ATKM Post 3# - Woodhed

Dylan Woodhead

ATKM 3#

March 9^th, 2014

Men (Good – Bad)

11)    Sugar Boy

Throughout the book and the ups and downs of Willie Talos’ political career, Sugar Boy stays loyal by his side, blindly obeying any orders. His unmatched loyalty is displayed when Jack asks what he would do if “there was somebody behind Stanton” that killed Willie—“I’d kill that son-of-a-bitch,” (584) said Sugar Boy without a stutter. 

22)    Hugh Miller

Despite the many dishonorable actions of the Talos administration that resulted in benefits for many government workers, Hugh Miller was able to keep his morals straight and respectably resigned after Willie saved Mr. “White’s hide,” (193) Willie’s State Auditor who was at the center of a government Scandal.

33)    Scholarly Attorney

The Scholarly Attorney many could argue that by running away from Jack’s mom, he destroyed a large part of Jack’s childhood. However one has to recognize that he left because Jack’s mom was cheating on him with the Judge, a completely justified reason. He also shows his true character while he aids people in need like George and others, demonstrating his genuine morals.

44)    Gilbert Mastern

Gilbert Mastern had worked his way up in the world and “made his one fortune with his bare hands, out of the very air.” (230) Gilbert was not only a hard determined worker but was also not afraid to offer help to his struggling brother

55)    Governor Stanton

Unlike many other characters in All the King’s Men, Governor Stanton really did very little wrong. He did protect the Judge when he knew he was guilty, eventually leading the suicide Littlepaugh, however it would be very difficult to see that repercussion. I believe the Governor saw the Judge as an honorable person and saw his abilities fit to run the specific job at hand. 

66)    Adam Stanton

Despite the many attempts to bribe or deceive him, including Hubert Coffee who tried to convince him of giving the Hospital contract to his favored construction company, Adam Stanton was able to keep true to himself while also helping people along the way through his surgical work. Additionally, he believed that despite Willie’s immense obstacles he overcame to support the people of Louisiana, his corrupt and unfair governing system was detrimental to the people around him and fellow citizens of the state.

77)    Judge Irwin

Many may say that the Judge took a bribe that eventually would lead to a suicide and slept with a married woman, however the Judge’s good deeds in his life outweigh those that were hurtful. He stepped in as Jack’s father figure in his life after the Scholarly Attorney left (lacking the fact that he was Jack’s father), practically raising him, while also representing a respectable older, wise citizen in the later stages of his life. He also refused mix himself in the “MacMurfee affair” (480) even at the risk of Jack leaking the story about “Mortimer L Littlepaugh,” (480) preventing Jack and the Talos administration from blackmailing him into their success.

88)    Cass Mastern

Cass Mastern really made only one large mistake that ended up haunting him for the rest of his life. By having an affair with Annabelle Trice, Cass directly caused the suicide of Duncan. He then spends the rest of his time attempting various ways of redeeming himself, but ends up failing and dying in the Civil War.

99)    Jack Burden

Jack Burden was a frustrating, irritating character in his actions. He gets frustrated and down with so many aspects within All the Kings Men but refuses to virtually any action against anyone. So many things make him mad or sad or frustrated but he does very little to change that. 

110) Tom Talos

Tom Talos’ personality combined the aspects of a snotty rich kid and cocky football star to form an all around unruly child in the book. Not only did he have a large drinking problem and was reckless in his driving and his health, eventually leading to a life-changing injury, but also failed to recognize the consequences of his actions which included his influence on his corrupt father and his government.

111)Willie Talos

Even though Willie Talos rose through the ranks as a servant of the people, one of them who could control a government for the common man, he failed to give the people what they were promised. He often bribed officials and gave state construction contracts to the highest bidder keeping money for himself or officials. He was an expert at blackmail and utilized that to protect his son after a blatant violation of laws and attempted to use that against the judge.

112) Tiny Duffy

Tiny Duffy represented the Southern aristocrat who strived for any and all power. Examples of this began at the beginning of the book when they tricked Willie into running for governor to separate the rural vote and ended with him telling Adam Stanton about

Women

11)  Lucy

Lucy basically took punches from all directions in the book and managed to do nothing but good. Despite being married to Willie, who openly had affairs with Anne and Sadie, Lucy separated herself from the corrupt government and was a family mom without the family.

22)  Phebe

Phebe was purely an observer in the Cass Mastern story. Cass watched “Phebe preparing the bed for the night” when he “saw Phebe remove the bolster and then look down at a spot where the bolster had lain.” (247)

33)  Jack’s Mother

Despite Jack’s mother’s multiple husbands and lovers, she displays her true love for the Judge at the end of the book, the one lover that led to the birth of her only son, Jack.

44)  Anne Stanton

Anne Stanton, apart from her poor interest in men, was a positive good in the lives she impacted. She enjoyed a fond childhood with Jack, returning home to aid her dying father before his death. She also worked in charity organizations and supported a tight-knit community at Burden’s Landing before unfortunately falling in the world of politics.

55)    Sadie Burke

Sadie Burke also had a poor interest in men, but took more action to achieve her usually negative goals. The most glaring would be her involvement in the murder of Willie, the one she loved.   

66)    Annabelle Trice

Directly caused the suicide of Duncan Trice with her affair with Cass Mastern when he “went to the simmer house in the garden.” (244) Her poor choice led to the death of her husband.