believes Willie has 'two-timed' her. She the

reveals her poverty-stricken past of growing up in a shack and it is explained that hface is marked because of small pox; her brother died from this and their father wanegligent of his children.

The narrative returns to politics and it is revealed that the threat of impeachment hmoved from White to Willie. Willie is saved when Jack follows orders and takesdocument to Lowdan ('the kingpin of the MacMurfee boys in the House') with signaturof men saying impeachment is unjustified. Lowdan says (rightly) that these men habeen blackmailed into signing this, but also goes along with it.

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Jack says he feels like 'God-Almighty' after dealing with Lowdan. He does not believehis father's God, but feels like him when he sees the crowds waiting for Willie outsidthe Capitol building.

This chapter ends with the information that Lucy does not leave Willie 'after timpeachment problem' and Willie is voted in for a second term in 1934. She leaves hin 1935, but the public are not informed. She still features in photographs with him a

with the trip to Mason City in 1936 in Chapter One.

CHAPTER 4

This chapter begins with a return to Jack having to find 'dirt' on Judge Irwin. This will his 'second excursion' into the past. The first one is about 'the story of Jack Burden' awhen he was working on his American history PhD at State University. At this time, shared an apartment with two men who he describes as alcoholics.

Jack describes himself at this time as hiding from the present. His research is based Cass Mastern, a maternal uncle of his father Ellis Burden (the Scholarly Attorney). Thmajority of this chapter then relates the history of Cass Mastern and deviates from thmain narrative.

Cass was born into poverty, but his elder brother Gilbert returned to the family homafter making his fortune and assisted his brother by letting him manage a plantatioFollowing this, Gilbert sent him to Transylvania College. Here, Cass had an affair w

Annabelle Trice and her husband Duncan committed suicide after finding out about itwas thought to be an accident, but when Phebe (a slave of the Trices) finds Duncanwedding ring under Annabelle's pillow it is clear that Duncan and now Pheunderstand that Annabelle has been adulterous.

Annabelle sells Phebe because of guilt and the fear that Phebe will tell others of ttrue reason why Duncan died. Cass is greatly affected by this and believes that his oact (his affair with Annabelle) has led to consequences he never expected, such as thdeath of his friend and the betrayal of Phebe. He decides to find Phebe and set hfree.

After searching fruitlessly for her, and being embroiled in a fight, Cass returns working on his plantation. He frees his slaves and considers becoming involved in t

Abolition movement. He tells a story of a former Abolitionist, Caroline Turner, who counot bear her slaves to look at her and so she flogged them mercilessly. Cass drawparallels with this, Annabelle's betrayal of Phebe and his sense of guilt with his freeslaves. Once these freed slaves leave for the North, Cass decides not to work this lawith slaves again and so refuses to sell it.

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With the outbreak of the Civil War, Cass joins the Mississippi Rifles and carriesweapon but decides he will not kill anyone as he has used up his right to blood. Whimarching to war, he wears Duncan's wedding ring on a string around his neck. FinalCass is shot and 'rotted slowly to death' in a hospital in Atlanta.

As a student, Jack could not understand Cass. The present day, older Jack looks baat himself and sees that he could not grasp Cass's view of the world of responsibilit

and the 'the world is one piece'. Cass's perspective of the world as a spider's wewhere one act affects many others, are only words to Jack at this time. Jack reflects hindsight that it is possible that he did understand Cass, but if so, he saw a reproach Cass's sense of responsibility.

Jack turns away from his studies and enters on one of his periods of Great Sleep. Hleaves the apartment eventually and the landlady sends him his parcel of Casspapers. This unopened parcel travels with him from rooms to rooms and to the place shares with his wife Lois.

CHAPTER 5

Jack's second piece of research is based on finding out about Judge Irwin's past. Jarealises he will have to talk to his father, the Scholarly Attorney, as the two men usedbe friends. His father has George, 'the unfortunate', staying: George used to work incircus and now makes angels out of chewed up bread. Jack's father will not reveanything about the past, however, as he sees it as 'foulness'. Jack is left thinking the

is something to discover about the Judge and is clearly jealous of the relationship hfather and George have.

