Written by: Abdullah Al-Mutairi

Edited by: Alaa Alghamdi

A movie such asThe Green Mileis not easy to analyze. I was very undetermined and unsure of what approach I should follow in analyzing such a text, I thought at first of applying a literary theory on it, but the closest theories that I saw fit the criteria were Romanticism and Realism. But even these two theories did not feel right, I did not feel either one of them was good enough. I was not sure whether to break the movie down into pieces and glue it back together or to explain it scene by scene. There is so much to discuss and I honestly did not know where to begin! At the end, I decided to go with an unusual method of analysis, a method that has no specific guidelines to follow, a freestyle analysis if you would.

The Title of the Movie

I think the title of the movie is the best thing to start with. The Green Milesymbolizes the last mile the prisoners take before they are put to the electric chair. One of the main characters Paul Edgecombe explains that in all other prisons they call it the last mile, but in their prison, they call it the green mile. Paul explains that the reason it is called The Green Mile is because the floor of that cellblock has a green color. But I think the reason it is called The Green Mile is out of consideration for the prisoners, it is a sentimental touch to keep them under the edge. I mean after all, why torment a dead man walking by calling the cellblock with a name so horrible as “The last mile”? But I also wonder why green? Why paint the floor with a green color? Why not red or yellow or some other color?! I think that is because green symbolizes nature and the natural world. Out there… freedom! in the wilds, where birds roam free. It is truly remarkable to have such a beautiful hidden gesture like this in the film. I personally think this is one of the reasons that makes The Green Mile such a perfect movie.

The Story

Like the Shawshank Redemption,the Green Mileis a prison movie, but it is unlike any other prison movie you are familiar with. The story begins with “Paul Edgecombe” who is an old man in what appears to be a nursing home for elderly. While watching a film, Paul gets emotional and out of the room he goes, only to be followed by a woman friend asking him what is wrong?! Paul tells her that he used to be a prison guard and tells her about the events that happened in 1935. A new prisoner just came in, who is set to be executed by the electric chair. A huge black man unlike anything he has seen, but also a miracle and a very sweet and gentle human being! Paul believed him to be an angel for the things that he was able to do. That prisoner’s name was “John Coffey”, and he is accused with raping and murdering two little girls. In that very same cellblock there are other prisoners, one of which is the real criminal in John Coffey’s murder case. William “Wild Bill” Wharton is his name; at the end of the movie it’s revealed that “Wild Bill” is the one who raped and killed those two little girls. But John Coffey was executed for Wharton’s murder while he remains innocent. Even though Paul knew that John was not to blame, he could not do anything! He had no proof…Paul is regrettably one of the executioners. The story is not only about Paul and John! It is also about the prisoner Eduard Delacroix and his mouse Mr. Jingles, it is the story of the chief Arlen Bitterbuck who is executed for killing a man in a drunken fight, it is also the story of Warden Hal Moores and his wife who has a tumor in her brain that would have led her to her death if it were not for John Coffey who miraculously healed her. It is a story that has more than one flow, it talks about how people’s lives are connected somehow! And how we become responsible for our actions! But also, sometimes we are held responsible for other people’s actions too. It is a story that will make you contemplate on many things at the same time. A remarkable story indeed. 

A Scene

               Although it was Paul who helped John to his death, in a beautiful scene before the execution takes place, Paul asks John “on the day of my judgment, when I stand before god and he asks me why?! Why did I kill one of his true miracles! What am I going to say? That it was my job?”, Filled with regret and sorrow, Paul shows a great deal of love and admiration for John as he can not stand the idea that he has to be the one who kills him. John answers him by saying: “You tell God it was a kindness you’ve done. (John holds Paul’s hands) I know you’re hurting and wounded, I can feel it on you! But you gotta quit on it now, I want it to be over and done with”. John comforts Paul by telling him that he forgives him for what he is about to do! And “that it is not your fault, Paul, I want this! You will be doing me an act of kindness by killing me, I am done with this world, I can’t take it anymore. All of that!” This scene is truly one of the greatest acts of forgiveness.

