Jack Burden, the chronicler and one of the two protagonists of Robert Penn Warren's "All the King's Men", has his mind being pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling influences throughout the novel. During the adventures and misadventures of Jack, he crosses two influences, Willie Stark and the past. Through these influences Jack ultimately destroys himself by going through numerous personalities, and ending up an entirely different person, this internal conflict Jack has enlightens the meaning of this novel.
The only type of "real" family Jack has is his past and Willie Stark, but ironically they are both enemies. Adam, Anne and Monty Irwin (Judge Irwin - farther figure) are all Jack has as a past, while he uses Willie as his hope for the future. These are the two influences on Jack's life, he has to listen to Willie because he is Jack's "Boss", but on the other hand he wants to listen to his friends from the past. These influences lead to the main internal conflict Jack has when Willie tells him to "dig up some dirt" on Judge Irwin, this is the major point where Jack's personality is transformed. When Jack finally finds "dirt" that Judge Irwin had accepted a bribe to save his home, belongings, and position he is confused because Judge Irwin had been like a sinless farther to Jack (when Irwin kills himself Jack realizes Irwin was his real farther). This confusion Jack goes through makes him think whether he should listen to Willie or the past, through these two compelling influences Jack changes the outcome of this novel as a whole by deciding to listen to Willie rather his friends and family from the past.
The killing of Willie Stark and Adam Stanton, almost simultaneously; sparks the last significant change that appears in Jack's character. Jack has been used to Willie being in control of every situation, but when Governor Stark (Willie) is gunned down in a cold blooded situation even "the Boss" can not control he begins to realize the environment he is in.
