Pat Mulligan Character Analysis

When Wynand is embarking on his journalistic career, the case of Pat Mulligan influences him deeply. Mulligan is an honest cop who is being framed, and Wynand wants to defend him. For support, Wynand goes to the famous editor of another newspaper because this editor had once written an article on integrity that Wynand had found moving and honest. The editor, however, asks Wynand how he is supposed to remember every bit of “swill” that he pens, and Wynand realizes that his words and ideas weren’t honest. He comes to the conclusion that there is no integrity in human beings, and when he gets back to his desk, he ends up writing a damning article on Mulligan since he has resolved not to be a “sucker” like him.