Themes

One obvious theme is of course death! I mean how can not we think of death while the story takes place on a death row cellblock. The theme of death really makes you think deeply about your own fate and really makes you wonder about how blessed you are with your own life and makes you reflect on your decisions in it.  Another theme is punishment of the innocent, John was accused of murder and executed in the electric chair while he was actually innocent. Unfortunately, the evidence was overwhelming! He was found with the bodies of the two little girls dead. But the truth of his innocence is revealed to us in the end. Another theme is the violence in this world. We are introduced to some examples of the violence that occurs in the world such as the raping and murdering of two innocent little girls, the killing of a pregnant woman in a robbery…etc. Another theme is the sense of guilt. This theme is highlighted clearly in the scene of Delacroix’s execution! When he is asked if he has any last words, he says “I am sorry for what I did, I would give anything to take it back! But I can’t. God have mercy on me” A true sense of regret.

Discrimination

I have read that the story of The Green Mile film/book is actually based on a true story! The story of “George Stinney Jr” who was the youngest prisoner sentenced to death in the 20th century in the United states. He was only 14 years old when he was executed by the electric chair. He was accused of killing two white girls, Betty and Mary. The bodies were found near the house where the teenager lived with his parents. At that time, all the jurors were white. The trial lasted only 2 hours and the sentence was handed down 10 minutes later. He was electrocuted with 5.350 volts in the head. 70 years later, his innocence was finally proven by a judge in South Carolina. Someone put everything together to blame him just for being black. Stephen king was inspired by this story to write his book, The Green Mile.

 We can obviously recognize that Stinney Jr was discriminated against because of his race, but as far as the book goes, the case of John Coffey was not of a discrimination type! Or at least it wasn’t presented as such. The evidence was simply overwhelming, John was found holding the two girls’ dead bodies in his hands crying saying “I couldn’t help it”, he was a huge man and everyone thought that he was retarded, the fact that he is black was not (or at least in my opinion) the reason he was sentenced to the electric chair. The reason was simply because the evidence was like I previously explained “overwhelming’, Not to mention that John had a lawyer unlike Stinney to represent him! And a pretty good lawyer as well, but even him could not clear his name.

One nasty character

As far as the characters go, there are many of them in this film! One of which I felt I must analyze. I didn’t really want to bother with the rest because their characters are pretty obvious! What you see is what you get. But this one particular character is really something else. The name is “Percy Wetmore” and I am really interested in this character because of what his actions throughout the movie were! The scene of inmate Delacroix’s execution where Percy was the lead guard in that execution caught my attention. A wet sponge is the most important thing in an electric chair execution, the head of the prisoner is shaved and a wet sponge is placed on top of his head, so when the electricity hits him, the sponge helps the electricity to hit the brain very fast and kills him! As fast as a bullet. Percy was in charge of placing the wet sponge in Delacroix’s execution! But he intentionally chooses not to wet the sponge. He decided to place it DRY! As a result, Delacroix’s death was long and painful, 5.350 volts were running through his body! His face burned; his skin peeled! And he was still alive! By the time the other guards realized the sponge was not wet, they could not do anything! They couldn’t stop the electricity till he is dead, otherwise it will be a more painful experience to try and execute him again.

Now, what about Percy? Why did he do what he did! The simplest answer would be because he is deranged. But no, I do not think so! He did it because he is a coward, weak, and a pathetic human being! He did it out of spite! Delacroix made fun of Percy in one event, where Percy wet his pants after he was attacked by one of the other prisoners! And Percy did not quite forget Delacroix’s mockery!  And I believe that in an effort to restore some of his dignity and prove himself as a man, he did what he did. But as soon as Percy saw how painful the result of his actions to Delacroix were, he actually looked away in horror. Afterwards, Percy claimed that he did not know the sponge was supposed to be wet, even though they did two routine checks before the execution. This really highlights the theme of misjudgment, where a man like John is condemned and a man like Percy is not in prison.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the film is 3 hours long and it took me 3 days to analyze. Most of what slowed me down was figuring out what to analyze and how! I believe that in a world of violence and cruelty, The Green Milegives us a lesson in empathy, self-sacrifice, love, and compassion.