Stephen King’s novel The Green Mile (1996) once fascinated my teenage consciousness. It had everything a hungry imagination craved: a parable-narrative, the dark atmosphere of the death-row unit at the Cold Mountain Penitentiary, an interesting temporal and geographical context
Typical, or archetypal, triad of heroes (there is analogy with the Bible and three crucified people in the same day). “Wild Bill” as an embodiment of the creature that evil possesses unequivocally; “Del”, as if, at the mystical level of being, he was expiring from himself a swarm of flies after committing a terrible crime; and John Coffey is a blessed, divine miracle (as later Stephen King said, that the initials of John Coffey stand for Christ).
“The Green Mile” is one of the most interesting moments in the writer’s own story, and in the same year 1996 the novels “The Dark Towel: Wizard and Glass”, “Six Stories” were published. Three years later, in the film, thanks to the efforts of director Frank Darabont, the novel “The Green Mile” became incarnate a legendary film.
It stars Tom Hanks as a death row prison guard during the Great Depression who witnesses supernatural events following the arrival of an enigmatic convict (Michael Clarke Duncan) at his facility. David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Sam Rockwell, and James Cromwell appear in supporting roles.
The film had a premiere on December 10, 1999. In the USA positive reviews, which praised the direction and writing of Darabont, emotional weight, and performances (especially for Hanks and Duncan). Since its release, the film has gained a reputation as one of the most emotionally touching films of all time.
One of the most exciting moments – the film’s intermediate peak and the episode of the appearance of the divine gift of John Coffey – is the scene with Percy Wetmore. We open comments under the article in the hope that you share your thoughts about the symbolism of this episode, and the novel in general. Given the canonical interpretation of the symbolism of the narrative given by the writer himself, the reader may have an individual. In other words, let’s turn on the imagination and explain the magic of the novel as you see it. To help you in the publication there is an episode of the film and several quotes from the novel. We are waiting for feedback.
I’m rightly tired of the pain I hear and feel, boss. I’m tired of bein on the road, lonely as a robin in the rain. Not never havin no buddy to go on with or tell me where we’s comin from or goin to or why. I’m tired of people bein ugly to each other. It feels like pieces of glass in my head. I’m tired of all the times I’ve wanted to help and couldn’t. I’m tired of bein in the dark. Mostly it’s the pain. There’s too much. If I could end it, I would. But I can’t.
John Coffey, The Green Mile
That spirit of discord, which had jumbled my thoughts like powerful fingers sifting through sand or grains of rice, was gone. I thought I also understood why Harry had been able to act when Brutal and I could only stand, hopeless and indecisive, in front of our boss. Harry had been with John… and whatever spirit it is that opposes that other, demonic one, it was in John Coffey that night. And, when John stepped forward to face Warden Moores, it was that other spirit – something white, that’s how I think of it, as something white – which took control of the situation. The other thing didn’t leave, but I could see it drawing back like a shadow in a sudden strong light…
***
…I want to say I don’t know why I felt that way – no one likes to come out with something that’s going to make them look or sound ridiculous – but of course I do, and if I can tell the truth about the rest, I guess I can tell the truth about this. For a moment I imagined myself to be that mouse, not a guard at all but just another convicted criminal there on the Green Mile, convicted and condemned but still managing to look bravely up at a desk that must have seemed miles high to it (as the judgment seat of God will no doubt someday seem to us), and at the heavy-voiced, blue-coated giants who sat behind it.
Paul Edgecomb, The Green Mile
