Jack also discovers that then Governor Stanton, father of his best friend Adam and his own true love, Anne, were also implicated in the crime.Soon, Willie asks Jack to convince Adam to be the director of his new hospital. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Synopsis submission guide. © 2020 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. Shortly after, Jack learns that Anne and Willie have been having an affair.Then Jack drives to California and relives his life in memory. Continue your study of All the King's Men with these useful links. When Duncan discovers the affair, he shoots himself. Cass also begins an affair with Annabelle, the beautiful twenty-nine-year-old wife of his good friend, Duncan Trice. Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. Summary Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. The fat cats underestimate Stark; but Jack Burden, Stark's biggest supporter, overestimates the man's idealism. Our study guide has summaries, insightful analyses, and everything else you need to understand All the King's Men. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. When Cass finds out, he suddenly realizes how horrible slavery is, and he tries to find Phebe. Jack knows that when Adam learns that both of his idols, Judge Irwin and his own father, were engaged in corruption for pure financial gain he will see that Willie is no worse than anyone else. It also turns out that Willie is being blackmailed with this information by Gummy Larson, who wants Willie to give him the hospital contract. Jack decides that all of life is just electrical impulse, and that nothing matters in the end. Visit BN.com to buy new and used textbooks, and check out our award-winning NOOK tablets and eReaders. The rise and fall of a corrupt politician, who makes his friends richer and retains power by dint of a populist appeal. Tom, however, is injured in a football game, and suffers substantial brain damage. Since Adam hates Willie, this isn't an easy task. Synopsis He survives but will be permanently brain dead. Jack has a specific plan of action that he thinks will convince Adam to take the hospital directorship. All the King's Men is a novel by Robert Penn Warren first published in 1946. Directed by Steven Zaillian. Basically, the new hospital will be the best of the best. All the King's Men is a novel by Robert Penn Warren that was first published in 1946. Someone in the governor's employ remembers Stark when the governor needs a patsy to run against him and split the vote of his rival. Jack's hope is that Adam will see that he has no valid reason to condemn Willie, and thus no reason to refuse the directorship.When Jack tells Anne the dirty truth about Governor Stanton (her father) and Judge Irwin, she takes it pretty hard. Stark loses the race for treasurer, but later makes his way through law school, becoming an idealistic attorney who fights for what is good. Burden discovers this to be true when he sees Stark delivering a speech and having his son pass out handbills, while the local politicians do their best to intimidate him. Anne comes to Jack and begs him to help her convince Adam to accept. See a complete list of the characters in Then Jack learns that in addition to other indiscretions, Willie has been having an affair with Sadie Burke, his secretary. Along the way, he loses his initial innocence, and becomes just as corrupt as those who he assaulted before for this characteristic. This plan works, and Adam accepts the directorship. But rather than do what Jack and Willie ask, Judge Irwin kills himself. This is a kind of coping mechanism, a way for Jack to continue living despite his unbearable pain and heartbreak.Back at the Capitol, Jack learns that Willie's son, Tom, might have gotten a girl named Sibyl Frey pregnant.