The narrative shifts momentarily to Jack and Willie watching Willie's son, Tom, playifootball. Tom's popularity with young women is referred to and Jack's scorn for him exposed in his references to Tom as 'All American' and 'Daddy's Darling'.

Jack then goes to see Anne and Adam whilst they are visiting their home at BurdenLanding. Jack asks Anne if Judge Irwin was ever 'bad broke' as he believes if the Judghad ever committed a crime or even behaved badly, money would be the cause. Anndoes not answer, but tells him she had lunch with Governor Stark last week. Whe

Adam arrives, Jack also asks him about the Judge's financial affairs. Adam recalls thhe had money problems in 1913 and 1914.

Two days later Anne rings to tell Jack that Judge Irwin married money because he wabroke. By telling him this, she believes she is showing that the Judge solved hproblems with marriage rather than in a criminal way. The Judge's second wife, MabCarruthers, was rich and Jack discovers he paid his mortgage off after marrying her

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1914. He also finds out, though, that Mabel was not wealthy when she married thJudge - she was having financial problems in 1911.

Jack's research reveals that in 1914 the Judge had been Attorney General. He obtainshares for the American Electrical Power Company and sold them. Jack then finds oabout the suicide of Mortimer L. Littlepaugh who had been a lawyer for the AmericaElectric Power Company. After visiting his sister, Jack discovers that Littlepaugh kne

that Judge Irwin took a bribe to 'let up on the suit against the Southern Belle Fupeople'. The Judge was also given Littlepaugh's job with a much higher salary. BoLittlepaugh and his sister talked to Governor Stanton (father of Anne and Adam) abothis bribery and corruption, but the Governor would not listen.

CHAPTER 6

Jack recalls that before meeting Miss Littlepaugh, Tom Stark was in a drunk drivin

accident. The girl with him was badly injured and her father insists on taking outlawsuit. He changes his mind, however, when he is reminded that his trucking businedepends on 'a lot of contacts with certain state departments'.

In a move away from corruption, the Boss (Willie) tells Jack of his plans to build a smillion dollar hospital - the Willie Stark Hospital - and wants Adam Stanton to work theas director.

The narrative moves to Slade's pool hall, which is where Jack first met Willie. Jack

there to talk to Anne and she tells Jack she wants Adam to take the hospital job. Jatells her he will try to persuade him. He goes on to tell her about his discoveries Judge Irwin's past and her father's involvement. She reacts hysterically and attracts tattention of a policeman. Jack is almost arrested, but the policeman desists when Jatells him who he is.

Anne rings five nights later and asks for the papers that prove her father's and tJudge's guilt. She visits Jack to tell him she has shown the papers to Adam. She theasks Jack for a favor; she wants him to show the papers to the Judge to 'give himchance' to explain. Jack agrees to do this.

The narrative shifts to Adam saying he will take the job of hospital director, and Jaand Willie go to see him. Adam tells Willie that he will not stand for any interferencehe takes the position. Willie cites the point that he wants to make goodness out badness, that is, that he wants this hospital to be free from corrupting influences. Adaasks him, 'how do you even recognise the good? Assuming you have made it from thbad.'

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Jack recalls the night after the fear of impeachment and Willie makes a speech to thcrowd about the hospital and education. Adam said at the time that this is Willie's brito the people. Willie also says in the speech that if anyone tries to stop him he w'smite him', and then asked for his meat-ax. Jack shows a lack of understanding Willie's desire for purity in the following quotation: 'If he believed that you had to makthe good out of the bad because there wasn't anything else to make it out of, why did stir up such a fuss about keeping Tiny's hands off the Willie Stark Hospital?'

