Power Of Knowledge

516 Words2 Pages

"Knowledge is power only if the man knows what facts not to bother with" (Robert Staugton Lynd). In the novel, “All The King’s Men”, written by Robert Penn Warren, teaches the readers the power of knowledge and how it can affect people's lives. As he states, “The end of man is knowledge…”(9), he exhibits that knowledge is power. Jack Burden, private investigator that consists of searching dirt on other politicians, believes that knowledge can easily tear apart one's life. Through out the novel, Jack Burden, the main character, grapples the potency of his knowledge.
First, Robert Penn Warren portrays the power of the knowledge when Willie ordered Jack to persuade one of his friends, Adam Stanton, to accept his offer. Willie offered Adam to run his hospital. Adam at first declines the offer, but Jack plans to use his knowledge he learned about Judge Irwin (which connects to Adam’s father) to compel him to take the job. "I can change that picture of the world he carries around in his head"(248). Although the data that Jack was wiling to share with Adam could potentially shatter Adam’...

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