Robert Penn Warren’s thrilling novel All the King’s Men begins to sound like a story written in the narrator, Jack Burden’s eyes, about a man he worked for named Willie Stark. However, it is nothing more than a representation of who Jack is as a person and character in the story and how it progresses. Willie Stark is known as one of Jack’s father figures because not only does he offer Jack a job, he manages to show Jack how to redeem himself. Jack’s mother had several men in her and her son’s life. Two of them became Jack’s father figures, one of them is known as the Scholarly Attorney (Jack’s mom’s first husband). The last one is known as Judge Irwin, a close family friend. In the beginning of the story we see Jack doing questionable dirty
…show more content…
On the other hand, Jack is surprised to find out after the judge had killed himself that the truth is out and that the scholarly attorney was never Jack’s real father. He just gave Jack fatherly memories, until the time of his absence and then again old age. Warren explains, “So I live in the house which my father left me. With me is my wife, Anne Stanton, and the old man who was once married to my mother” (606). These two lines show immense character in Jack Burden because he allows his “father” to come and live with him even after he left him when Jack was young. That in itself shows more goodness of Jack than the whole book put together, because it shows no resentment toward his father’s absence.
Fathers are said to be one of the most important role models in a young boy’s life. However, it can be difficult for a boy who is trying to grow up with the absence of a father. A close family friend known as Judge Irwin took Jack in as his own son to become his father figure when the scholarly attorney left. When Willie Stark tells Jack to find dirt upon the judge, Jack does so, but refuses to give out the information until he discusses it with the judge
On the other hand, Jack is surprised to find out after the judge had killed himself that the truth is out and that the scholarly attorney was never Jack’s real father. He just gave Jack fatherly memories, until the time of his absence and then again old age. Warren explains, “So I live in the house which my father left me. With me is my wife, Anne Stanton, and the old man who was once married to my mother” (606). These two lines show immense character in Jack Burden because he allows his “father” to come and live with him even after he left him when Jack was young. That in itself shows more goodness of Jack than the whole book put together, because it shows no resentment toward his father’s absence.
Fathers are said to be one of the most important role models in a young boy’s life. However, it can be difficult for a boy who is trying to grow up with the absence of a father. A close family friend known as Judge Irwin took Jack in as his own son to become his father figure when the scholarly attorney left. When Willie Stark tells Jack to find dirt upon the judge, Jack does so, but refuses to give out the information until he discusses it with the judge