This chapter ends with Jack remembering Anne telling him that she wants Adam to tathe job, and realises that he had not told her about the position or Willie's offer. Jaasks Adam if he told her about it, but he had not. The mystery is solved when Sadvisits Jack and lets him know that Willie is 'two-timing' her with Anne Stanton. Jack goto see Anne about it, and she just nods.

CHAPTER 7

After seeing Anne, Jack decides to drive to California. The next part of the narrativeconstructed by memories of when he fell in love with her, when he was 21 and she w17. They went on to spend the summer together and excluded others.

When they fell in love, they would talk about what they would do after they were marrieand which names they would give their children. In September, he does not see her ftwo days and Anne becomes more distant towards him in their last week togethbefore she returns to Miss Pound's School.

Two nights before she is due to leave Jack undresses her at his home and she lies ohis bed. He decides it is not right, though: 'I couldn't anymore have touched her thanshe had been my little sister.' The early return of his mother to the home means th

Anne has to leave anyway. In the present, Jack reflects that if they had had sex thehis mother and her father would have 'set us up in matrimony', and she would not havhad an affair with Willie. The gradual breakdown of Jack and Anne's relationship explained and we are told how a year after they fell in love Anne kissed him with a nekiss. This is one she has learned from another man.

Jack moves on then to describe his marriage to Lois and their separation: 'But as sooas I began to regard her as a person, trouble began. All would have been well, perhaphad Lois been struck dumb at puberty.' The final phase of his marriage is denoted bhis fall into what he describes as the Great Sleep (which he has referred to in ChapteTwo and Four).

The narrative returns to Anne as Jack relates how she went on to get engaged thretimes but never married. It is clear that Jack has idealized Anne and he views her affwith Willie as a form of betrayal, 'or rather, had betrayed an idea of mine which ha

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more importance for me than I had ever realised.' This is why Jack has driven Weafter finding out about their relationship and says 'we have always gone West'.

Jack expands on his feelings for Anne and says how he has always kept an image her as a little girl floating in the waters of the bay, 'all innocence and trustfulness'. Hfeels robbed of this image after discovering she has been Willie's mistress.

The chapter ends with Jack telling the readers of how on his hotel bed in California has discovered the dream: 'That dream was the dream that all life is but the dark heaof blood and the twitch of nerves.' Jack is making the point that at this time he senothing beyond the senses, and offers a nihilistic perspective of human relationFurthermore, he has regarded the notion of 'a new start in the West' as possible, 'if yobelieve the dream you dream when you go there'.

CHAPTER 8

Chapter Eight begins with Jack's return from California and his sentiment that he is nlonger envious of people with secret knowledge. On his journey back to Louisiana, Jagives a lift to a man aged 75. The man's face is immobile apart from a twitch: 'What walive was the twitch, of which he was no longer aware.' After dropping the man off, Jaconsiders this twitch and wonders if the man's face knows about it. His musinbecome absurdist as he ponders whether only the twitch knows the 'twitch is all'. Hgoes on to call this the Great Twitch.

On his return home, Jack visits Willie but does not tell him that he knows of his affawith Anne.

The narrative shifts to Jack talking with Adam, and Jack asks if he can watch hperform a lobectomy. Adam agrees and Jack watches the operation with interest. Aftthe operation, Jack does not see Adam for a while, but he is told by Anne that Adahas had a meeting with Herbert Coffee. Coffee came to see Adam to ask him influence the Boss (Willie) in the building of the new medical center. Coffee wants thBoss to give the contract to Gummy Larson. Adam goes on to hit Coffee when hsuggests there will be money in it for him if he manages to persuade the Boss.

Jack then asks Anne why she has had an affair with Willie. She replies that there wno reason not to once Jack had told her about her father's involvement with corruptioShe also tells Jack that Willie wants to marry her. She says she may do later; a divorwould 'hurt him' at the present.

With Willie's acceptance, Jack manipulates Adam into taking the hospital director's jo(after the conflict with Coffee) by influencing him into wanting to swear out a warrant Coffee, and then talking him out of a court case.

