"All the King's Men"

Book Review # 103888

Literature
Political Science > Election and Campaigns

This paper discusses how R. Warren composed "All the King's Men" as a reflection of the betrayal between politicians and the public.

1,210 words () | 6 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper explains that while Warren's work "All the King's Men" was a fictionalized account of politics in the old South, the writing was also an expression of the issues that plagued political institutions in Warren's time. The paper brings research that shows how corruption, supported by betrayal, was a key factor in how politics functioned and how people achieved positions of power.

From the Paper:

"Warren (1996) composed All the King's Men as a means of exploring politics and the betrayal that exists between politicians, between constituent and leader and of the self. Prescott (1946) contends that Warren's work was a method for the writer to examine the actions of Huey Long, a once prominent politician who "looted Louisiana" and left many citizens with a weary eye toward the political realm (para. 4). Therefore, the betrayal that Warren (1996) writes about is founded in corruption and the struggle for power between politicians. As the struggle ensues, politicians betray their followers because lies are more effective at in winning votes than the truth. Yet, it is evident that regardless of the momentary glory that the characters achieve in most cases, that glory is overshadowed by the reality of their actions and the knowledge that their efforts required them to betray themselves."

Sample of Sources Used:

Blair, J. (1993). The lie that one must learn to live by: Honor and tradition in All the king's men. Studies in the Novel. 25(4): 457-465.
Bloom, H. (1987). Robert Penn Warrens' all the king's men. New York: Chelsea House.
Cullick, J. (1997). From Jack Burden to "I": the narrator's transformation in All the king's men. Studies in American Fiction. 25(2): 197-208.
Cottrell, B., Hart, J., Schutte, W., Slack, R., and Sochatoff, A. (1957). All the king's men: A symposium. Pittsburgh: Carnegie Institute.
Prescott, E. (1946). All the king's men. New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/03/09/reviews/warren-booksoftimes.html?_r=1&oref=slogin