| “ | Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption and he passeth from the stink of the didie to the stench of the shroud. There is always something. | „ |
| ~ Willie Stark Talos |
Willie Stark Talos (shortened to simply Willie Stark in the films) is the cynical and unethical populist governor of an unnamed southern state and the main character of Robert Penn Warren's 1946 novel All the King's Men as well as its numerous adaptations in stage and film. He is not precisely the antagonist, as the protagonist(Jack Burden) works directly for him. Nevertheless, Stark's political schemes drive much of the story's conflict, and his actions are unambiguously criminal, though not entirely without redemptive qualities.
He was portrayed by the late Broderick Crawford in the 1949 film adaptation, and Sean Penn (who also portrayed Mickey Cohen in Gangster Squad, Mick O'Brien in Bad Boys, David Kleinfeld in Carlito's Way, Sergeant Tony Maserve in Casualties of War and Samuel Bicke in The Assassination of Richard Nixon) in the 2006 film adaptation.
Biography[]
Willie Stark Talos was born into rural poverty in a southern U.S. state (unnamed, but described identically to Louisiana with a Bayou and a Gulf of Mexico coastline.) He worked hard on his father's farm and managed to save enough money to go to law school. He was originally an honest lawyer and his financial situation was shaky. He was loyal to his wife, a local schoolteacher. Stark then became the treasurer of backwater Mason County where he clashed with corrupt local officials and eventually lost his position, though he gained some respect among the common people for his honesty. Conniving state politicians then sought to use Stark to split the vote of a political adversary, promoting him and funding a phony campaign that they do not expect him to win. Stark gave stale, matter-of-fact campaign speeches full of statistics and legalistic arguments. He was received politely but unenthusiastically by the country folk.
The story's protagonist, Jack Burden, who was then a journalist, revealed to Stark the fraudulent nature of the campaign. Deeply humiliated, Stark went on an alcoholic bender, the first time he had drunk alcohol in his life, after which he swore revenge on those who had manipulated him. Stark discarded his previous style and became a rabble-rousing demagogue.
Stark first campaigned for one of his party's primary opponents in order to spite the politicians who had used him. Using the public speaking and organizational skills that he acquired, he then mounted his own campaign for governor, and won. As governor, he dispensed with any sense of ethics and resorted to raw, uninhibited fraud and force, destroying his opponents through blackmail and intimidation. Stark then proceeds to build a powerful patronage network to cement his authority. He accumulates so much political power that he is almost unchallenged in the state and next sets his sights on a seat in the United States Senate.
Personality[]
Willie Stark whipping his followers into a frenzy in 1949 film adaptation.
Willie Stark was originally idealistic, honest and soft-spoken, with a genuine desire to do good for the state and his people. His idealism made him vulnerable to more worldly political operators, and after learning that he was being used, Stark was incensed and he transformed into a ruthless and cynical political operator. Burning with a desire for revenge, he expertly turned the tables on those who had attempted to use him, skyrocketing to state office and discarding his old sense of ethics. He was originally loyal to his wife, but as his power and corruption both grew, he began to have affairs with numerous women. He eventually even seduces the love interest of his best fixer, Jack Burden (the protagonist and narrator of the story, who nevertheless remains loyal to Stark). He also begins to drink extensively. His supporters were aware of, but not particularly bothered by, these failings, since Stark is effective at delivering material benefits to them.
Stark is quite intelligent and put himself through law school. He studied so intensely that when he took the bar exam he found it absurdly easy. He is an excellent public speaker and wields great control over his supporters. He can speak extemporaneously, without preparation, and is good at reading a crowd's mood. Due to his impoverished, rural upbringing, he understands the mindset of common people and can communicate effectively with them. Notwithstanding his modest origins, upon reaching high political office, Stark quickly adapted to the conditions of this new, cutthroat environment.
Stark views corruption as inevitable in any government, and he has no qualms about using bribery and blackmail. In his view, the best that can be hoped for is to keep the system functioning at a basic level and to use corruption to do some good. When Stark learns of a crime committed by a potentially useful state official, such as a bribe or crooked deal, he will use that knowledge as leverage and bend the person to his will. Despite his frequent use of blackmail, Stark has never had to smear anybody with false accusations, because he sees it as unnecessary. In his view, all human beings, no matter how pure they appear, have somewhere in their past committed an immoral or illegal act that, once uncovered, is sufficient to use as a threat. On this count, Stark is proven correct throughout the story.