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There are changes in Willie's life as he and MacMurfee come into further battleMacMurfee has discovered that Marvin Frey's daughter, Sibyl, has been a friend of ToStark. She is pregnant and it is likely that Tom is the father although rumours abouthat she has also slept with other men. Lucy asks Jack to visit her, as she wants know the truth about Tom. Jack tells her about Sibyl and of MacMurfee's desire to uthis knowledge against Willie.

Willie decides to talk to Sibyl's father alone, but MacMurfee has moved him to aanonymous address. Willie wants the 'dirt' on Judge Irwin more urgently now as Wilbelieves MacMurfee would listen to the Judge. Jack agrees but firstly insists on showithe Judge his proof before involving anybody else.

At the Judge's home, Jack leads into the conversation by implying he has information the Judge and asks him to talk to MacMurfee. He gives the Judge a day to make uhis mind. When the Judge refuses, Jack refers to Littlepaugh and at first, the Judg

does not even remember him. It is also mentioned that both Jack and the Judge aprotecting blackmailers.

The Judge admits to the information that Jack has found and then tells him he can stall of this, but is not explicit about what he will do.

Jack returns to his mother's home that evening and is awoken by his mother screamithat he has killed his father. It transpires that the Judge shot himself that afternoonthrough the heart; therefore, the Judge is Jack's biological father.

On the day after the funeral, Jack is told that he is the main heir to the Judge's estatewas the sole heir to the estate which Judge Irwin had saved, years before, by his singact of dishonesty, the act for which I, as the blameless instrument of justice, had put tpistol to his heart.'

CHAPTER 9

This chapter begins with Willie letting Jack know he has heard of the Judge's deatJack chooses not to tell him that the Judge is his father and does not reveal thknowledge he has for blackmailing him. Jack has decided that he will not be involvedblackmail any longer and has nothing further to do with the MacMurfee affair.

Meanwhile, Tom is excelling in football and Willie decides to remove the pressure froMacMurfee by buying off Gummy Larson. He arranges for Larson to have the hospitbuilding contract after all. The reason for this is that with this 'sweetener' Larson will aMacMurfee to stop attempting to blackmail Willie with the information about Tom's affand possible child with Sibyl.

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At a meeting with Larson, Willie gets drunk and throws a drink in Duffy's face. Japoints out, as narrator, how nothing fazes Larson, as 'he was a true businessmaWillie is angry, however, at making this capitulation. Jack then draws on a biblical moto consider why Anne would be attracted to a man such as Willie: '[Women] like to butheir honeycomb in the carcass of a dead lion'.

The narrative shifts to Tom's exploits and we are told he has broken the training ruland has been suspended from playing. After his team is beaten, Willie uses his powto have Tom reinstated early. Whilst playing, Tom is knocked out and taken to hospitand Willie asks Jack to fetch Lucy.

Tom is treated by Adam in the hospital, as Doctor Burnham is unable to get theimmediately. It transpires that Tom is unconscious and his neck has been broken. OnDoctor Burnham arrives, he and Adam agree on the required procedures. Willie is givtwo options for his son: he will have either lengthy traction or a life-threateni

operation. There is, however, an 'outside chance' of an improved life with the operatioand Willie elects this for his son. After the operation, Adam informs Willie and Lucy thTom will live, but his spinal chord has been crushed in the accident. He will never bable to use his arms and legs and will succumb to infections easily.

The operation is performed on the Sunday and the next day Willie comes to his offiand tells his staff that there will no longer be a contract for Larson. Jack receivestelephone call from a distraught Anne and he goes to see her.

She is crying and insists he finds Adam. Adam has spoken to Anne and told her he w

not be the director of Willie's hospital. He said he was only made director because her relationship with Willie, and he will not be his sister's pimp. Before telling Anne th

Adam had received an anonymous call from a man who informed him of Anne aWillie's relationship and insinuated this was why Willie wanted to employ him.

