Grace Strasen Character Blog Post

All the King's Men Character Responses: Good or Bad?

Many of the characters develop immensely over the course of the novel “All the King’s Men”. Some started out morally “Good” while others progressed to that point. Some “Bad” characters actions were driven by proper intent, like Adam, while some never knew otherwise, like Tom. Below is a list from “Good” to "Bad", created by looking at the characters actions leading up to the end of the novel:

Cass Mastern - Cass was a slave owner who had an affair with his best friends wife. Cass seeks redemption for his faults, especially when the affair leads to the punishment of a slave who is forced to separate from her family. This acceptance of faults and taking responsibility shows Cass being morally “good”. Cass after his friends death: “He returned to Mississippi. For two years he operated his plantation, read the Bible, prayed, and, strangely enough, prospered greatly, read the bible, prayed … In the end he repaid Gilbert his debt, and set free his slaves” (Pg. 257).

Hugh Miller - The Attorney General in Administration, Hugh had worked along side Willie for a number of years before Jacks arrival. Admits scandal, he left Willie before Hugh could be dragged into the blackmail and damage. Describes as “pure of heart” Hugh had no intent of being involved in Willie’s political wrongdoings. Leaving the book earlier on saved Hugh from being labeled “bad” due to possible consequences or actions.

Jack Burden - Jack is the protagonist of the story and is the embodiment of the grey line between good and bad.  He doesn’t have his own angle, doesn’t have any personal gain from the business he does with Willie. He is largely dependent on his boss. Later, after a wake up call due to an affair and a trip to the West, he begins to accepts the idea of responsibility: a big character arch and a recurring theme in the novel.

Adam Stanton - Adam Stanton throughout the novel seems to follow a moral compass, shying away from the idea of business with Willie and dedicating himself more towards loyalty to Jack. A dedicated doctor and a devoted brother, he is also the man who kills Willie. Adam acts impulsively and irrationally at the end of the novel: choosing to kill Willie simply because of Duffy’s words, even though it was fairly likely he would face the same fate.

Scholarly Attorney - His real name Ellis Burden, Scholarly Attorney is the man that Jack believes is his father for much of the book. After discovering that his wife, Jacks mother, is having an affair with the judge, the Scholarly Attorney leaves her and moves to the state capital where he attempts to run a Christian ministry for the poor and the unfortunate. Although his earlier actions of leaving his family could be seen as “bad” or “morally wrong”, he Ellis Burden does attempt to do some good for the world by aiding those who are less fortunate.

Judge Irwin - The Judge for all intensive purposes was painted as a good man throughout the novel. Although its proven that he is guilty of bribery, in comparison to other characters, the Judge is a sensible man. He commits suicide after the bribery is discovered, leading to the discovery by Jack that Judge had been his real father the whole time.

Gilbert Mastern - Gilbert was Cass Mastern’s wealthy brother. Gilbert stabilized and educated Cass and started him in the Plantation business: thus being the one to introduce him to the slave business. Gilbert is not as significant of a character than Cass, but Jack when researching him finds him more relatable. This is due to Gilbert’s lack of understanding of good versus bad: he views his brothers attempts to free slaves and redeem himself and unsavory. This reflects his character as tilted more towards the “bad” moral values.

Tom Talos - Good versus bad includes the conflict of nature versus nurture, especially in Tom Talos’s case. Tom was raised without consequence by Willie, his wealth and privilege expanding his opportunities of reckless acts that led to horrifying consequences like the car accident and his eventual paralysis.  Jack talking to Willie: “Tom Talos had something to do with it,’ I said. He leaned over the bottle, did it some direct damage, stared at me again, and said indistinctly: ‘He’s just a boy”.  Toms selfish actions however can not all be blamed on the way he was raised: the decisions he made and the actions he took were also just in his nature.

Tiny Duffy - Made Lieutenant Governor by Willie to keep him within arms reach and on his side. Tiny Duffy is a confusing character: often painted in a sensitive and victimized light in the way Willie treated him. Ironically, Duffy is the one who incites Adam Stanton to kill Willie. This leads to a personal gain for Tiny: he became the Governor not long after. Tiny sneaks up on the readers and easily become one of the most vindictive and mysterious characters in the novel.

Willie - Willie degraded as the novel progressed. He started out as a hopeful figure: a progressive politician and a dedicated individual. An American figure living the American dream of hitting it big and escaping poverty. He fights racism, corruption, poverty, and inequality throughout the novel, making the public adore him like a religious figure. But these actions are all done behind closed doors: little do the public know of the blackmail, the extortion, and the corruption. He naturally sees the worst of the world and thinks that he is the only correction to the misdoings of others. His machiavellian nature makes all the actions in the book follow the ideal of the means justifying the end. Little did Willie know that the end would lead to his death and the fall of the following he had twistedly created.