Knowledge of Willie

I’d like to focus on Willie in chapter 2 of this novel. A sudden change occurs in Willie once he learns that he has been tricked and framed in politics. I’d refer to this moment as an epiphany that Willie obtains all the sudden. He drinks himself unconscious, and then the next day delivers a speech at the picnic, making Tiny Duffy appear as a fool. In this chapter Willie realizes that politics is not a game of ideals, it is a game of willpower and manipulation. With this knowledge, Willie focuses on learning how to play the ‘game’ and then becomes a powerful political figure. It is ironic how he begins the chapter “Cousin Willie from the country” and ends it by becoming Jack’s boss. This shows the transformation of Willie, which he was capable of achieving due to the fact that he gained the knowledge and was not ignorant anymore. This shows a gradual focus in the novel of knowledge vs. ignorance. The knowledge which he receives spurs him to reach for greatness.

Perhaps there is a significant reason and irony for why Willie marries a schoolteacher. He strives to obtain more knowledge, and as we all know teachers are symbols for knowledge, so with irony Willie portrays the typical stereotype. However, once he becomes successful, he decides that he does not need his wife anymore. So perhaps this shows the cruelty of political figures, how they drain everyone around them just for their benefit, and then once they achieve what they were after, they dump the useless, human bodies to the side.

To add more the knowledge of Willie, there is a time period when he focuses on studying law just for fun. He occupies himself with law and even builds his own law practice after he loses the election.  He could have taken a vacation and relaxed somewhere on the beach, but instead he took his time and put his effort into studying law and passing the bar exam. This helps portray the motif of knowledge running throughout the novel. Perhaps a theme that might emerge later would be that with great effort for knowledge comes success and fortune.

                Also, when Willie commands Jack to go and ‘dig’ up some ‘secrets’ about Irwin’s past, hints that knowledge is the key to success. Perhaps the ‘dirt’ that Jack must find will be the knowledge of the competition. Once dirt is known about the competition, then there will be a downfall of that competition (political figure). Is this how real politics works? Is this what the government is set up as? Knowing the secrets of others can lead to one’s success? I guess it must be that the ‘best man wins’.