Throughout All the King's Men, history plays an important role in the
motivations and lives of all the characters. History's importance is most
noticeable, not surprisingly, in the story main characters - Willie Stark
and Jack Burden - whose lives focus on and, in some cases, depend upon
history and how they relate themselves to it. While Willie Stark views
history as a tool with which to manipulate people for his own ends, an
attitude resulting in his own destruction, Jack Burden's view of history
changes over time and eventually allows him to accept his relationship to
the past and, therefore, present. Since each man has such a differing view
it is no wonder that history becomes important to each in different ways.
Willie Stark must support his entire empire in a world of enemies and
corruption, to do this he relies on the past to provide him with the
foundation.
"Dirt's a funny thing," the Boss said. "Come to think of it, there ain't a
thing but dirt on this God's......
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