All the King's Men

Main Characters and Their Development

• Willie Stark - the main character of the novel, a politician who begins his career as an honest and idealistic man but gradually becomes cynical and corrupt, using any means to achieve his goals.
• Jack Burden - the narrator and main aide to Willie Stark. He undergoes an internal conflict and identity crisis, trying to understand his role in the political machine and his responsibility for Willie's actions.
• Anne Stanton - Jack Burden's love interest, who also becomes entangled in political intrigues. Her relationships with Jack and Willie reflect her own moral dilemmas and personal ambitions.
• Adam Stanton - Anne's brother and Jack's childhood friend, a talented doctor who becomes a victim of Willie Stark's political manipulations. His tragic fate underscores the destructive consequences of corruption.
• Sadie Burke - Willie Stark's secretary and mistress, who plays a crucial role in his political career. Her loyalty and jealousy lead to dramatic events in the novel.
• Tiny Duffy - a political ally and henchman of Willie Stark, representing political unscrupulousness and cynicism.