All the King's Men

Question

HiWhat does "King" refer to in the title or phrase "All the King's Men"? Perhaps, it depends on the context; it could refer to God, or simply to a monarch. It was the title of a novel by Robert Penn. What is your thinking on this? Please let me know. Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

I suppose you know that the title is a line from a nursery rhyme?

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Mr Micawber.

Yes, the phrase has been borrowed from the rhyme. But I don't really understand its meaning in the novel's context. I'm sure you would be able to help. The following excerpt from the article on the novel might help you in case you have't read it:

One central motif of the novel is that all actions have consequences, and that it is impossible for an individual to stand aloof and be a mere observer of life, as Jack tries to do (first as a graduate student doing historical research and later as a wisecracking newspaperman). In the atmosphere of the 1930s, whole populations seemed to abandon responsibility by living vicariously through messianic political figures like Willie Stark. Thus, Stark fulfills the wishes of many of the characters, or seems to do so. For instance, his faithful bodyguard Sugar-Boy, who stutters, loves Stark because "the b-boss could t-talk so good"; Jack Burden cannot bring himself to sleep with Anne Stanton, whom he loves, but Stark does so; and so on. (It is in this sense that the characters are "all the king's men"; other than borrowing this familiar phrase, the title has nothing to do with the story of Humpty Dumpty.) But this vicarious achievement will eventually fail; ultimately Jack realizes that one must "go out of history into history and the awful responsibility of Time."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_King%27s_Men#Themes.2Fimagery

Mister Micawber · Answer

I haven't read the book and consequently that passage is a little murky for me, but I can't see that 'all the king's men' means much more than simply 'everybody' (which is what it means in the rhyme).   I suppose Stark (if he is a central character) is the King and his men are all those around him.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you. I think I understand it now. Perhaps, as you point out, Stark serves as a king to many other characters, and yes he is a central character.

Best regards
Jackson

Philip · Answer

If memory serves me correctly, the novel deals with a corrupt politician (presidential?) and his downfall.  The men surrounding the 'king' can do nothing about it and are even included in the collapse of the system.  Any American, or many other English-speakers, would understand the allusion to the nursery rhyme.

Jackson6612 · Answer

PhilipIf memory serves me correctly, the novel deals with a corrupt politician (presidential?) and his downfall. The men surrounding the 'king' can do nothing about it and are even included in the collapse of the system. Any American, or many other English-speakers, would understand the allusion to the nursery rhyme.

Thank you, Philip, for the input. It follows the life of a gubernatorial candidate from an honest person to a powerful corrupt governor and then his assasination by one of his own man. When I googled it first it became obvious that the title had been taken from the rhyme but I couldn't understand its relevance in the context of the book.

Best wishes
Jackson

Anonymous · Answer

I read most of the replies to your question, i am amazed that no one sees the story as i do. willie stark is the king, but he is put there by the men around him and he is taken down by the same men, the plot is very complected and all the kings men when they put stark in the office they break the humpty dumpty and they can not put it back together as it was before, never the less willie thinks he is in charge but those men and women in the story have his strings, the story tell a lot about human nature and once to put a certain person with certain personality you can expect them to do certain things to some extend, just like they way they get the doctor involved in their scheme and he kills the kings. its very much so like ahmadinejad in iran, i wouldn't be surprised if he gets hanged!

Khoff · Answer

The author's name is Robert Penn Warren.

All the King's Men

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