Jack searches for Adam, but cannot find him. He is then asked to meet Willie at thCapitol. Whilst talking to Willie here, Adam appears. It seems as though Adam is aboto shake Willie's hand, but he shoots him instead. Consequently, Adam is shot dead Sugar-Boy and a highway patrolman. Willie survives for three days, but declines furth

in his health when he develops an infection. Before his death, he asks Jack why Adadid it and Jack says he does not know. Willie dies the next morning and Jack attentwo funerals in a week: the first one was Adam's at Burden's Landing.

CHAPTER 10

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After Willie's funeral, Jack returns to Burden's Landing once more because he cannbear to stay in town and he wants to see Anne. On his return, Anne and Jack together not talking, but sometimes Jack reads to her.

Jack continues to wonder who it was that rang Adam to inform him of Anne and Willieaffair. Jack goes back to town and tries to contact Sadie to ask her about it. She is atrest home called the Millett Sanatorium. Once he has found her, he asks if she know

the name of the man who called Adam. She says that it was Duffy and after beinrepeatedly questioned by Jack she finally answers that she knows because she tohim to do it because she was jealous of Anne. She also informs him that Dufcongratulated her after Willie died.

Because Duffy had been the Lieutenant Governor whilst Willie was alive, he is now ttemporary Governor. Jack wants to 'get' Duffy for the part he has played and visits hwhen Duffy asks to see him. Duffy offers him a job and says he can have 10%, eve20% more than Willie paid him. Jack refuses and tells him it is 'no sale'.

Jack receives a letter from Sadie three days later and she also sends him a statemeof what lead to Willie's death. She also advises Jack against taking action. Duffy will nbe re-elected and Anne will be dragged into the scandal. Jack also begins to feel guiand this in turn stops him from seeking revenge.

Jack keeps his distance from people 'for quite a while' until he sees Sugar-Boy in thlibrary. As Jack and Sugar-Boy talk, Jack realizes he can manipulate Sugar-Boy inkilling Duffy and thus avenge the deaths of Willie and Adam. He almost tells him aboDuffy's involvement, but then changes his mind.

In May, Jack visits Lucy and they discuss the death of Tom in February. This is the fitime it is mentioned in the novel, but Jack already knew about it from the newspaperTom died of pneumonia. Lucy then relates how she has legally adopted Tom's baby (Sibyl). As though to convince herself and Jack, she repeatedly says it is Tom's babecause it looks like him. She paid $6,000 for the baby and has called him Wilbecause he 'was a great man'. She says she has to believe that and Jack reveals has come to believe it too.

The narrative shifts to Jack's return to Burden's Landing at the request of his motheShe is leaving the Young Executive and her home in the aftermath of Judge Irwindeath. She informs Jack that she is leaving for Reno and that she is giving her formlover the house. She also asks Jack what happened when he last saw the Judge. Jalies and tells her they had a little argument about politics and he talked about his healt

With the departure of his mother, Jack begins to feel at peace with both her anhimself. He visits Anne and tells her about his mother and that he has accepted tpast. He apologises for not answering (or reading) her letter from six months ago an

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explains that Ellis Burden is not his father. He also explains that by accepting the pa'you might hope for the future'.

Jack explains to the readers how this has been 'the story of Willie Stark', and his stotoo. His view of the world has changed and he no longer believes in the Great TwitcThis is because he has seen too many people 'live and die' and now recognizes tconcept of responsibility. A passing reference is then made to Hugh Miller and Ja

suggests strongly that he will work with him, and is a future friend.

The novel ends with Jack explaining that he lives in his father's house (Judge Irwinand the truth has given him his past back. He is now married to Anne, and Ellis Burde(who he used to think of as his father) lives with them. Ellis is poorly and will not survithe winter and Jack relates how he will be ready to leave the house by then. It is heavmortgaged and it transpires the Judge was poor at the time of his death. This is ironas the Judge committed his only crime (involved in bribery) in order to save this housJack tried to make amends for his father and wanted to give Miss Littlepaugh mon

(she is the sister of Mortimer Littlepaugh), but she had died by this time.

