Carmen Colosi
Period 1
In the restored edition of All The Kings Men by Robert Penn Warren the issues of class are prominent from the very beginning of the novel. Penn argues that those of lower class are devoted to those of higher class because of the protection that the higher-ups bring them. In the first chapter Warren introduces Sugar Boy as, “Irish, from the wrong side of the tracks,” with an intense stutter and around “27 or 28 years old… and he went around with his pockets stuffed with sugar cubes (5). Sugar Boy would drive around The Boss, Willie Talos who, “was the County Treasurer,” in Mason City (29). The Boss favors Sugar Boy as well as Sugar Boy workshops The Boss; “The Boss was sitting in the front seat with Sugar Boy” (5). When The Boss was in a state of anger over Lucy threatening to, “pack her bag,” Sugar Boy knew that in order to please Willie that he needed to go, “Charging across the state with the horn screaming and blatting,” for the crowd (209). Also Sugar Boy was there for Willie when he needed him to do the dirty work; “The Boss leaning to...Sugar Boy...Saying low and Fast,” directions to “bring the bastard in” (209-210). Sugar Boy blindly follows Willie`s directions and is glued to Willie`s side. This is a prime example of someone of the lower class who is willingly enslaved to someone of the higher class for the fact that the person of the higher class is kind to the person of the lower class.
Hey Carmen, I completely agree with your statement and I believe that Willie Talos' status as a politician is a key to Penn's argument about All the King's Men' class division. You state "that those of lower class are devoted to those of higher class". When Willie delivers speeches he captivates audiences, and is even describe as "at the top" when giving these speeches. The way Penn describes the action is as if he is a religious preacher who is standing above his congregation and giving out the wisdom, similar to what you describe as protection. There is a very strong division on this book between the voters (the common man) and Willie Talos and his companions (those who are being voted on). Jack as well blindly follows after Willie, choosing to dig up dirt on people who could have better morals then the man he is intended to protect: Willie.
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