In the dictionary, the word responsibility is defined as “The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control someone” (“English Oxford” 1). Throughout life, people have the duty to deal with, or to accept responsibility for, situations that arise. As each new day and each individual action a person makes creates new situations, responsibility is unavoidable. Interestingly, the way in which people accept responsibility, whether they fearlessly embrace or avoid it, is often a defining mark of their character and is also a profound shaping factor in the ultimate course of their lives. In Robert Penn Warren’s classic novel, All the King’s Men, the central characters of the novel all have to deal with the consequences
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One must accept responsibility to live a proper and meaningful life; however, one cannot accept responsibility without inhibiting his or her life if he or she is not prepared for it. While each central character in the novel deals with life, choices, and responsibility in a different manner, each of them has one critical flaw in common: each of the men fails to balance the act of living life and the act of taking on responsibility for his actions. Jack Burden overthought the act of taking on responsibility, and failed to act at all. Tom Stark underthought the importance of taking on responsibility, and made too many irresponsible decisions. Willie Stark over marginalized the meaning of responsibility and ultimately suffered the same way as his own son. Therefore, beyond each character specific application of responsibility, perhaps the best way to live life and to take on responsibility is simply to live, in the fullest since of the word. One who wishes to live a purposeful and deliberate life will make choices that prolong and progress a happy life. One who lives a successful, productive, and wholesome life will not ponder on each of his or her decisions, and thus, will not fall prey to feeling the crushing weight of responsibility. In this way, the act of living itself— of living meaningfully, thoughtfully, and beautifully— is the ultimate act of
One must accept responsibility to live a proper and meaningful life; however, one cannot accept responsibility without inhibiting his or her life if he or she is not prepared for it. While each central character in the novel deals with life, choices, and responsibility in a different manner, each of them has one critical flaw in common: each of the men fails to balance the act of living life and the act of taking on responsibility for his actions. Jack Burden overthought the act of taking on responsibility, and failed to act at all. Tom Stark underthought the importance of taking on responsibility, and made too many irresponsible decisions. Willie Stark over marginalized the meaning of responsibility and ultimately suffered the same way as his own son. Therefore, beyond each character specific application of responsibility, perhaps the best way to live life and to take on responsibility is simply to live, in the fullest since of the word. One who wishes to live a purposeful and deliberate life will make choices that prolong and progress a happy life. One who lives a successful, productive, and wholesome life will not ponder on each of his or her decisions, and thus, will not fall prey to feeling the crushing weight of responsibility. In this way, the act of living itself— of living meaningfully, thoughtfully, and beautifully— is the ultimate act of