Willie Stark and Tiny Duffy (played by James Gandolfini), 2006 film
Stark will subvert and acquire the servants of his political opponents, such as Tiny Duffy, who was originally sent by state politicians to manage Stark on his fraudulent original campaign. After successfully achieving the governorship, Stark keeps Tiny Duffy on his staff, routinely humiliating him.
Despite his deep cynicism, Stark genuinely desires to help the common people of his state, even people with no political power who have nothing to offer him beyond their solitary vote. Early in the story he procures a lawyer to help a resident of his home town who was having legal troubles. One of his major projects throughout the book is to build a modern hospital, which is to be free of charge to all, even though his political position is secure and he has no need to woo more voters. He goes out of his way to hire the Adam Stanton, the best doctor in the state, to run it for him. Stanton is opposed to Stark and his methods, but Stark nevertheless recruits him by appealing to his desire to do good for humanity.
In his personal time, Stark enjoys drinking to excess and watching exotic burlesque shows with dancing girls, whom he sometimes beds afterwards. He is also a fan of college football, especially since his son Tom is the star quarterback of his college team.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Lucy Talos: Willie Stark's wife. She is a Christian and is distressed at his many affairs, to the point that she leaves the gubernatorial mansion to live back in their humble farm home. She is a simple, kind and caring woman swept up in Stark's political journey.
- Tom Talos: The son of Lucy and Willie. He is the star quarterback of his college football team. Has a reputation for his drunken, reckless driving and a taste for loose women.
Allies[]
Stark acquires numerous allies, toadies and agents, both official and unofficial, throughout his rise to power. In addition to specific allies listed below, he draws his political power from the many working class and common folk of the state, who view him as their champion.
- Jack Burden: The protagonist and narrator of the novel, he is officially a high-ranking governor's aide and has wide autonomy within the state, including some immunity from police action. He is Stark's primary fixer, a diligent investigator, drawing on his background as a history researcher and journalist. He is completely dependable and is privy to most of Stark's schemes. Though loyal to Stark, Burden follows his own moral code an he insists on a considerable degree of independence, often to Stark's frustration. For example, when uncovering blackmail material, Burden may give the target an opportunity to refute the accusation before handing it over to Stark.
- Robert "Sugar Boy" O'Sheean: Stark's driver and bodyguard. Despite his short stature and suffering from a stutter, Sugar Boy is an excellent though terrifying driver and an expert shot with his .38 pistol. He is absolutely loyal to Stark.
- Tiny Duffy: The buffoonish former agent of one of Stark's political competitors, Stark brought him on his team for egotistical reasons. Duffy acts as a fawning, obsequious toady, and Stark treats him with contempt. He was previously the tax assessor of Mason County, where he first met Stark.
- Sadie Burke: One of Stark's office managers, and one-time lover. She, along with Jack Burden, revealed the truth to Stark the truth about the phony campaign funded by Joe Harrison, setting in motion his desire for revenge and rise to power.
Enemies[]
- Joe Harrison: The politician who duped Willie Stark into a phony campaign meant to split the vote of an opposing candidate named MacMurfee. Harrison sponsors Stark's doomed first campaign for governor, hoping to split the vote of the opposition, since Stark would be competing for the same demographic as MacMurfee. After Stark learns of the treachery, he deliberately sabotages Harrison's campaign.
- MacMurfee: A competitor for the countryside vote that forms the base of Stark's political power, and originally the opponent of Joe Harrison. MacMurfee remains on the political scene, although with greatly reduced influence. He covets the same Senate seat that Stark desires.
- Judge Irwin: A retired judge of impeccable character and a father figure to Jack Burden, whom he has known since childhood. Irwin stands in the way of one of Stark's political appointments.
- Adam Stanton: A very skilled medical doctor with a strong moral code, he objects to Stark's corrupt tactics and bombastic style. Stark nevertheless recruits him to manage the free hospital that he plans to build. Stanton is professional enough to accept the nomination despite his dislike of Stark. Similarly, he sets aside his antipathy to operate on Stark's son, who was injured in a football accident.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Willie Stark was based on Democrat Louisiana governor Huey "Kingfish" Long, a charismatic demagogue whose populist style propelled him to the governorship and eventually the Senate. He was widely considered to be a serious primary challenger to President Franklin Roosevelt for the party's 1936 presidential nomination. However, Long was assassinated before he could run for president.