All the King's Men

Willie has many love interests in the novel. Compare and contrast Anne Stanton with either Sadie Burke or Lucy Stark, exploring the ways in which they try to influence him.

Jack Burden struggles with history, specifically with uncovering the truth through facts. Why does he struggle so much, and what does he learn about truth over the course of the novel?

What does Willie’s hospital represent to him, and how does it reflect his style of governance? How does he balance idealism and compromise in its construction?

Jack views Judge Irwin as a father figure and at times as a foil to Willie. How does Judge Irwin’s identity change in Jack’s mind over the course of All the King’s Men and how does it change Jack himself?

The Politics of Perception is an important theme in the novel. How does Willie manipulate the public’s perception of him and what advantages does this give him?

Willie is a populist politician whose appeal is built on an emotional connection with his constituents, and this is demonstrated through his portrait at the beginning of the novel. In what other ways does Willie build his populist identity, and how does it manifest?

Willie undergoes a major transformation as a politician over the course of All the King’s Men, from idealistic to corrupt. What catalyzes this change, and does Tom’s injury change his trajectory?

Adam Stanton is very opposed to The Corrupting Nature of Power and cites it as an excuse for not working for Willie. How does the revelation of his own father’s corruption change him and his values, and why does it make him susceptible to committing political assassination?