Jack keeps this money, therefore, and uses it to give himself time to complete his booon Cass Mastern. He feels he can now come closer to understanding him. He alsnotes the irony of writing about Cass, who suffered for his conscience, in the Judgehouse (who tried to forget about his misdemeanours). By the summer of this yea1939, Jack believes they will have left the Judge's house and his book will be completHe and Anne will leave Burden's Landing 'and go out into the convulsion of the worout of history into history and the awful responsibility of Time.'

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Metaphor Analysis

'Cousin' WillieWhen Jack recalls his first meeting with Willie, in the back room of Slade's pool hall, h

refers to him as Cousin Willie. This version of Willie is a somewhat nave man who unconcerned about the opinion of others and holds the lowly position of CounTreasurer. 'Cousin' represents an innocent before the corruption of power. It may alsbe read as an ironic description when one considers the changes that Willie undergoe

Great TwitchOn his return home from California, where Jack has been staying to escape frothoughts of Anne Stanton's affair with Willie, he gives a lift to a man of 75. This manface is, for the most part, immobile, except for a twitch in the left cheek. Whilst talking

him, Jack considers the man's words are 'not alive'; only the twitch is alive and the mis no longer aware of it. Jack then goes on to ruminate in an absurdist fashion that, 'yare at one with the Great Twitch' as though this is all that matters about life. The GreTwitch represents Jack's nihilistic perspective at this moment in the narrative.

In the concluding pages of the novel, the change in Jack's views are represented by hrepudiation of his 'Great Twitch' theory: 'But later, much later, he woke up one morninto discover that he did not believe in the Great Twitch any more. He did not believe inbecause he had seen too many people live and die.' At this late point, via the metaphof the Great Twitch, it is emphasized that Jack now has faith in people takiresponsibility for their actions.

Willie Stark HospitalOnce Willie attains power as Governor, he becomes preoccupied with a desire to bua hospital for everybody (men, women and children) and wishes to build and run thwithout the taint of corruption. The hospital represents truth, innocence, and a desire Willie's part to be remembered as 'clean'.

When Willie gives the contract for the building work to Gummy Larson (as a pay off

stop MacMurfee blackmailing him about his son's affair and possible childadvertisementWillie's descent into the moral quagmire is complete. The hospital had symbolizpurity up to this point; when Willie involves Larson, he no longer has any of thredeeming qualities which Jack could see in 'Cousin Willie'.

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The sad, ironic aspect to Willie's dream is encapsulated in his final decision not to givLarson the contract after Tom is paralyzed. His assassination foreshortens aaspirations to return to 'goodness'.

Theme Analysis

Corruption

Corruption is one of the strongest themes running through this work as Willie's downfis traced by Jack Burden. Many of the main events depend on this theme for thpurposes of the plot. It is the corruption of others and the shoddy building of a schoofor example, that allows Willie to be noticed as a possible candidate for GovernoHowever, this initial introduction to the race for Governor turns out to be a trick as Willearns he is only there to split the vote of fellow democratic candidate, MacMurfee. Thpoint is an open critique of political machinations. Once Willie gains power, he is see

to use his position to retain it by any means. From this moment, it becomes clear thpower is corrupting him. Even his dream of building a hospital without the taint of bribor backhanders is undone when he finally uses Gummy Larson in the construction order to help his son (and himself) avoid public scrutiny for sexual misdemeanours.

Although the corruption of morality is evident in the characterization of Willie, it possible to argue that this novel as a whole is morally ambiguous. This is becauWillie's aims to do good are founded on a regime that is unrepentantly corruFurthermore, although it is clear that Willie becomes enmeshed in political intrigubribery and bullying to secure his position as Governor, because of Jack's ambivalen

towards the concept of responsibility, and he is the first-person narrator, the narratirefuses to offer a clear indictment of Willie's actions.

Fatherhood

In All the King's Men, the relationship between fathers and sons is always written ofbleak terms. There is rivalry and betrayal, between various fathers and sons, and thismost evident in Jack's relationships with his father and father-figure.

