Monica's blogs...enjoy!
Blog #2
In response to Hannah’s question about Adam Stanton, I believe that Adam chose help Willie for two reasons. The first is that after he found out about his father’s corruption, perhaps he felt that even the best men couldn’t avoid improbity so he didn’t need to try as hard. But since he didn’t let his morals slide entirely we can see too that he still retained his idealistic visions and was helping Willie because he felt that the good he would do with his position would outweigh the actions of the man he would be working for.
And completely unrelated to this, I find the relationship between Willie and Jack rather improbable. They are the complete antithesis of each other. Willie is completely driven to win and has set moral values even if dishonest means. Then there is Jack, the Great Sleeper, without any real aims, and really no ethics at all. What is the basis of their relationship besides money?
Blog #3
I agree with Avery about the similarity with the Gatsby/Nick and Willie/Jack relationship but since the books have rather different endings (although the murders seem rather similar) for the narrators I can’t accept the comparison entirely. Both of them don’t act even when they should but Nick doesn’t have any great philosophy about why he is lazy. Jack actually goes through the effort of justifying himself and then having a revelation at the end and completely reversing his attitude towards life and his actions.
I just inspired myself to another thought…In the comparison from above, isn’t it amazing how both the pivotal characters die. And how each the murderer is sort of nudged to his action by a third party, and then also dies after the murder occurs. Yes, well, that is as far as my thoughts actually go.
Blog #4
I find it interesting that although Jack at first professes to have no real moral basis to his actions, he surrounds himself with those people who do or are not morally corrupt. Anne Stanton, Adam Stanton, and the Lucy and Willie Stark. Willie, although corrupt because of his actions, does demonstrate honest motivations for these actions. Does Jack’s choice of friends tell us something about his character? Maybe he really does care about other people but can’t admit to it consciously until later in the book. And on a different note, the fact the individual (Jack) chooses to lead a good decent life in end is rather overshadowed by the fact that the corrupt really aren’t totally kicked out of power. “Good” doesn’t completely win in the end which may have something to do with the title of the book but almost undermine the religious aspects that Caroline and Juliana mention about leading the reader to participate in the redemption of the narrator. I mean, if you don’t like the narrator, and he doesn’t have the happiest life in the end, there isn’t enough of an ideal or an incentive to admire.
Blog #5
I think it is interesting that Warren was the first Poet Laureate. It is easy to see the poetical nature of so much of his description. The spiderweb passage and the foetus passage are the most basic. Avery’s example of one of his poems shows that he can be prosy during parts of his poetry, specifically the opening verse. The poem also shows that he is more interested in conveying a story, not a moment in time during his works. This supports the idea that All the King’s Men is as much about the journey as about the destination.
THIS IS LIZ BURKE'S BLOG...GREAT JOB ON THESE YOU GUYS!
I am nearing the end of the book, and I must say that I am shocked at the turn of events (I'll try not to ruin it for those of who aren't quite there yet). I am primarily shocked at the actions of the Stantons. I never considered either one of them capable of doing what they did. Anne always seemed so virtuous to me, and Adam seemed so dedicated to his work, and always tried to avoid political dealings. It is quite ironic that he meets his demise through something he always tried so strenuously to avoid.
Now purely along the lines of plot, I am a little confused about the role Suage Boy plays at this point. Could someone elucidate that for me please?
Also Jack Burden is one of the most densely irritaing people I have ever had the displeasure of reading about. He doesn't know what he wants, and allows himself to be manipulated by others, particularly by Willie. I do not think that Jack himself has any desire to ruin the Judge's life, and his reluctence to dig up something on him demonstrtates this. He does make excuses to Willie, but ultimately capitulates to Willie Stark's will, allowing any instictive virtue to be overpowered by the corrupt leader. IGn a way, I hold him responsible for the Judge's death, because it is a result of Jack's actions that the Judge feels the need to protect his honor.
