Monday, February 10, 2014
Karlenzig Blog Post 2
In All the King's Men Robert Penn Warren divides most of the characters into two major categories: fat boys and hicks. Willie falls into both categories, as we the reader watch as he transforms from a hick into a fat boy. Tiny Duffy, when first introduced, is the absolute embodiment of a fat boy both figuratively and physically. He works for Willie's "opponent" (although unbeknownst to Willie he is helping Harrison), Joe Harrison, in Willie's first election. "There was Tiny Duffy...He didn't need any sign to let you know what he was. If the wind was right, you knew he was a city-hall slob long before you could see the whites of his eyes. He had the belly and he sweated through his shirt just above the belt buckle, and he had the face, which was creamed and curded like a cow-pattie in a spring pasture, only it was the color of biscuit dough" (Pg 18). From this vivid description we immediately gather that Duffy is the iconic, fat, greed crazed, southern politician. On the other side of the spectrum, there is Willie Talos the hick. In a state of drunken excitement, Willie recounts the tale of a hick (who turns out to be himself). "He knew all about being a hick. He knew what it was to get up before day and get cow dung between his toes and feed the slop and milk before breakfast so he could set off by sun-up to walk six miles to a one-room, slab sided school house" (Pg128). Of course Willie is describing his childhood and how much he loved being a hick. He even goes on to tell the town that they are all hicks as well. Willie also analyzes the relation ship between fat boys and hicks. "Yeah you're hicks, too, and they've fooled you, too, a thousand times, just like they fooled me. For that's what they think we're for. To fool" (Pg130). Willie lives up to his word. However once Willie becomes Governor he is not the one being fooled.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I found it very interesting that as Willie ascends the political ranks, he transforms slowly from a hick to a fat boy, or at the very least becomes some entity between the two. Throughout history, politicians rising to power have exhibited drastic changes in character, usually for the worse. As Willie Talos comes to power, he loses touch with the hick inside of him. In his first interaction with Jack, at Slade's, Willie firmly but politely refuses alcohol, citing his principles. These principles are abandoned as he campaigns and morphs into a true politician, exchanged for behaviors such as adultery, drinking, bribing, bullying, and lying. He seeks power with a greed that can only be attributed to a fat boy. On page 189, Willie demonstrates this in his dehumanizing treatment of Byram B. White, emulating a fat cat chasing and catching his mouse. Jack seems to be in denial of Willie's growing fat boy tendencies, burying his musings that question what has happened to Willie Talos, country hick.
ReplyDelete