The importance of the role of the father is reiterated in his contempt for the man believes is his father (Ellis Burden, the Scholarly Attorney) in the early chapters. Thcontempt is felt ostensibly because Jack blames him for leaving the marital home andis as though Jack views this man as emasculated.

The father and son relationship also allows for one of the cruel ironic twists of this woThis is achieved when Jack discovers the identity of his true biological father only afthe (Judge Irwin) has committed suicide. This turn of events may be regarded melodramatic.

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The suicide of the Judge also emphasizes the extent of Jack's betrayal as he haviewed him as a father-figure before he knew he was his biological father. The sonsearch for truth at all costs is paid for with Judge Irwin's death and this exposes thsymbolic, mythic rivalry between fathers and sons which dates back to the Bible aGreek myths (such as Oedipus).

The third main father and son bond, between Willie and Tom Stark, is a counterbalanto the quasi relationship between Jack and the Scholarly Attorney. With Willie and Tothe father draws on powerful masculine stereotypes to maintain the relationship, yet thalso dissolves in a puddle of aggressive behavior and sexual bravado.

The disappointed son is also given a form in the characterization of Adam Stanton. Hfather was a former Governor of Louisiana and Jack's search for 'dirt' on Judge Irwalso reveals that Adam's father ignored obvious signs of corruption.

Great Sleep

This is Jack's term for his retreat from the world and occurs in times of stress for himsuch as when his marriage to Lois is collapsing and when he decides to stop workinas a journalist. As the words Great Sleep imply, this means that he takes to sleeping fextended periods of time and signifies his apathy and refusal to engage with emotioor work. It also highlights his decision to separate himself from others around him.

Great Twitch

This theory of Jack's is first alluded to in Chapter Seven and is extended in ChaptEight. It is in Chapter Eight, when Jack gives a lift to a man of 75 on his return Louisiana, that Jack notes the uncontrolled twitch in the man's face. This twitch cometo represent a faith (if it may be called that) in contingency and the body. It isdespairing view and reflects how Jack has turned away from an emotional life and hadisengaged with morality. It is, therefore, the opposite of Cass Mastern's belief in t'spider web theory'. Jack's moral development is clear to see in Chapter Ten when hrepudiates the Great Twitch in favor of the spider's web.

Spider web theory

This concept and theme originates in the beliefs of Cass Mastern and is one that Jafinally comes to understand in Chapter Ten. When Jack is originally researching Casslife, he fails to appreciate Cass's understanding of moral responsibility as outlined in htheory of the spider's web. This is where Cass points out how, when one touches

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web, the reverberations and tremors may be felt across it. This is compared to teffect that one single action may have on others and is exemplified when Cass's affaleads indirectly and directly to the suicide of Duncan and to Annabelle selling Phebe.

Truth

Truth is inevitably the counter-theme to corruption and occupies Jack in his search f'dirt' on Judge Irwin in particular. He uses the concept of truth as a justification for hactions which lead to the Judge's suicide. Because Jack uses truth as a mo

justification, he forgets about loyalty and this, in turn, leads the readers to question homorally ambiguous the revelation of truth can be.

It is also important to remember Jack's occupation when considering the use of ththeme of truth. As a journalist, this should have been the framework he depended ohowever, the novel makes it abundantly clear that the newspaper he worked for wabiased against Willie Stark and did not attempt to be objective in its reporting of th

news. Jack's resignation from the Chronicle demonstrates an adherence to tadvertisementimportance of truth, as does his desire to research for his PhD in American historycould be argued, however, that by not completing this work (and refusing to open tparcel which contains Cass Mastern's old papers), Jack is figuratively trying to distanhimself from matters of truth and conscience. Jack may be viewed, therefore, as ambivalent figure that respects the concept of searching for the truth, but is alselective in his implementation of it. It is not until the novel's end that the reader can s

he has grown in moral stature.