Woodhead Post 2#

Dylan Woodhead

ATKM Post 2

March 2nd, 2015

The westward movement has been a recurring theme found throughout history, from as far back as the colonization of the America’s, to todays technological shift to Silicon Valley and California. Moving west has always signified opportunity and hope to those who have chosen to take the journey, however arguably the most important westward theme was the idea “modernity.” Many Americans during the early 20th century chose to move west to look for a better life for their families or themselves, but also to escape problems, hardships, or cruelty found back home or in the east caused by older ideals or ways of living. Having been settled first, the east coast can be viewed as old-fashioned or even out of date in comparison to the contemporary, unique, trendy-movemented west in the eye of the average citizen, causing westward interest for many people looking to separate themselves from their past lives. In Robert Warren’s All the King’s Men, Jack Burton’s character epitomizes the American people’s vision of the west. After learning of the fact “that Anne Stanton,” Jack’s childhood sweetheart, “had become the mistress of Willie Talos,” Jack decided to flee west from the actual “fact” itself, representing that Jack’s travel west was directly derived from his hometown problems. (433) While lying on his hotel bed, Jack dreamed that “Anne Stanton did not exist;” (434) that his major worry that plagued him back home had not only been left there after he departed for Santa Monica, but that his travel west had somehow destroyed his past complications all together, thus creating a new Jack Burton which was demonstrated through his newly discovered “great truths” and his new outlook on life. (434) This newfound peace gave Jack the time  to clear his mind of distractions and thoughtfully reflect on his complicated life thus far, allowing him to see that “there is innocence and a new start in the West, after all.” (434) Almost identical to the thousands that traveled before him, Jack saw the act of traveling west as not only an escape from the bothersome complications back home, but also as an eraser, an effective way of starting a new life lacking any previous responsibilities or problems.