Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Slaughter Post #4
As we near the end of All the King's Men, everything is finally coming together. Countless stories and tales are connecting, revealing interesting and key parts of the novel. When we are first introduced to Willie and Lucy Talos, we learn of the interesting dynamic of their relationship. Willie, a hardheaded lawyer and politician is infamous for his drinking and has a penchant for cheating on Lucy. Lucy, a woman with strong moral and religious beliefs, is aware of Willie's less than desirable habits but loves him nevertheless. She always stands by his side and constantly repeats that she always will in order to protect and care for her family. However, as the novel goes on, things change. Willie's constant cheating eventually becomes too much for Lucy. She moves out of their house. While she publicly remains with him so his political career isn't destroyed, their relationship appears much less genuine and Lucy's affection toward Willie seems to have eroded heavily over the course of the novel. However, after reaching the end of the novel, we learn that Lucy's love for Willie never truly died. After both Willie and Tom die, Lucy adopts Tom's son. She goes on to name him Willie Talos II, in honor of her late husband. "'You know,' she said, 'I named him for Willie because... Willie was a great man... Oh I know he made mistakes...bad mistakes. Maybe he did bad things, like they say. But inside-in here, deep down-' and she laid her hand to her bosom, '-he was a great man.'" (p592-593) Lucy's naming of her adopted son Willie, and her subsequent explanation of why to Jack showed that she still cared deeply about her late husband. While over the course of the novel it appeared as if her love for him was waning, it is clearly revealed to us at the end of the novel that she will always love and have a special place for Willie in her heart.
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This is a beautiful look into the life of the Talos's and is very clear and consice. A running yet ridged theme to this book is the idea of forgiveness and the relationship between Willie and Lucy is a great example. Willie made all of his woman jelious; most of all Sadie and Lucy, but all for good reason. They are women who fell for him just the way he is, infidelities and all. That is an attribute few can excite for it puts the happiness of your loved one far beyond the happiness you yourself can achieve. I would not call this "perfect love" because Willie can not excite the same amount of loyalty with the women who are loyal to him.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great point to bring up about forgiveness in "All the King's Men". I feel bad for Lucy and all of the other women that fall for him. These women think that Willie will change for them at some point; even leaving his wife to be with one of them. Lucy also hopes that Willie will change, but instead with the hope of bringing their family closer (prior to the death of the Willie and Tom). After finding out about the Marin Frey visit she says, "Oh, Jack, I tried to do right. I loved my boy and tried to raise him right. I loved my husband and tried to do my duty. And they love me. I think they love me. After everything. I have to think that, Jack. I have to" (467). Lucy comforts herself through these words, and these words are what prevent her from divorcing Willie. However, she later comes to the realization that he will not change, thus leaving him. Nonetheless, she finally forgives him and Tom after they pass away. She is a very strong, supportive woman who puts away all the negative parts of her relationship with Tom and willie and looks more towards the positive aspects. This thought someone changing for another person tends to happen in real life as well, until the harsh reality becomes apparent that people like Willie enjoy these double-dealing scandals and that is just who they are.
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